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

Latest revision as of 21:49, 17 July 2006

The comma is a valuable, useful punctuation device because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments (Purdue OWL). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "comma" comes from the Greek komma, which means "something cut off" or "a short clause" (Wikipedia).

The semicolon is used when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words (Purdue OWL). The word semi means half. For example: I am going home; I intend to stay there (Purdue OWL).

Rules

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 (Hacker 251,252).

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

Usuage Semicolon

Items in a Series

The semicolon is always used instead of the comma after items in a series when these items are long or complicated (Word Book).

Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader (Hacker 252).

Closely Related Independent Clauses

A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been omitted between independent clauses. To use merely a comma creates a kind of run-on sentence known as a comma splice (Hacker 251).

In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in 1860, the trip railroad took two days (Hacker 251).

Transitional Expressions

When a transitional expression appears in the middle or at the end of the second independent clause, the semicolon goes between the clause (Hacker 252).

Most singers gain fame through hard work and dedication; Evita, however, found other means (Hacker 252).

Usage Commas

Coordinate Adjectives

When two or more adjectives each modify a noun separately, they are coordinate (Hacker 238).

Roberto is a warm, gentle, affectionate father (Hacker 238).

Coordinating Conjunction

When a coordinating conjunction connects two or more independent clauses- word groups that could stand alone as seperate sentences- a comma must precede it (Hacker 235).

Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in love at first dance (Hacker 236).

Introductory Word Groups

The most common introductory word groups are clauses and phrases functioning as adverbs (Hacker 236).

When Keishawnna was ready to play kickball, her sister held the ball and started to cry.

Items in a Series

Unless you are writing for a publication that follows another convention, seperate all items in a series- including the last two- with commas (Hacker 237).

Bubbles of air, leaves, ferns, bits of wood, and insects are often found trapped in amber (Hacker 237).

Nonrestrictive Elements

Because it contains nonessential or parenthetical information, a nonrestrictive element is set off with commas (Hacker 239).

For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, which were expensive (Hacker 239).

Transitional and Parenthetical Expressions, Absolute Phrases,and Constrasted Elements

Transitional expressions serve as bridges between sentences or parts of sentences (Hacker 242).

Ja'Niyah did not understand her homework; morever, she was unfamiliar with algebra.

Parenthetical expressions that are distinctly parenthetical should be set off with commas (Hacker 242).

Evolution, so far as we know, doesn't work this way (Hacker 243).

Absolute phrases should be set off with commas(Hacker 243).

Our grant having been approved, we were at last able to begin the archaeological dig (Hacker 243).

Sharp constrasts beginning with words such as not and unlike are set off with commas (Hacker 243).

Nouns of Direct Adress, Words Yes and No, Interrogative Tags, and Mild Interjections

Forgive us, Mr. Williams, for burning the Apple pie.

Yes,the doctor will probably see you now.

The film was faithful to the book, wasn't it (Hacker 244)?

Well, cases like these are difficult to decide (Hacker 244).

Direct Quotations

"Convictions are more dangerous foes of the truth than lies," wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (Hacker 244).

Dates, Addresses, Titles, and Numbers

In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas (Hacker 244).

On July 19, 2006, our LitWiki is due.

Alexis Williams was born in Macon, Georgia, in 2003.

If a title follows a name, separate it from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas (Hacker 245).

Sandra Barnes, M.D.,performed the surgery (Hacker 245).

In numbers more than four digits long, use commas to separate the numbers into groups of three, starting from the right (Hacker 245).

3,500
100,000
500,000

Confusion

Sometimes a sentence will not make sence without a comma.

To err is human; to forgive, is divine (Hacker 245).

Links

Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences [1]
Using Commas [2]
Wiki encyclopedia [3]
Punctuation [4]

Works Cited

Hacker,Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003
"Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences." OWL.1995-2005 Purdue University Online Writing Lab.7/13/06

