I get a lot of questions about semicolons, so its time to clear up some confusion. There are three things to keep in mind when youre using a semicolon. As soon as we explore the examples of colons and semicolons below, youll be that much closer to the title of grammar pro. Because i do alot of plain language writing which abhors the semicolon, its nice to be reminded me of the positive results a semicolon can bring. Use a semicolon in place of a period to separate two sentences where the. In addition, even though it looks a lot like a colon. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon in the quotation is dropped. Weve posted your opinion to our blog using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences we dont have a blog on punctuation in general to see if any of our readers wish to comment on it. Semicolon is the story of a small mark that can carry big ideas. In this case, its called a super comma, but were gonna get to that in another video. How to use semicolons in lists grammar lesson self help. In french, a semicolon pointvirgule, literally dotcomma is a separation between two full sentences, used where either a colon or a comma would not be appropriate. Sep 19, 2019 we use many punctuation marks intuitively. Think of the semicolon as a long comma, or a wimpy period.
The most basic type of list appears in the running text of a sentence, with each item separated by a comma. I took my sit in creative writing and listened as mr. Between independent clauses linked by a transitional expression. On semicolons and the rules of writing the millions. Its text includes 1,876 semicolons across 318,332 words.
The semicolon is sometimes described as stronger than a comma but weaker than a period. The semicolon performs three basic functions in written english. How to make your semicolon use daring and correct grammar. If the words to the left and the words to the right of the semicolon can stand as individual sentences with a period in between them, you can put a semicolon there instead. Use a semicolon to separate elements in a list where each element. The men in question harold keene, jim peterson, and gerald greene deserve awards. The group of words that comes before the semicolon should form a complete sentence, the group of words that comes after the semicolon should form a complete sentence, and the two sentences should share a close, logical connection. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences. P2 semicolons edit each of the following sentences to replace commas with semicolons as necessary.
Typically in american english, anyway, a colon comes at the end of an independent clause and precedes any list associated with that clause. Commas are used after an introductory dependent clause a group of words before the subject of a sentence that do not form a complete sentence. In fact, i would state it as an axiom that if you have any question about how to punctuate a sentence, you should probably rewrite the sentence, and, quite possibly, the entire paragraph. If you can remember these three uses for a semicolon, you will be a super semicolon user. The books on the counter from the library are fiction, science fiction, drama, and mystery. In a normal list, the list items are separated by commas.
This handout explains the most common uses of three kinds of punctuation. But exclamation points show up with reasonable regularity. Most commonly, the semicolon is used between two independent clauses i. Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true. In semicolon, cecelia watson charts the rise and fall of this infamous punctuation mark, which for years was the trendiest one in the world of letters. Semicolons can be used to join closely related, independent clauses. Three essential semicolon rules writers relief, inc. During revision you should look for paragraphs with too many short sentences with parallel ideas. Compound sentence examples a compound sentence has at least two independent clauses that have related ideas. There are also a lot of resources online that pair with the book. How to use an ellipsis correctly the write practice. Serial commas and serial semicolons the mla style center. Most commonly, they separate two main clauses that are closely related to each other but could stand on their own as sentences if you. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples.
Semicolons are not something g i see, because sentences are kept very simple. When using ellipses in conjunction with other punctuation, whether they be commas, semicolons, question marks, or exclamation points, treat the ellipsis as though it was just another word in the sentence. The following article explains the three uses of the semicolon in written english and provides examples to illustrate these functions. Typical usage of semicolons by lawyers is in long complex sentences, or in lists. For each of the following, choose the sentence with the correct punctuation. Vonnegut would have preferred three short sentences. Semicolons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar. Relying on a period to separate the related clauses into two shorter sentences could lead to choppy writing. How to use the semicolon there are three uses of the semicolon. The first three semicolon use cases are really just variations on this method, which treats the semicolon as a kind of intermediary punctuation mark, between the. Use a semicolon to connect put together two related, or similar, sentences.
Jan 18, 2017 my almost three yearold is very into younger chapter books. The invited speakers are the associations president, the vice president, the councilwoman, suzette tanner, and walter mccarthy, the executive director. The first three chapters give a history of the semicolon and a summary of how grammar rules evolved in the us. A conjunctive adverb helps you create a shorter sentence. Without proper punctuation, it would be unreadable. Its no accident that a semicolon is a period atop a comma. When items in series themselves contain commas, additional punctuation is needed to clarify the items. Complex sentences even though it was years ago, i think he still remembers how i tried to drown him in a bucket,when prim brought him home. Jan 22, 2020 in hadley, the semicolons mostly pile independent clauses one on top of the other. Here the semicolons blend three terse statements into one sentence, which, in the writers opinion, more faithfully evokes the flow of events on that enchanted evening. When this happens, you can use semicolons to separate them. In certain uses, this is a reasonably accurate definition. The semicolon should be placed outside ending quotation marks. Although each mark has plenty of uses on its own, there are several more complex scenarios in which the marks are used together.
