Just Love Words

Just ♥ Words—semicolons (2)

Tuesday, 23 April 2013 10:42

Aaaah... Look how much happier Semiramis is now. She's happy because you're making progress in the  mastery of the semicolon.

For a refresher scroll down to the previous post. The gist of the semicolon is that it connects two sentences without using conjunctions—and, but, or, so, etc.

Now, a final lesson, this time using semicolons in combination with adverbial conjunctions—words like however, therefore, and nonetheless.

—Semicolons & Adverbial Conjunctions—

Why use a semicolon?
Remember: a semicolon connects two sentences.
Think of it as a combination of a period and a comma. Notice the mark has one of each—top & bottom. 

What's a conjunction?
A conjunction is a word that "conjoins," or links, two full sentences. Regular conjunctions—and, but, so, for or, not, yet—require a COMMA before the conjunction.

Example: The dog barked , and the cat ran.
Example: The dog barked , but the cat stood its ground.

What's an adverbial conjunction?
Like regular conjunctions, adverbial conjunctions link two full sentences—but with a SEMICOLON before and a COMMA after. They're "adverbs" in that they describe precisely how the 2nd sentence relates to the 1st (just like an adverb describes a verb).


Some common adverbial conjuctions

also	however	nevertheless
anyway	indeed	nonetheless
consequently	instead	now
finally	likewise	otherwise
further	meanwhile	then
furthermore	moreover	therefore

Examples—

• It was raining too hard to enjoy the game; however, she decided to go.

The adverbial conjunction "however" indicates that the 2nd part of the sentence is in OPPOSITION to the first part. You could also use...nevertheless or nonetheless or still.

__________

• It was raining too hard to enjoy the game; therefore, she decided not to go.

The adverbial conjunction "therefore" indicates that the 2nd part of the sentence is a CONSEQUENCE of the 1st part. You could also use...as a result or consequently.

__________

• It was raining too hard to enjoy the game; furthermore, she didn't feel well.

The adverbial conjunction "furthermore" indicates that the 2nd part of the sentence is an ADDITION to the 1st part. You could also use...also or moreover.

__________

• It was raining too hard to enjoy the game; instead, she went to the library.

The adverbial conjunction "instead" indicates that the 2nd part of the sentence is an ALTERNATIVE to the 1st part.

CAUTION
Don't confuse adverbial conjunctions when they're used as ADVERBS. Notice that in the following sentences they're offset by COMMAS. There's not a semicolon in sight.
 
• It was raining too hard, however, to enjoy the game.
• However, it was raining too hard to enjoy the game.

"However" functions as an ADVERB—not an adverbial conjunction—because it doesn't link two complete sentences (S + V).

__________

• She felt, therefore, that the the game would be ruined.
•Therefore, she felt that the the game would be ruined.

"Therefore" functions as an ADVERB—not an adverbial conjunction—because it doesn't link two complete sentences (S + V).

__________

• Furthermore, she didn't feel well.

"Furthermore" functions as an ADVERB—not an adverbial conjunction—because it doesn't link two complete sentences (S + V).

Just ♥ Words—semicolons (1)

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:06

People! What is wrong with you? Never have so many understood so little about a little squiggle on a page.

Meet Semiramis, warrior princess of Assyria, ruler of the semicolon. She is here to help you. You will not refuse her.

Don't panic. With a little help, you'll master the semicolon in no time—and bear the title, Semiramis of Semicolons. (Costume and spear included.)

     —Semicolons—

Why use a semicolon?
A semicolon connects two sentences.
Think of it as a combination of a period and a comma. Notice the mark has one of each—top & bottom. 

Why not use a comma?
Remember the infamous comma splice? The comma is too weak it can't hold two sentences together.
The comma is a "no-no" in that sentence because it creates a comma splice.

Why not use a period?
You can. You use a period to end the first sentence. Then start the second sentence.

The comma is too weak. It can't hold two sentences together.

When do you use a semicolon?
Sometimes you want to link ideas—two sentences that are related to one another. In that case you can use a semicolon.

The comma is too weak; it can't hold two sentences together.

A sentence is a complete thought. A period signals the end of that thought. A semicolon can extend the thought—by linking it to another complete but related thought.


Remember—
You must have two complete sentences in order to use the semicolon —  S + V on the left  ....  S + V on the right.

Example—2 (related) ideas
 2 sentences —> use a period
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game . She did not want to go.

1 sentence —> use a semicolon
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game ; she did not want to go.
                                             ________________

Example—2 (related) ideas
2 sentences —> use a period
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game . However, she decided to go.

1 sentence —> use a semicolon
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game ; however, she decided to go.

You don't have to use a semicolon to combine two sentences. You can also use a plain old conjunction — and, but, so, for, or, not, yet — always, always, always with a comma.
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game , so she did not want to go.
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game , but she decided to go.
    • It was raining too hard to enjoy the game , and she had a headache.

Just ♥ Words—heteronyms

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 10:57

It's no secret English is tough to learn. Some of it has to do with homophones and heterophones We've had fun before with words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings—homophones, like bare and bear.

This time we've got heterophones*—words that look alike but have diffferent pronounciations and meanings.

Don't You Just ♥ Words?
     —Heterophones—

1. Clara wound a bandage around his wound.
   
   
2. Every number makes my mind grow number.
   
   
3. The dump is full. Sorry, we must refuse your refuse.
   
   
4. Don't desert me in the desert.
   
   
5. Startled, the dove dove into the bushes.
   
   
6. It's ugly, but I don't object to the object.
   
   
7. No time like the present to present a good idea.
   
   
8. The oarsmen had a row about how to row.
   
   
9. She was too close to close the door.
   
   
10. A handsome buck does like his does.

There are lots of double words with different meanings. Some are spelled alike but sound differently (desert/desert) ... others sound alike but are spelled differently (ore/oar/or). Try a few on your own. It's a fun game for book clubs...or any wordsmiths.

*Heterophones can also be called heteronyms.

Just ♥ Words—capitonym

Friday, 15 June 2012 10:03

Show off your smarts with this bit of orthographic trivia—capitonymns, words that are spelled the same, pronouned the same, but change meaning if the first letter is capitalized. Like March and march.

Don't You Just ♥ Words?
—Capitonyms—

Ionic Relating to Ionia a region of Ancient Greece, as in Ionic columns.	ionic Relating to a chemical ion (an atom with an unequal # of protons and electrons)
Job A Biblical character who undergoes great suffering.	job Work, or a task, often for which one receives payment.
May The 5th month of the year of the calendar year.	may An auxillary verb used to express permission or possibility.
Lent For Christians the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday	lent The past tense of the verb lend, to give something to someone for a period of time.
Polish Relating to Poland, its people, land, or culture.	polish To give a surface of an object a glossy sheen.
Scotch Relating to Scotland in the UK, its people, land, or culture.	scotch To put an end to something, often a rumor, idea, or plan.
Turkey A country in the Meditteranean region.	turkey A large fowl Americans eat for Thanksgiving.
Welsh Relating to Wales in the UK, its people, land, or culture.	welsh To renege (go back) on an agreement

Play a game with your book club. See if you can come up with a few capitonymns of your own.