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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Semicolon and Comma Combo

My wife, Amy; my sister Josephine; my brother, Frank; and my dog Fido will be going to Myrtle Beach
with me in August.

In this sentence, I need the combination of semicolons and commas, correct?

I have one wife; her name is Amy - thus, commas set off her name.
I have more than one sister; the one named in this sentence is Josephine - hence, no commas.
I have only one brother named Frank. and more than one dog.

Is this sentence punctuated correctly in all respects?
  

Top answer

Also- My wife Amy; my sister, Josephine; my brother Frank; and my dog, Fido, will be going to Myrtle Beach with me in August. This sentence is saying: I have more than one wife. I have only one sister named Josephine.

— Victo

  • Also- My wife Amy; my sister, Josephine; my brother Frank; and my dog, Fido, will be going to Myrtle Beach with me in August.
  • This sentence is saying: I have more than one wife.
  • I have only one sister named Josephine.
  • I have more than one brother but only one dog whose name is Fido.
  • Is this sentence punctuated correctly in all respects as well?
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5 Answers
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Also-

My wife Amy; my sister, Josephine; my brother Frank; and my dog, Fido, will be going to Myrtle Beach with me in August.

This sentence is saying:

I have more than one wife.
I have only one sister named Josephine.
I have more than one brother but only one dog whose name is Fido.

Is this sentence punctuated correctly in all respects as w
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Regardless of what do you want to express, I suppose the semicolons are inappropriate for such punctuation seems more like a semantic break between two sentences.

You are welcome to discuss with it via email: Email Removed" mce_href="mailto:Email Removed">Email Removed.
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Does anybody have a more clarifying, definitive answer?
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I would personally be happy with this:

"My wife Amy, my sister Josephine, my brother Frank and my dog Fido will be going to Myrtle Beach with me in August."
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I would unequivocally concur that there is an unsightly abundance of punctuation in those sentences; however, in keeping with traditional standards regarding restrictive and nonrestrictive elements, isn't the punctuation (semicolons and commas) mandatory in those sentences?

I do admit that I like your sentence much better.

Mister Micawber, can we get away with Mr. Wordy's altern
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