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I found these two paragraphs embedded in my tablet dictionary blog this morning. It explains how and when to use semicolons.
A semicolon links two or more independent clauses that are closely related. An independent clause is any group of words that contains both a subject and a verb and could stand alone as a complete sentence. For example: “Chocolate ice cream is delicious; vanilla pudding tastes good, too.” Notice that the two clauses don’t need a conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) because the semicolon takes its place. The semicolon helps establish a strong relationship between the two sentences, and it also helps give the two food items equal importance in the sentence.
You can also use a semicolon with connecting words (such as nevertheless, thus, or besides) to combine two sentences. In the following example, note that the first word in the second sentence (however) isn’t capitalized: “My little brother likes worms; however, I think they’re disgusting.” Capitalization isn’t necessary in this instance because the two sentences form a complete thought.
My granddaughter loves semicolons. I don’t share her enthusiasm.
Maybe semicolons is a quick-fix for run on sentences?
Cormac McCarthy states that a properly written sentence requires nothing more than a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end. I’ll go along with that. However, quotation marks relieve the reader’s burden of figuring who said what and when.
This post tickled my inner grammar goddess pink.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome!
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