Anonymous  +  599598 Sun, 30 Nov 08 07:18 AM Hello, I have a quick question. I wrote an essay on Thursday, and I'm not sure if I punctuated a sentence correctly: Some repent for a lifetime; others, an eternity. Was a colon or a semicolon appropriate? I know colons are used with antithesis, but does that still hold true when it's an incomplete sentence? Actually — now that I look at it, I wonder if that comma was even necessary. Hmm... I can't believe I made such a stupid mistake. Oh well. Anonymous Colons, Commas, Essays, Semicolons

	Mister Micawber  +  599639 Sun, 30 Nov 08 08:30 AM . Yes, no comma.  And no colon.  Colons easily support clause fragments on their right, but semicolons normally require an independent clause on either hand.  The extreme terseness of the second clause makes the structure iffy, but I doubt your teacher will notice anything awry. . Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,507 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Clauses, Colons, Commas, Semicolons