Just ♥ Words—semicolons (1)

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.