Anonymous  +  765765 Thu, 04 Jun 09 11:35 PM Below is a sentence included in a personal statement I am writing or grad school. I can't figure out how to structure the bolded area.  Do I place a comma there (I'm worried that this sentence has too many commas already), should I use the semicolon (something tells me that's not correct), or should I break this sentence into two sentences?  Help! Thanks! Despite many personal adversities, I have continued to persevere; proving to myself and those around me that I am determined to not only be successful, but that I am also determined to leave this world a better place. Anonymous Commas, Punctuation, Semicolons, Personal Statements, Sentences

	Philip  +  765798 Fri, 05 Jun 09 12:09 AM No semi-colon!  A semi-colon acts as a period, separating what could be written as two separate, complete sentences.  Use a comma. Too many words in what follows, however.  It can be condensed: ..., proving to myself and those around me that I am determined not only to be successful but also to leave this world.....    I "cleaned up" the parallel structure for you.  I also "unsplit" your infinitive. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,733 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Colons, Commas, Punctuation, Sentences