What's the difference between a semicolon and a comma?: Difference between revisions

From LitWiki
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
Lakeisha Williams
==What's the difference between a semicolon and a comma?==
Dr. Lucas
         
English 1101
The semicolon is used to seperate major sentence elements of
July 10, 2006
equal grammatical rank (Hacker250). The word ''semi'' means half.


                    ==The Difference Between a Semicolon and a Comma===
The comma is used to show a pause in the reading. The comma was invented to help readers.
Without it, sentence parts can collide into one another unexpectedly, causing misreadings.(Hacker235)   


         
===The Rules===


The number one difference in semicolons is the fact it is outside quotations and  
To avoid common misuses of the semicolon.
Do not use a semicolon in the following situtations.
-between a subordinate clause and the rest of the sentence
-between an apposite and the word it refers to
-to introduce a list
-between independent clauses joined by ''and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet''  (Hacker253)


commas are inside quotations. "The semicolon is used to seperate major sentence elements of
To avoid common misuses of the comma.
Do not use a comma in the following situations.
-after a coodinating conjunction
-after ''such'' as or ''like''
-before ''than''
-after ''although''
-before a parenthesis
-to set off an indirect (reported) quotation
-with a question maek or an exclamation point (Hacker249)


equal grammatical rank; Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal
To aviod unnecessary commas
-do not use a comma between compound elements that are not independent clauses
-do not use a comma to seperate a verb from its subject or object
-do not use a comma before the first or after the last item in a series
-do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives, between an adjective and a noun, or between an adverb and an adjective
-do not use a comma to set off a concluding adverb clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence (Hacker246-248)


punctuation, between closely related independent clauses not joined with a  
==The Usage==
Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal
punctuation.
between closely related independent clauses not joined with a  
coordinating conjunction
between independent clauses liked with a transitional expression (Hacker251,252)
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by ''and''
-before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses
-after an introductory word group
-between all items in a series


coordinating conjunction, and between independent clauses liked with a transitional expression."
 
Just like semicolons commas seperate items in a series, except the comma is only keeping the words from colliding.
"When related independent clauses appear in one sentence, they are ordinarily connected with a
An example of the use of commas is: Kim bought rice, corn, and grits at the store.
 
Another example is in the date and year: Today is July 10, 2006.
comma and a [[coordinating conjunction]] (and, but, or, for, so, yet). The conjunction expresses
 
the relationship between the clauses" ( Hacker 251).
 
An example is :"In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in
 
1860, the trip by railroad took two days" (Hacker 251).
 
- H.L. Mencken stated "Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice" (HACKER 251).
 
 
 
 
A comma is the most used punctuation. A comma help readers to understand to pause in between
 
their reading. "Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by ''and''. "Do not use a
 
comma between cumulative adjectives" (Hacker 238). Just like semicolons commas seperate items
 
in a series, except the comma is only keeping the words from colliding. An example of the use  
 
of commas is: Kim bought rice, corn, and grits at the store. Another example is in the date and
 
year: Today is July 10, 2006. "A comma is used to set off nonrestrictive elements. Do not use
 
commas to set off restrictive elements. Restrictive is: For camp the children needed clothes
 
''that were washable''. Nonrestrictive is: For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, ''which''
 
''were expensive''" (Hacker 239).

Revision as of 13:32, 11 July 2006

What's the difference between a semicolon and a comma?

The semicolon is used to seperate major sentence elements of equal grammatical rank (Hacker250). The word semi means half.

The comma is used to show a pause in the reading. The comma was invented to help readers. Without it, sentence parts can collide into one another unexpectedly, causing misreadings.(Hacker235)

The Rules

To avoid common misuses of the semicolon. Do not use a semicolon in the following situtations. -between a subordinate clause and the rest of the sentence -between an apposite and the word it refers to -to introduce a list -between independent clauses joined by and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet (Hacker253)

To avoid common misuses of the comma. Do not use a comma in the following situations. -after a coodinating conjunction -after such as or like -before than -after although -before a parenthesis -to set off an indirect (reported) quotation -with a question maek or an exclamation point (Hacker249)

To aviod unnecessary commas -do not use a comma between compound elements that are not independent clauses -do not use a comma to seperate a verb from its subject or object -do not use a comma before the first or after the last item in a series -do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives, between an adjective and a noun, or between an adverb and an adjective -do not use a comma to set off a concluding adverb clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence (Hacker246-248)

The Usage

Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal punctuation. between closely related independent clauses not joined with a coordinating conjunction between independent clauses liked with a transitional expression (Hacker251,252)

Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by and -before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses -after an introductory word group -between all items in a series


Just like semicolons commas seperate items in a series, except the comma is only keeping the words from colliding. An example of the use of commas is: Kim bought rice, corn, and grits at the store. Another example is in the date and year: Today is July 10, 2006.

Retrieved from "https://litwiki.org/index.php?title=What%27s_the_difference_between_a_semicolon_and_a_comma%3F&oldid=9938"