Search results for 'tag:Commas tag:Colons' matching tags 'Commas' and 'Colons'

Re: questions about possibility

Mr Wordy — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:51:33 GMT

Hi Tuongvan, you have continuing problems with spacing around punctuation.

You do not need spaces before question marks:

Who could have broken it ? -- incorrect (or non-standard)

Who could have broken it? -- correct

When you use a full stop, comma, colon or semicolon, put a single space after it, and no space before.

Situation1 :The window was broken yesterday .Now I ask Jim : -- incorrect

Situation 1: The window was broken yesterday. Now I ask Jim: -- correct

As far as your other questions are concerned, I've tried to describe my usage below, as best I can.

Who could/can have broken it? -- Both OK.
Who might have broken it? -- OK, but to me tends to suggest that there are a known group of suspects.
Who may have broken it? -- not natural to me.

Is Jack coming to Ann's birthday party? / Is Jack going to come to Ann's birthday party? -- These are the most common ways to ask.
Will Jack come to Ann's birthday party? -- OK.
Might Jack come to Ann's birthday party? -- Possible; more polite, and tends to imply greater doubt about whether he'll come.
May Jack come to Ann's birthday party? -- Could theoretically mean "does Jack have permission to come", but this use is somewhat old-fashioned, and the sentence is not very natural to me.
Can Jack come to Ann's birthday party? -- Fine. Asks if he is able to come (has permission/opportunity).
Could Jack come to Ann's birthday party? -- Same, but expresses greater doubt/politeness.

Could he have lost his way? -- Fine.
Can he have lost his way? -- OK, but less likely.
Might he have lost his way? -- OK; more formal.
May he have lost his way? -- Not natural to me.

Re: You and I vs. You and me

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:36:28 GMT

Thank you so much. What would the complete sentence look like? Are there any commas or semi-colons in it?

Re: Use of however (Guest:Sam)

Clive — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:51:43 GMT

Hi,
How do I set up the word however? I like apples; however, If I eat them in the morning I throw up. Forget about the sentence where do I put the comma and the semi-colon?
The simplest and most common approach is just to use a period.

I like apples. However, if I eat them in the morning I throw up.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Use of however (Guest:Sam)

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:44:31 GMT

How do I set up the word however? I like apples; however, If I eat them in the morning I throw up. Forget about the sentence where do I put the comma and the semi-colon?

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).

Deciding

Liveinjapan — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:25:25 GMT

The two met just before G-8 members plunged into a discussion about the major problems on the agenda: deciding whether to set new targets for reducing emissions that contribute to global warming, and deciding what to do about rising food and oil prices.

What does the cluase starts with deciding refer to? The agenda or a discussion or G-8 members?

Can the colon be replaced with a comma?

Thanks in advance.

Re: How to use dash, colon, semicolon ?

Grammar Geek — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:31:14 GMT

Pleasecorrectme

Does using too much Colons and semicolons make writing seem very unnatural? Then how can I use or learn to use these punctuation marks naturally ? ( Including other punctuation marks )

Hello PCM,

The key to your question is "too much." Too much of anything is unnatural. Even ice cream. (Although, happily, I haven't found that point yet when it comes to ice cream.)

Colons are really not often used. Your example is a good one. Use them before a list. Until you have written a great deal, don't try to insert them into running text (standard prose).

The comment about not using "and" and a semicolon refers to using the semicolon to seperate two complete thoughts; and so, you would not use it like this. (That was an example of incorrect useage.)

One way to use a semicolon is back to the idea of lists. If items within the list have commas within them, then use the semicolon to seperate each item. You will have a semicolon and an "and" in the list that way. We visited several cites: Portland, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; and Hartord, CT.

Re: How to use dash, colon, semicolon ?

Feebs11 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:16:32 GMT

Pleasecorrectme
Thank you so much ! The website helps a lot ! Hmmm ... but ... the site said that dash can be used to emphasize on a point . Can it be use on any point? Does it have to be a sentence or can it be just a phrase ?

E.g .   But we managed to get out in time - I hoped .    (acceptable?)     <-- is this emphasizing on a point? Acceptable - and indicating a pause for effect when spoken

           She just stood there, not moving - at all - not until we move . (What about this?)      <-- a phrase ? If written as: not moving at all - not until we moved, then it is fine.
I think the use of the dash to emphasize a point is better shown as: There are several things to be considered - correct spelling, correct grammar, correct usage.

And .. and ! Colon and semi-colon . Is it apporiate to use in this way :

E.g . A few excellent ideas were thought out by our committee members: Ashley with the idea on holding an open house; John with the idea on printing booklets; and Jolin with the idea on giving a presentation.

Some website said that   " ; and " cannot be used together, they have to be changed to   " , and " , so I have to change it? And according to the website you suggested, it says that a semi-colon is used to separated sentence with commas . So the above sentence without commas is not acceptable?

That sentence is fine. It could be either semi-colon or comma. I see no reason why you canot use "and" after a semi-colon.

Sorry to ask so many question ! And thanks a lot ! ^^

Re: How to use dash, colon, semicolon ?

Pleasecorrectme — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:30:00 GMT

Thank you so much ! The website helps a lot ! Hmmm ... but ... the site said that dash can be used to emphasize on a point . Can it be use on any point? Does it have to be a sentence or can it be just a phrase ?

E.g . But we managed to get out in time - I hoped . (acceptable?) <-- is this emphasizing on a point?

She just stood there, not moving - at all - not until we move . (What about this?) <-- a phrase ?

And .. and ! Colon and semi-colon . Is it apporiate to use in this way :

E.g . A few excellent ideas were thought out by our committee members: ashley with the idea on holding an open house; john with the idea on printing booklets; and jolin with the idea on giving a presentation.

Some website said that " ; and " cannot be used together, they have to be changed to " , and " , so I have to change it? And according to the website you suggested, it says that a semi-colon is used to separated sentence with commas . So the above sentence without commas is not acceptable?

Sorry to ask so many question ! And thanks a lot ! ^^

Re: Comma between HAD and With

Clive — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:05:11 GMT

Hi,
The two fluffy pillows sit ~~at the upper side~~ on the bed / at the head of the bed; they remind me of the pillow fights I had, with my best friend, (friend's name), who often came for chit
chat and study.

Should Comma would be applied here? No.

'Chit-chat' has a hyphen.
Don't use too many semi-colons in your writing. Here, I'd just put a period or join with 'and'.

Best wishes, Clive