Search results for 'tag:Clauses tag:Semicolons' matching tags 'Clauses' and 'Semicolons'

Re: I don't understand this unusual extract

Mr Wordy — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:48:33 GMT

1. I don't know that this is anything to do with metonymy, but, yes, "the one" = "his life" and "the other" = "his money".

2. Yes, it's an incomplete sentence, but clauses separated by semicolons don't have to be complete sentences. A good deal of flexibility is possible. Having said that, the passage in question is typical of the long and convoluted constructions that authors such as Melville took delight in, and this style would not be so popular nowadays.

Re: Use of however (Guest:Sam)

Mister Micawber — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:11:06 GMT

.
I find this simple and effective, too:

I like apples; however, If I eat them in the morning I throw up.
The book is expensive; however, it's worth it.

The semicolon (instead of the period) is useful particularly when the two independent clauses are so closely related that necessary context for the second clause is found only in the first clause. Here, the referents for them and it must be searched in the previous clause.

Re: semicolon usage

Mister Micawber — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:59:16 GMT

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They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentences. It is very much your call, contextually or otherwise, with such as #1. (#2 and 3 won't stand alone well-- if at all-- because too much of the understood context of the second clause resides only in the first clause.)

My feeling is that as often as not the semicolon is used as relief from the full stop. It helps vary the pace of the discourse.

semicolon usage

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:12:15 GMT

Hi,

I wonder how close the relationship between the two clauses (or more??) have to be in order to be able to use a semicolon.

1.They complained because they sister dies at forty; they said God was unfair.

2.Foolishness didn't seem to be the problem; not surprisingly, continued hostility was.

3. Some animals thrive in captivity; others will not.

I think no. 2 and 3 look to be connected in content, whereas no. 1 would be doubtful. I am sure there are cases where it would be hard to call whether it is related. Can you tell me how to measure that if there is a meothod? Should be related contextually? Yes, I think, but I thhnk it can be related chronologically or sequentially or some other ways. Am I right?

Re: need help in 2 sentence

Goodman — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:38:27 GMT

<<.>>I find it more natural to say "The day of the appointment..." or "The day of my appointment..."

Exactly how I would say it.
Cute,
Let me be as plain as I can about your writing without being too discouraging or disappointing.
I think you are trying very hard to achieve what your mind believes to be a sophisticated writing sytle. That's all good when
you are ready. However, I'd suggest that you strengthen your basic structure first before getting fancy with words and styles.
Semicolon can not be used in fragments nor independent clauses. When possible, use comma instead. Colon usage is also tricky.
If you have a listing of some sort, that's one of the applications. Other than that, it's very easy to misuse it. Here is something
that may be helpful to you.

http://www.myenglishteacher.net/USINGCOLONS.HTML

The most common mistake with colons is when the colon is placed right in the middle of an independent clause (a complete idea or sentence). A colon should be written AFTER an independent clause or complete idea. Take a look at the following example.

Every repairman must have: a screwdriver, a hammer, and a saw.

Most people would say this sentence is fine; however, it is incorrect. Look a the part of this sentence BEFORE the colon.

Every repairman must have:

Is this a complete idea (independent clause)? NO. Could someone say, "Every repairman must have"? Of course, not. It doesn't make sense and it is meaningless. This is why the colon was not used correctly here.

So, how do you fix it? Just make the part of the sentence before the colon a complete idea. Take a look at the following sentence.

There are three things every repairman must have: a screwdriver, a hammer, and a saw.

Is the part of the sentence before the colon a complete idea?

There are three things every repairman must have:

Yes! This is a complete idea. Of course, the listener or reader might want to ask what the three things are that every repairman must have, but this is still a complete idea (independent clause).

Re: Semicolon

Old Man Gordon — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:20:11 GMT

It's not correct.

You need to have complete, independent clauses on each side of the semicolon.

The semicolon replaces conjunctions like 'and', when the connection is clear.

A simple change can make it more correct..

The two puffy pillows sit at the corner of the bed; they remind me of the pillow fights ...

Re: I have these sentences, can you help? thanks

Clive — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:37:14 GMT

Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.
I am new to this site, if i am doing this wrong please correct me but i need your opinion and was so happy when i came upon this site. English is not my strong suit but i try and reason as you will see below.

Just what would you do, Cheryl, if the situation were reversed? This is correct as written.
(Am I correct to say remove the comma before Cheryl?)

The new machine, which I haven't even learned to operate yet, is out of order.
(I think it is correctly punctuated and yet i think you should remove the comma after machine)
Leave both commas in if this is 'non-identifying' information.
take both commas out if it is 'identifying' information. eg
Question: Which machine?
Answer:The one which I haven't learned to operate yet. Not the one that I have learned to operate.

Did the Novelist Ernest Hemingway once live here? It's correct as written. Don't put a capital 'N'.,
(I am leaning toward Correctly punctuated, but still i think i should add a comma after Hemingway)

Queen Mary wanted her death to be remembered, therefore, she staged a pageant.
(I am thinking change the comma after remembered to a semicolon <<< Yes or should I just remove the comma)
I would replace the comma after 'remembered' with a period.

A first class employee is: dependable, loyal, and efficient.
(I would add a hyphen after first Yes. The adjective is 'first-class'.

as you use a colon after an independent clause when a series follow right? Just remove the colon. I'd also remove the comma after 'loyal'.

It's just a very short and simple sentence.A first-class employee is dependable, loyal and efficient.

Best wishes, Clive

I have these sentences, can you help? thanks

lynlu2000 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:20:39 GMT

Hi I am new to this site, if i am doing this wrong please correct me but i need your opinion and was so happy when i came upon this site. English is not my strong suit but i try and reason as you will see below.

Just what would you do, Cheryl, if the situation were reversed?
(Am I correct to say remove the comma before Cheryl?)

The new machine, which I haven't even learned to operate yet, is out of order.
(I think it is correctly punctuated and yet i think you should remove the comma after machine)

Did the Novelist Ernest Hemingway once live here?
(I am leaning toward Correctly punctuated, but still i think i should add a comma after Hemingway)

Queen Mary wanted her death to be remembered, therefore, she staged a pageant.
(I am thinking change the comma after remembered to a semicolon or should I just remove the comma)

A first class employee is: dependable, loyal, and efficient.
(I would add a hyphen after first as you use a colon after an independent clause when a series follow right?

Re: Punctuation-commas and so on

Mister Micawber — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:58:51 GMT

.
He usually has a shower, and then he has a shave and brushes his teeth.
He usually has a shower; then, he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

This is a mundane description of a daily activity. The semicolon and subsequent comma in the second sentence break the sentence into formal segments that do not reflect the quick, quotidian flow of banal activities. If there were not a subject in the second clause of the first sentence, I would eliminate its lone comma, too:

He usually has a shower and then has a shave and brushes his teeth.

Re: Punctuation-commas and so on

bhikkhu1991 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:14:34 GMT

Hello Mister Micawber,

I appreciate your kind reply. Here, I would like to point out the second sentence that has two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb is required to be separated by a semicolon. Further, a comma is then needed after the conjunctive adverb 'then'. I have recently found out about this information on the Internet, http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/grammar_subordinate.html , 'Subordinate Conjunction, Note 2, (B)'.

He usually has a shower, and then he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

He usually has a shower; then, he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

Thank you.

With best wishes.