Questions tagged [semicolons]
This tag is for questions about the proper use of semicolons.
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Is this usage of the semicolon correct?
Is the usage of the semicolon in the following declaration made by Obama correct? Or would it be correct to punctuate with a comma instead?
“But what I came to admire even more was his character — his ...
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How different do you sound when you use a semicolon instead of a period? [duplicate]
Through my time using the site, I've seen native speakers use semicolons from time to time, but I don't really know why they made that choice. Look at these three examples:
The smoking rate for women ...
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Is the semicolon in this sentence used correctly?
I suspect that the semicolon in this sentence below seems wrong, because only two independent clauses can be stringed together by a semicolon. Adverbial phrases are not independent clauses.
You ...
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How to punctuate multiple associated questions?
I wrote this earlier, and it seems like the second sentence is a fragment. Do you I need to combine the sentences?
Just so we're clear, were all the files sent, now? Including any files from 4/26 ...
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Why is a comma used in this sentence instead of a semicolon?
LONDON—The U.K. government announced sweeping tax increases and spending cuts on Thursday**,** becoming the first major Western economy to start sharply limiting its spending growth after years of ...
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What is the semicolon's role here?
In this following context, how does the semi-colon play? Should it not be colon (:) or emdash (—) here? And I thought the phrase ''a ceaseless heaving of waves up and down'' may be metaphor. So I ...
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Using semi-colon in "You must do this: do A; and do B"
I am not sure if I should use a semi-colon in the example sentence below.
Can somebody help me?
To apply for your leave, first you must do the following: contact the person A
in the HR department to ...
user154167
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Semi-colons rules/writing style
At a comma, stop a little; at a semi-colon somewhat more. (R.Hodges).
Is it poetic licence to use a semi-colon this way? Or if the meaning is clear and main verb implied/understood is it standard ...
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Question regarding the semicolon
My first language is Norwegian, and even in my own language I'm always slightly uncertain if I'm using semicolons correctly. I think I know the rules, but there's always a niggling doubt whether I ...
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Semicolon or period?
Each conjunctive adverb has an individual meaning; thus, you should use whichever one fits the sense of the sentence you are writing.
The source website
Can I write these independent sentences ...
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Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
I am writing the first paragraph(introduction) of an essay. I want to write my thesis statement as follows:
I believe that preserving historical places has greater advantages than constructing new ...
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Do i need a comma or a semicolon in, "..., such as inaudible tags for indiscernible dialogue."? [closed]
Otherwise, use appropriate notation tags, such as inaudible tags for indiscernible dialogue.
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Can semicolon work as 'that is' in a sentence?
He took a new drug; abc, to treat the COVID.
He took a new drug that is abc to treat the COVID.
Is the first sentence correct? What if I use the colon?
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Semi colon usage - for situation and conclusion
I think I correctly wrote this sentence, but I wanted to double check.
I was thinking about this; I think I was confused.
I barely use semicolons, and wanted to make sure this was right.
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Is the punctuation here correct?
the following is the result of me translating and then subtitling I am not entirely sure if I should use a comma at the end of the 1st line or even in the second line. but I chose to put it as follows....
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independent clause or non-essential element, semi-colon or comma?
The sentence I'm struggling with is:
The first version was coded from scratch in HTML and CSS, it looked like a 90's webpage.
Is the comma correct? Or should it be a semi-colon?
I thought it was ...
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should I use semi-colon or just a comma? [closed]
I'm writing an essay and feels that this sentence is somehow punctuated wrong
What is the proper way to punctuate this sentence?
Financing arts is not a horrible idea, but when the public ...
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Semi-colon vs comma usage in long list
I have doubt on semicolon and comma usage, should I swap their positions? Or should I put colon instead of semicolon?
Out of the major expenses incurred by the company, raw materials accounted for ...
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Semicolon or colon in this sentence
I want to put an semicolon in his sentence, but I am not sure it is right.
Hi, SCM deployed this; it is ready for testing.
Also, could a colon be used in place of the semi-colon?
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Is this the correct use of a semicolon?
Why should we be reading things that don’t interest or portain to us on standardized test; the tests that matter the most?
I'm trying to put a pause and more emphasis on, "the tests that matter the ...
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Sentence comma check
I would like to check the use of a comma in a report I am checking.
Should the sentence (simplified) be:
In the tower, there is something of interest.
In the tower there is something of interest.
In ...
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A semi-colon with "however" vs. a comma with "but"
Is there any significant difference between these two sentences?
Joseph created a few sets himself, but the first manufacturers who inspected his new game did not think it was likely to become very ...
user66705
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Punctuation: in five countries; namely, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Turkey
Is the punctuation of this sentence correct?
The table given illustrates the expenditure on various products in five countries; namely, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.
Is the usage of a ...
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What's more appropriate? (colon and semicolon usage)
She excelled in baking: her cakes and cookies won many awards.
Why should we use a colon and not a semicolon? Or can a semicolon still be utilized in place of a colon (in this example)?
