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

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: 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: 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: 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

RonBee — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:09:20 GMT

Mister Micawber is right. Also, use a semicolon in the first sentence only if you don't change the text. Thus it would be: "He usually has a shower; then he has a shave and brushes his teeth."

~R

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.