Semicolons
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- In It Together VIP
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Semicolons
For example: When it is hot outside, the sun is usually shining; and the birds like to sing.
The other time I was taught to use it was with certain conjunctions such as however.
For example: I liked the book; however, I thought the plot could have been better.
I used the second example in a review recently and was told it was incorrect. Can someone please clarify if either of these examples correctly use semicolons? Thank you!
- akinton
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Semi-colons are never used with conjunctions. They replace conjunctions and natural pauses in written thoughts. They separate two independent (but related) thoughts.
I hope this helps!
- ChillFil
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For example:
It is so very hot outside; I feel like going for a swim.
1st thought: It is very hot out
2nd thought: One feels like going for a swim
- bobtaylor_ohio
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"If two or more clauses, grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon."
Example:
Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
Both of course can be cut into separate sentence with periods.
Stevenson's romances are entertaining. They are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.
If you add a conjunction the proper mark is a comma:
Stevenson's romances are entertaining, for they are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark.
Note that you can find and read The Elements of Style for free as it is in the public domain
- DarthMom25
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The first sentence is definitely correct. As for the second sentence, I've always been taught to use a semicolon in front of words like 'however' and 'therefore' in that manner when it is separating two complete sentences that relate to one another. Is it possible that the person who corrected you is from another country? It seems that maybe they are, so they follow different rules.anneloretrujillo wrote:The other time I was taught to use it was with certain conjunctions such as however.
For example: I liked the book; however, I thought the plot could have been better.
I used the second example in a review recently and was told it was incorrect. Can someone please clarify if either of these examples correctly use semicolons? Thank you!
- bobtaylor_ohio
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- In It Together VIP
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Here's a good link to explain the rules that I mentioned in the original post.
- Leesajohnson
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Me tooChillFil wrote:In college (ENC1101) I was thought to use a semicolon to connect two 'separate' complete thoughts.
For example:
It is so very hot outside; I feel like going for a swim.
1st thought: It is very hot out
2nd thought: One feels like going for a swim
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