How do you use a semicolon?: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:53, 12 July 2006

The use of semicolon

The semicolon is used to separate major sentence elements of equal grammatical lengths (Hacker 250).
The semicolon is used between closely related independent clauses not

joined with a coordinating conjunction (Hacker 251).

Related independent clauses in one sentence are usually connected with a

comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).

- The conjunction expresses the relation between the clauses. If the

relation is clear without the conjunction, a writer may choose to connect the clauses with a semicolon instead (Hacker 251).

"Injustice is relatively easy to bear;what stings is justice." - H.L.Mencken

A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been

omitted between independent clauses.If a comma is used instead of a semicolon, it creates a kind of run-on sentence called a comma splice.

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 ==The use of semicolon==
-*The semicolon is used between closely related independent clauses not
+*The semicolon is used to separate major sentence elements of equal grammatical lengths (Hacker 250).
+*The semicolon is used between closely related independent clauses not
 joined with a coordinating conjunction (Hacker 251).
+*Related independent clauses in one sentence are usually connected with a
-Related independent clauses in one sentence are usually connected with a
 comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
+**The conjunction expresses the relation between the clauses. If the
-The conjunction expresses the relation between the clauses. If the
+relation is clear without the conjunction, a writer may choose to connect the clauses with a semicolon instead (Hacker 251).
+:*"''Injustice is relatively easy to bear;what stings is justice''." - H.L.Mencken
-relation is clear without the conjunction, a writer may choose to connect
+*A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been
+omitted between independent clauses.If a comma is used instead of a
-the clauses with a semicolon instead (Hacker 251).
+semicolon, it creates a kind of run-on sentence called a comma splice.
-:Injustice is relatively easy to bear;what stings is justice.
-							--H.L.Mencken
-A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been
-omitted between independent clauses.If a comma is used instead of a
-semicolon, it creates a rather of run-on sentence called a comma splice.