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

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 a valuable, useful punctuation device because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments (OWL at Purdue University). 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

semicolons

• 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)

commas

• 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
• use commas to set off nonrestrictive elements

"For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, which were expensive."

• use a comma to set off transitional and parenthetical expressions,absolute phrases, and contrasted elements
• use commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections
• use commas with expressions such as he said to set off direct quotations
• use commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers
• use commas to pervent confusion (Hacker 235-245)

Links

• OWL Online Writing Lab [(http://owl.english.purdue.edu.)]

Works Cited

• Hacker,Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003
• "Using Commas." OWL 1994-2004 Purdue University Online Writing Lab. 12July.2006[<(htt://owl.english.purdue.edu)>]