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

Re: Punctuation( strong and weak ones )

Yoong Liat — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:23:52 GMT

bhikkhu1991
Hello,

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language states that the semicolon and colon are stronger than the comma. For example, if the former is placed on the right side of the sentence, the later will be placed on the left side of the sentence. However, why does the following sentence is not complying with the method?

My grandmother has stayed up late four nights in a row; as a result, she cannot seem to get well. ( http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/indep_clauses.htm )

The reason is that as a result, she cannot seem to get well is, in fact, a separate sentence separated by the semi-colon..

Punctuation( strong and weak ones )

bhikkhu1991 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:29:00 GMT

Hello,

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language states that the semicolon and colon are stronger than the comma. For example, if the former is placed on the right side of the sentence, the later will be placed on the left side of the sentence. However, why does the following sentence is not complying with the method?

My grandmother has stayed up late four nights in a row; as a result, she cannot seem to get well. ( http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/indep_clauses.htm )

Thank you.

With best wishes.

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: 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 ?

Clive — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:50:52 GMT

Hi,

Here are a few brief additional comments.

Dashes - Don't get into the habit of using them a lot, because they can sometimes lead to lazy punctuation and poor sentence stircture (eg Instead of taking the time to figure out how to make my meaning clear, I'll just use a dash here and let the reader figure out what I mean.)

Colons and semicolons - These should be used sparingly. When I teach them, some of my students write pages full of them. It always makes their writing seem very unnatural. There are often simple ways to word your writing to avoid the need for them.

Let me add that these are my subjective views. Other people may offer you different opinions on this topic.

Best wishes, Clive

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.

punctuation

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:18:16 GMT

Hi,
Could I be able to use what I call "elaborate" punctuation in emails, like using semicolons and dashes?? Can you correct this?

eg,
I was expecting your email, Jane; I am glad to receive it. I have one question though: did you decide on your wedding date? Are you marrying the dashing fellow you were with at our high shool reunion few weeks ago? If that's him -- you are a lucky girl. He looked so nice and on top of that, he looked so gentlemanly (when and how can we use this "-ly" words??). Please let me know the details. Bye.

Re: Plz Correct me !

Cute572 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:09:19 GMT

Thanks Goodman!

Could anyone tell me, in descriptive writing what tense usually writer choose.

And Guys please reply my 2nd post last two sentenses as well. And explain we can separate verb and subject i.e mirror and curtain, by using comma for emphasis like Feebs did?

Third sentence, I have made some changes. Please check this as well.

The soft curtain hanging and swinging [I am not using comma because it will separate both curtain Subject and hanging Verb] over the rood with moving winds and touching my chair [or desk] unintentionally. [This adverb is appropriate fits?]

Or following structure seemed less congested

The soft curtain hanging over a rood, and swinging with moving [can use melodious or rythemetic or some word instead of moving?] winds; [semicolon used here or comma ?] somehow, [comma is ok here?] unintentionally touches my chair at constant intervals. [puntucation is correct ?]

And what about this similar sentence grammar?

Above window, long rood holds the curtain from the upper edge of window. Is it ok to use and we would this underline part direct object ?

I request to explain each of these three versions with punctuation i used

Thanks !