<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_commacomp.html>

"Using Commas". OWL.1994-2005 Purdue University Online Writing Lab.7/13/06.<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html>
Cooley, Marianne. "Punctuation." Word Book Online Reference Center. 2006. Word Book Inc.12 July, 2006 <http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar451700>
"Comma(Puctuation)".Wikipedia.15 July,2006.WikiMedia.Free Online Encyclopedia.7/13/06.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_%28punctuation%29>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Lakeisha Williams
+The comma is a valuable, useful punctuation device because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments (Purdue OWL).
-Dr. Lucas
+According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "comma" comes from the Greek komma, which means "something cut off" or "a short clause" (Wikipedia).
-English 1101
-July 10, 2006
-                    ==The Difference Between a Semicolon and a Comma===
+The semicolon is used when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words (Purdue OWL). The word ''semi'' means half.
+For example: I am going home; I intend to stay there (Purdue OWL).
+==Rules==
+===Semicolons===
-The number one difference in semicolons is the fact it is outside quotations and
+*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 (Hacker 251,252).
-commas are inside quotations. "The semicolon is used to seperate major sentence elements of
+===Commas===
-equal grammatical rank; Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal
+*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
+*to set off nonrestrictive elements
+*to set off transitional and parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, and contrasted elements
+*to set off nouns of direct address, the words ''yes'' and ''no'', interrogative tags, and mild interjections
+*with expressions such as ''he said'' to set off direct quotations
+*with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers
+*to pervent confusion (Hacker 235-245).
-punctuation, between closely related independent clauses not joined with a
+==Usuage Semicolon==
-coordinating conjunction, and between independent clauses liked with a transitional expression."
+===Items in a Series===
-"When related independent clauses appear in one sentence, they are ordinarily connected with a
+The semicolon is always used instead of the comma after items in a series when these items are long or complicated (Word Book).
-comma and a [[coordinating conjunction]] (and, but, or, for, so, yet). The conjunction expresses
+Classic science fiction sagas are ''Star Trek'', with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and ''Star Wars'', with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader (Hacker 252).
-the relationship between the clauses" ( Hacker 251).
+===Closely Related Independent Clauses===
-An example is :"In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in
+A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been omitted between independent clauses. To use merely a comma creates a kind of run-on sentence known as a comma splice (Hacker 251).
-, the trip by railroad took two days" (Hacker 251).
+In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in 1860, the trip railroad took two days (Hacker 251).
-- H.L. Mencken stated "Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice" (HACKER 251).
+===Transitional Expressions===
+When a transitional expression appears in the middle or at the end of the second independent clause, the semicolon ''goes between the clause'' (Hacker 252).
+Most singers gain fame through hard work and dedication; Evita, however, found other means (Hacker 252).
+== Usage Commas==
-A comma is the most used punctuation. A comma help readers to understand to pause in between
+===Coordinate Adjectives===
-their reading. "Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by ''and''. "Do not use a
+When two or more adjectives each modify a noun separately, they are coordinate (Hacker 238).
-comma between cumulative adjectives" (Hacker 238). Just like semicolons commas seperate items
+Roberto is a ''warm, gentle, affectionate'' father (Hacker 238).
-in a series, except the comma is only keeping the words from colliding. An example of the use
+===Coordinating Conjunction===
-of commas is: Kim bought rice, corn, and grits at the store. Another example is in the date and
+When a coordinating conjunction connects two or more independent clauses- word groups that could stand alone as seperate sentences- a comma must precede it (Hacker 235).
-year: Today is July 10, 2006. "A comma is used to set off nonrestrictive elements. Do not use
+Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in love at first dance (Hacker 236).
-commas to set off restrictive elements. Restrictive is: For camp the children needed clothes
+===Introductory Word Groups===
-''that were washable''. Nonrestrictive is: For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, ''which''
+The most common introductory word groups are clauses and phrases functioning as adverbs (Hacker 236).
-''were expensive''" (Hacker 239).
+When Keishawnna was ready to play kickball, her sister held the ball and started to cry.
+===Items in a Series===
+Unless you are writing for a publication that follows another convention, seperate all items in a series- including the last two- with commas (Hacker 237).
+Bubbles of air, leaves, ferns, bits of wood, and insects are often found trapped in amber (Hacker 237).
+===Nonrestrictive Elements===
+Because it contains nonessential or parenthetical information, a nonrestrictive element is set off with commas (Hacker 239).
+For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, ''which were expensive'' (Hacker 239).
+===Transitional and Parenthetical Expressions, Absolute Phrases,and Constrasted Elements===
+Transitional expressions serve as bridges between sentences or parts of sentences (Hacker 242).
+Ja'Niyah did not understand her homework; morever, she was unfamiliar with algebra.
+Parenthetical expressions that are distinctly parenthetical should be set off with commas (Hacker 242).
+Evolution, so far as we know, doesn't work this way (Hacker 243).
+Absolute phrases should be set off with commas(Hacker 243).
+Our grant having been approved, we were at last able to begin the archaeological dig (Hacker 243).
+Sharp constrasts beginning with words such as'' not'' and ''unlike''  are set off with commas (Hacker 243).
+===Nouns of Direct Adress, Words'' Yes'' and ''No'', Interrogative Tags, and Mild Interjections===
+Forgive us, Mr. Williams, for burning the Apple pie.
+Yes,the doctor will probably see you now.
+The film was faithful to the book, wasn't it (Hacker 244)?
+Well, cases like these are difficult to decide (Hacker 244).
+===Direct Quotations===
+"Convictions are more dangerous foes of the truth than lies," wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (Hacker 244).
+===Dates, Addresses, Titles, and Numbers===
+In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas (Hacker 244).
+On July 19, 2006, our LitWiki is due.
+Alexis Williams was born in Macon, Georgia, in 2003.
+If a title follows a name, separate it from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas (Hacker 245).
+Sandra Barnes, M.D.,performed the surgery (Hacker 245).
+In numbers more than four digits long, use commas to separate the numbers into groups of three, starting from the right (Hacker 245).
+*3,500
+*100,000
+*500,000
+===Confusion===
+Sometimes a sentence will not make sence without a comma.
+To err is human; to forgive, is divine (Hacker 245).
+==Links==
+*Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences [http://OWL.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_commacomp.html]
+*Using Commas [http://OWL.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html]
+*Wiki encyclopedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_%28punctuation%29]
+*Punctuation [http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar451700]
+==Works Cited==
+*Hacker,Diana. ''A Writer's Reference.'' 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003
+*"Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences." OWL.1995-2005 Purdue University ''Online Writing Lab''.7/13/06
+<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_commacomp.html>
+*"Using Commas". OWL.1994-2005 Purdue University ''Online Writing Lab''.7/13/06.<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html>
+*Cooley, Marianne. "Punctuation." ''Word Book Online'' Reference Center. 2006. Word Book Inc.12 July, 2006 <http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar451700>
+*"Comma(Puctuation)".Wikipedia.15 July,2006.WikiMedia.''Free Online Encyclopedia''.7/13/06.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_%28punctuation%29>