http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299711Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:299711Goodman0http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299711http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-299711.xmlGhost Writer wrote: I understand the concept that too many semicolons can make a writing look like it came from the late 1800s. I'm interested in the dualism. I want something to add to my writing toolkit. If the dualism doesn't exist, that's all I need to know. I'm not looking for a subjective opinion . Besides answering posted questions, the experts sometimes have other commentaries and opinions. Whether those opinions are relevant to your questions, it’s in my belief that you should honor them as an advice and show some respect. This is call common courtesy.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299658Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:299658Clive1http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299658http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-299658.xmlHi, Can I put 2 commas in one sentence? e.g: Firstly, If you've done your job, you'll go. Yes, more than one comma is OK. ( In your example, don't capitalize 'if'. ) Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299535Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:299535Penicillin2http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#299535http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-299535.xmlCan I put 2 commas in one sentence? e.g: Firstly, If you've done your job, you'll go.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244856Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244856Inchoateknowledge3http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244856http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244856.xmlDespite this, if you look at advanced reading exam papers, the texts abound in dashes, colons... .http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244852Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244852Ghost Writer4http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244852http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244852.xmlI understand the concept that too many semicolons can make a writing look like it came from the late 1800s. I'm interested in the dualism. I want something to add to my writing toolkit. If the dualism doesn't exist, that's all I need to know. I'm not looking for a subjective opinion.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244836Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244836Clive5http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244836http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244836.xmlHi, Here's a general and subjective comment about semi-colons and colons. The first time I taught these to my class, I found that everyone's writing became full of them. They appeared in just about every sentence. Now I tell people that one semi-colon and one colon per essay is enough, and maybe even too much. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244814Fri, 22 May 2009 10:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244814Ghost Writer6http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244814http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244814.xmlI know those things already. That source gives basic semicolon insight.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244812Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244812Betsy7http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htm#244812http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244812.xmlSemicolon use A semicolon following an independent clause signals that what follows is also an independent clause whose meaning is of equal importance to the first. Joining two clauses with a semicolon alone is appropriate only when the clauses are closely related and the relationship is clear. If they are not closely related, you probably should make them separate sentences. RULE: Although an independent clause following a semicolon is essentially a complete sentence, it never begins with a capital letter. Unlike a coordinating conjunction [ and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet ), a conjunctive adverb [ however, nevertheless, accordingly, besides, indeed, similarly, then, thus, therefore, that is and others , or a transitional expression ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htmSun, 22 Mar 2009 11:03:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244808Ghost Writer8http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaAndSemicolonDualism/cpxbw/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-244808.xmlSometimes I will be creating a sentence and put a semicolon in; this leads to a new sentence. But would it be correct to use the semicolon is such a way? When using "this" or "that" after a colon or semicolon, what is the correct way to do so? Example: "Stop sweating over other people's writing, unless they're asking. Concentrate on your own; that's what we're here for." Should the semicolon have been a colon? Is there a dual exception?