We had a ...
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To use a colon or comma
I'm wondering whether to use a colon, semicolon or comma in the following sentence.
I've come to a tough conclusion: The second book is better than the first.
Is that correct? Or would a semicolon ...
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Correct way to enumerate ideas in English
My mother tongue is Spanish and in Spanish the correct way to enumerate ideas is saying something like the following:
I have many ideas, among them we can find: idea A; idea B; idea C ;and finally, ...
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Is the use of semicolon in the mentioned text correct?
I think comma is a better choice instead of the semicolon in the following text. Isn't it?
Faulkner’s starting point is Burge’s "acceptance principle";
according to which, a person is entitled to ...
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Is this a correct usage of a semicolon
Directly from my paper
It is therefore important to understand the source of V and its geochemical dynamics in these systems; this has not been extensively explored in the literature
Or should I ...
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little doable or very little to do?
which is the most grammatical of those sentences?
There is very little doable about this issue, we just have to work harder.
Other than working harder, we can do little about this issue.
There is ...
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A comma or a semicolon?
Which is grammatically correct?
a. Sue enjoyed the lunch at Jamey's restaurant : eating two portions of rice and cheese.
b. Sue enjoyed the lunch at Jamey's restaurant ; eating two portions ...
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Why are semicolons used in "More details: control PRO; pro; other instances of ellipsis" instead of simple commas?
The list below is taken from Barbara Abbott's 'Definiteness and Indefiniteness.' My query is not related to the contents of the paper but it is about the punctuation she uses, about the use of ...
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Am I using the semicolon correctly here or should a period be more appropriate?
In this sentence, can I use a semicolon, or is a period more appropriate?
When she was a child, she wanted to be an explorer; now she can't even leave her own house.
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How should I punctuate the first part of my list?
This is part of a resume.
Work Experience:
Freelance Translator
Translated two files of a hotel (525 words) and edited the translation of a third one (392 words) for a translation ...
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Colon & Semi-colon before AND
I've studied that comma is used before FANBOYS ("For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So"), but in the following lines extracted from text there had been used colon and semicolon before AND. I could not ...
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Authority on Semicolon usage
I am looking for a source which is considered 'the' authority on semicolon usage in the English language. I aim to compare semicolon usage in two parallel corpora, one of which is in English. For the ...
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Colon or Semicolon for this sentence [closed]
If I ever told you I like apples: I lied.
or
If I ever told you I like apples; I lied.
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I want to... because A; B; and C. Semicolon necessary to avoid comma splice?
How do I write a sentence that contains because and 3 independent sentences/reasons?
For example,
I wanted Leicester to win the league because they were underdogs; the other teams had spent more ...
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What does `with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.` mean here?
The target sentence
https://docs.gimp.org/2.8/en/
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any ...
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Is a comma or semicolon used after the phrase, "that's all"?
In the sentence, "Today, I watched some TV and studied for my exam, that's all," would either a comma or semicolon go after "that's all"?
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Do I need a comma or semi colon after "held to" in this sentence?
In this sentence:
These will be covenants that we decide to be held to, not forced, but encouraged, so that each of us has the opportunity to further mature in our faith.
Do I need a comma or semi ...
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Confusion over a semicolon and commas
Researches so far
How to use a semicolon
I am confused over a sentence from The consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton.
... ask yourselves whether a tree that is supposed to grow to a ...
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Should there be a semicolon before "and" in this sentence?
Can someone help with me with punctuating this sentence correctly?
I attended several symposiums, workshops, and summer schools, and
presented my work at various conferences.
Should the comma ...
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To Laugh Often and Much
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to ...
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May this seem a, "complete sentence"?
"The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson
May, "; not to affect your ...
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Semicolon in "I put conditioner on my hairy knuckles; it makes them soft and shiny."
Is this semicolon correct?
"I put conditioner on my hairy knuckles; it makes them soft and shiny."
(Ignore the strange statements, it's a project for year 7.)
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semicolon vs conjunction "and"?
Does using a semicolon to join two clauses form a coordinate construction with two clauses coordinated and is it the same as with "and" and are such sentences interchangeable ? And can we omit words(...
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Is this semicolon used correctly?
The difference between Leibniz and Schopenhauer is that the former is optimistic; the latter, pessimistic.
I don't think the part after the semicolon is an independent clause so how can a semicolon ...
user8959
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So a Comma Separates Non Essentials Within A Sentence?
I've always had trouble with commas and semicolons. My understanding is that upon division of a sentence there is an essential part called a clause, and additional parts are then separated with commas,...
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Semicolon usage in a sentence
Is it correct to use a semicolon or a comma in this sentence?
I worked on quite a few projects and websites since 2009; some of them are shown in the portfolio above.
user1853
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"Life changes; memories don't." A comma would be better?
I came across this sentence on a blog.
Life changes; memories don't.
The first time I read this sentence, I knew something was wrong.
If I'm not wrong, a semicolon is used between two independent ...
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