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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Semi-Colon vs. Comma After Non-Standalone Sentence

I’m sure you’d make a great father, though. Better than mine; that’s for sure.

Should that semi-colon be a comma, since "better than mine" isn't an independent clause?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Snarf I’m sure you’d make a great father, though. Better than mine; that’s for sure. Should that semi-colon be a comma, since "better than mine" isn't an independent clause?

— Canadian45

  • Snarf I’m sure you’d make a great father, though.
  • Better than mine; that’s for sure.
  • Should that semi-colon be a comma, since "better than mine" isn't an independent clause?
  • It You are right, but I would write the whole thing as below.
  • '
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5 Answers
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SnarfI’m sure you’d make a great father, though. Better than mine; that’s for sure. Should that semi-colon be a comma, since "better than mine" isn't an independent clause? It You are right, but I would write the whole thing as below.
'I'm sure you'd make a great father though, for sure better
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Better than mine; that’s for sure.

This is very casual, conversation-style English. In such English. a semi-colon seems to me very out of place and unusual. I'd use and expect a comma.

Clive
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CliveBetter than mine; that’s for sure.This is very casual, conversation-style English. I agree that it's conversational English, but here we can only write and we do need to puctuate. In such English. a semi-colon seems to me very out of place and unusual. I'd use and expect a comma.Clive
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Better than mine, that’s for sure.

I almost want to call that a comma splice. Better than that is a reduced sentence: (You would be) better than mine.

Therefore, the comma doesn’t look good to me. But then, neither does the semicolon.
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I go for the comma. The informality of the whole thing makes the semi-colon more unnatural to me than the comma.
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