The semicolon is one of the least understood of the standard marks, and so it is probably not used by many English speakers.
Semicolons can also be used in place of commas to separate the items in a list, particularly when the elements of that list contain commas. When a semicolon joins two or more ideas in one sentence, those ideas are then given equal rank. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. What’s going on here? The first part is not an independent clause, so no semicolon is required.The semicolon or semi-colon is a symbol commonly used as orthographic punctuation. Incorrect: Because cows smell they offend me.Ĭorrect: Because cows smell, they offend me. Avoid using a semicolon when a comma is needed: What’s going on here? It’s unclear where the first independent clause ends and the second independent clause begins. Incorrect: Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millennia, are still one of the great species of this planet, domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by.Ĭorrect: Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millennia, are still one of the great species of this planet domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by. What’s going on here? It’s unclear what the three list items are, since the items are separated by commas.
Incorrect: I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good, they give us beef, which also tastes good, and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.Ĭorrect: I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good they give us beef, which also tastes good and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats. What’s going on here? The conjunctive adverb however signals a connection between two independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction. Incorrect: I like cows, however, I hate the way they smell.Ĭorrect: I like cows however, I hate the way they smell. What’s going on here? Both parts of the sentence are independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction. Incorrect: The cow is brown, it is also old.Ĭorrect: The cow is brown it is also old. Some people write with a word processor, tablet, or even a phone but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.Īvoid using a comma when a semicolon is needed: Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.
Replace semicolon with greek question mark series#
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