Commas are used to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses sentence parts in a series. Aug 03, 2019 the semicolon is often used as an image of hope, particularly in the design of jewelry and the titles of books. Sep 11, 2018 a memory trick and chart will help you remember how to use semicolons. The agency approved those agreements having no significant impact on. And once id seen him using semicolons this way, their pleasing possibilities became irresistible. However, using a semicolon to combine the clauses can make your writing more interesting by creating a variety of sentence lengths and structures while preserving the flow of ideas. We can condense it down to this much shorter sentence here by using semicolons in the place of the regular list commas. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation. When items in a series have been separated with commas, but the sentence needs an additional comma after the series or to separate items in a series when any of the items already have commas. Conjunctive adverbs are words that join independent clauses into one sentence. Aug 31, 20 use the semicolon between two sentences that are joined by a coordinating conjunction when one or more commas appear in the first part of the sentence. Its important to remember that you still should punctuate properly even if youre using an ellipsis.
Semicolons, along with exclamation points and dashes and whole sackfuls of commas, are, for him, vital tools in keeping what he called the stream of thought from appearing to the reader as a wild torrent. If the series of items in the list contain interior commas, then semicolons should be used to separate the items. Use semicolons when you need to combine ideas into a single, more powerful sentence that conveys the information youve previously expressed in two or three or four sentences. The semicolon is another important tool you can use when you write. The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. Semicolon examples and definition of semicolon literary devices.
Then select the word that comes just before the semicolon. Steroids are performanceenhancing drugs, indeed, they build muscle mass and strength. Rule 4 for colons says that if the second sentence explains or illustrates the first sentence, then a colon is used. Note that there are no conjunctions in the sentence. But prim begged so hard, cried even, i had to let him stay. Every sentence is a performance, or should be, and punctuation sets the stage. A semicolon belongs in each of the following sentences. Its thirtyfive pages long, with illustrated examples of twentyone. Better the semicolon than the runon sentences too often seen when a comma is used.
Sara sargent at harpercollins has bought amy bleuels project semicolon. When the second clause expands on or explains the first, the colon is the better mark. Technically, the semicolon could be replaced with a period, since each independent clause is a complete sentence. Funny book to help teach students about punctuation. Colons and semicolons are two types of punctuation. As soon as we explore the examples of colons and semicolons below, youll be that much closer. But in the nineteenth century, as grammar books became all the rage, the rules of how we use language became both stricter and more confusing, with the semicolon a prime example.
Present at the films premiere were jane wallace, the director, sam danvers, the executive producer, and allan gray, the lead actor. They should not be used in formal, professional or academic writing. With the exception of newspapers, most publications use the. In contrast with the period, which provides a full stop, the semicolon suggests that the story goes on and serves as an apt metaphor for a life that endures beyond tragedy or great change. Several countries participated in the airlift italy, belgium, france, and luxembourg. Commas indicate that introductory words and phrases moved from the end of the sentence. At least several per book, in certain characters cases.
However, either way, two primary rules must be followed. Writing with semicolons and colons 2012 book archive. Semicolons are also used in a sentence when something stronger than a comma is needed. There are three primary purposes for this member of the punctuation family. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units. Cecelia watsons new book is semicolon, a biography of the. The semicolon is the most commonly misused punctuation mark. In three random columns by each critic, lane uses six semicolons in two columns and four in one. However, sometimes the list items themselves contain commas. Use a semicolon to combine two closely related independent clauses. Semicolons and colons indicate sophisticated writing. Rodriguez has used three semicolons in this excerpt.
Semicolons are used to separate items in a series that contain commas. Use semicolons instead of commas between items in a series when the series items have commas. After that, it looked like the author was trying to make a book out of an essay. Jul 23, 2019 that said, semicolons can also be used to separate items in a series containing commas to distinguish each item from the next group of items. When you use a conjunctive adverb, put a semicolon. This is how i first came to know and feel comfortable with the semicolon, because the writers market books are filled with lists.
The final use of semicolons is to separate items in a list or series with lots of commas or other punctuation. Thompson lectured the class on when to use commas and semicolons when writing a story. One reason you might choose to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you wanted to add variety to your sentence structure. In this case, writing the independent clauses as two sentences separated by a period is correct. The semicolon, however, emphasizes the connection between the two clauses. Definition of compound sentences and how to use them. To see how big, lets look at three classic englishlanguage novels from about the. Jul 19, 2012 in college, whenever i used a semicolon in a paper, it came back to me with a big red circle around the offending member. That is, the two statements on either side of the semicolon could totally be sentences all their own, but the semicolon indicates that theyre essentially part of the same idea.
