Question for Ozzy

[Scorpiоn]

I recall you're an english teacher, so now prove it!

How is the semicolon used.  I want to push my writing to a more complex level, and I think the semicolon would be just the ticket.

[Travis]

I'm no ozzy, but I do write often.  The way I use semicolons is this.

"There's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to make this work right; there aren't any cracks in the casing, so it should hold just fine."

The sentence that begins the quote is a full sentence.  The second part, beginning with "there aren't . . ." would be a full sentence if I repeated the object (I think) of the last sentence.  To save writing the object of the sentence over again, I added a semicolon and continued the sentence like it did have the specified object phrase.

I know this isn't completely clear, so take a good look at how newspaper articles are written.  Reporters tend to be very proficient writers (although I have seen some atrocious mistakes in my time).

Also, when writing, do it as if you are speaking the words.  If it wouldn't sound right when spoken out loud, it probably isn't correct written down.

(I've probably made at least ten grammar errors in this post alone.  If my mother saw this, she'd have a fit . . .)

[pete]

I'm inclined to agree with Ender, although I don't used semi-colons often, if at all.
I'm a comma man. I have been accused, on more than one occasion, of using them far to often. I don't know.

I was taught to use a comma whenever there was a 'pause' in your speech, no matter how short. Also I believe it's used when the sentence takes a short 'digression'. For instance:

"I was talking to a fellow, Ender I believe, about punctuation."

As far as semi-colons go, they're something I've really never seen a need for, but if I recall my 6th grade grammar correctly, Enders explaination is correctamundo.

P.S. I was always taught that you could not use a comma before a conjunction, but (I just did it) I'm now told that it is acceptable. Maybe Ozzy can confirm this too, because (I did it again) I like to do it. it seems to break a sentence up nicely.....................

[pete]

I remember hearing recently that George Bernard Shaw had written about the use of the semi colon.

A quick search on Shaw & semi colon brought up a lot of interesting looking pages: 1st result;

http://oii.net/Journal/sep97/WRITE_GUD.html


Of course nowadays it's most common use is the eyes of a wink  ;)  ;D

[ozzy72]

A semicolon is used to seperate the parts of a complicated sentence or items in a detailed list. It is a pause, longer than a comma, but shorter than a full stop.

Ozzy

[Professor Brensec]

A semicolon is used to seperate the parts of a complicated sentence or items in a detailed list. It is a pause, longer than a comma, but shorter than a full stop.

Ozzy

Can you give me an exact 'timing' on that pause, mate........lol

What about the comma. As I said, I was beaten to death every time I thought of putting a comma before a conjuction,,,,,,,BUT now I am told that it's acceptable.

What know ye of this?  ;D

[Lethal.Ambition]

If we got to that thing in school I was day dreaming. Interesting. I also use commas before because, etc.....Interesting thread.

Wink Wink ( Semi-Colon, Semi-colon )  ;)