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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
I need to challenge a school teacher about this one.....
Hi! Recently, my daughter (in elementary) wrote this sentence (note use of semi-colon):
Joe wants to go swimming; however, he hasn't yet finished his homework. (semi-colon followed by a comma)
Then the teacher corrected it like this:
Joe wants to go swimming, however, he hasn't yet finished his homework. (2 commas)
I searched over the internet, and I do believe my daughter is correct. Now, could anyone tell me if the teacher's version (using 2 commas there) is in fact....wrong? Many thanks!
Joe wants to go swimming; however, he hasn't yet finished his homework. (semi-colon followed by a comma)
Then the teacher corrected it like this:
Joe wants to go swimming, however, he hasn't yet finished his homework. (2 commas)
I searched over the internet, and I do believe my daughter is correct. Now, could anyone tell me if the teacher's version (using 2 commas there) is in fact....wrong? Many thanks!
Top answer
Your daughter is right. The teacher is wrong. She used two complete sentences (independent clauses) joined correctly by a semi-colon.
- Your daughter is right.
- The teacher is wrong.
- She used two complete sentences (independent clauses) joined correctly by a semi-colon.
- Joining them with a comma is called a comma splice and is incorrect.
- "However" can be set off by commas in sentences like this: I think "Big Bang Theory" is the best show now on TV.
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3 Answers
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Your daughter is right.
The teacher is wrong.
She used two complete sentences (independent clauses) joined correctly by a semi-colon. Joining them with a comma is called a comma splice and is incorrect.
"However" can be set off by commas in sentences like this: I think "Big Bang Theory" is the best show now on TV. You, however, may feel differently.
The teacher is wrong.
She used two complete sentences (independent clauses) joined correctly by a semi-colon. Joining them with a comma is called a comma splice and is incorrect.
"However" can be set off by commas in sentences like this: I think "Big Bang Theory" is the best show now on TV. You, however, may feel differently.
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Anon:
Your daughter is correct.
Here is a reference for you that explains the comma splice (incorrect) with a conjunctive adverb (however).
LINK
Your daughter is correct.
Here is a reference for you that explains the comma splice (incorrect) with a conjunctive adverb (however).
LINK
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Your daughter is right. "However" is used in to express a contrasting idea. It joins two indepenent clauses.
Example:
Example:
- She's very young. However, she writes beautiful poems.( a semi colon is also correct)
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