When you use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses, you may also elect to use a conjunctive adverb to clarify the relationship between the two clauses. Sentence rewritten using semicolons to avoid comma confusion. I thought semicolons were just inflated commas, and i realized that i had. Learning how to use the semicolon effectively can drastically improve the flow and clarity of a written work. Adam ofallon price july 10, 2018 3 books mentioned 15 6 min read. Commas and semicolons separate parts of sentences from one another. Click here for stepbystep rules, stories and exercises to practice all english tenses. The man who hated semicolons grammar and punctuation. This comma precedes the final item in a list or series, before the word and or or. Jul 02, 2012 semicolons, along with exclamation points and dashes and whole sackfuls of commas, are, for him, vital tools in keeping what he called the stream of thought from appearing to the reader as a wild torrent. A semicolon gives the reader less pause between two thoughts than a period and more pause than a comma.
You actually dont need a colon or semicolons in that particular sentence. If you get down to semicolons in this attempt to punctuate a broken sentence it is a good sign your sentence needs to be rewritten. So for now, this is how you use a semicolon to link parts of a sentence. The dragon promised to mop the floor, clean the dishes, and throw out the onion peels. Run on sentences occur when two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation. Three common scenarios when a semicolon would be used are these. The phrase following a semicolon has to be an independent clause, which is related to the previous one but not explaining it, contrary to a sentence introduced by a colon. Remember that using too many semicolons and colons can make a paper look cluttered, particularly a shorter paper. The independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so or by a semicolon, as you can see in the compound sentence examples below.
If we are to maintain our love of semicolons, we must use them properly. This is the second in a sixpart series about lists in apa style. Their frequency seems fitting in a story that features a main character who just happens to be reading the mill on the floss an eliot novel that, at 5. A colon is used to introduce lists of items, after the greeting of a business letter, and to separate hours and minutes in time expressions. Semicolons i have grown fond of semicolons in recent years. However, it cant be used to replace either one of them.
How to use semicolons grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Perhaps no mark of punctuation ruffles feathers more than the serial comma also called series comma, oxford comma, and harvard comma. For more information on semicolons, please see the 90second semicolon vidcast series on the purdue owl youtube channel. Jun 15, 2017 serial commas and serial semicolons by erika suffern serial commas. Semicolons let us clearly share two or more related ideas in one sentence, which keeps us from writing a bunch of short, awkward sentences about the same topic or thing.
Bryan garner a dictionary of modern american usage calls the semicolon a supercomma because its more than a comma. If you added a coordinating conjunction and a comma, you would show less of a connection. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language. Oct 01, 2006 thank you for your innovative thoughts on punctuation. Use them sparingly in order to add variety to the methods utilized to connect sentences. According to rule 1 for semicolons, use a semicolon to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out. Top 10 authors who ignored the basic rules of punctuation. Rules for using semicolons a semicolon is most commonly used to link in a single sentence two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, italics use an underline, and parentheses where ever they are needed in the following sentences. A group of words containing a subject and a verb and expressing a complete thought is called a sentence or an independent clause. In three random columns by each critic, lane uses six semicolons in two columns. All lists in apa style should include a serial commathe final comma before the conjunction. The semicolon has three main purposes, one of them mechanical and two of them more for clarity and sense.
Quite often it is the writers opinion that will determine which of the two is used. Answers to evennumbered items can be found at the back of the book. Commas, colons, and semicolons commas are used to separate ideas, to set off special elements, and to set off quotations. Using a comma would create an awkward runon sentence. Top 10 authors who ignored the basic rules of punctuation articles by may huang while the majority of sentences in published texts including this article depend on punctuation to make sense, the literary world is nonetheless no stranger to great writers. Run on sentences i am hungry a bowl of laksa sits on the table in front of me. Periods, for example, land at the end of sentences without any problem. These sections must be independent and complete sentences, but closely linked in some way. Today ill provide examples of serial commas and semicolons.
After reading the handout, you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated. I planned a fluency activity afterwards where the students had to read a sentence with the right expression using the punctuation and they had so much fun trying to sound like the characters in the book. Richard nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and english at georgia southern university and the author of several universitylevel grammar and composition textbooks. You can use the semicolon to connect two independent clauses together into one sentence. Use a semicolon in compound sentences that do not have coordinating conjunctions. The semicolon is most often used to connect two sentences.
Knowing when and how to use the period, comma, colon, semicolon, and other punctuation marks will make your writing smoother and more understandable. You could choose to not use them at all lots of novels dont contain a single semicolon. Can you imagine what a sentence without any punctuation would be like. Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma is needed. If you accidentally click on the wrong button, simply click on the button you meant to select. In a writers toolkit, few things are more versatile than a compound sentence. Because the semicolon is playing a special role in the case of the complex list, sometimes its. List cannot have a colon due to action verb renaes favorite recipe of all time is lasagna, which includes hamburger, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, noodles, and. A semicolon separates the main components of a sentence, while joining two independent clauses. Are modern authors still using colons and semicolons in dialogue. Aug 29, 2017 semicolons, cupcakes, and cucumbers newberry, steve on. This book from suicideawareness organization project semicolon chronicles the global phenomenon of the semicolon tattoo, combining photos of individuals tattoos with their stories about struggling with suicide and mental illness. Use semicolons in a serial list that contains extra punctuation within the list or when a previous independent clause contains one or more commas. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar.
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