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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Semicolon: is this correct
The following paragraph appeared in a magazine. My friend and I had a big argument about whether or not the semicolon should have been used, after 'introduction'... Here's the paragraph.
Or should it only have been a comma?
Thanks.
So is it correct to use a semicolon here (after 'introduction', before 'arguing')?
Official state league tables were originally planned in the 1999 Education Act, but the teachers unions successfully lobbied against their introduction; arguing that they would have a 'detrimental impact on education'.
Or should it only have been a comma?
Thanks.
Top answer
Comma! Remember that just because a sentence is long it isn't incorrect to have a number of modifying clauses.
- Comma!
- Remember that just because a sentence is long it isn't incorrect to have a number of modifying clauses.
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3 Answers
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Comma! Remember that just because a sentence is long it isn't incorrect to have a number of modifying clauses.
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Thank you! My friend's arguments were: that there'll be a "run-on sentence" without the semicolon; that THIS is the place to use a semicolon actualy; that this is one of the most common mistakes. What do you think about them?
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Semicolons have only 2 functions: (1) they act as coordinating conjunctions in separating independent clauses and (2) they separate list items with internal commas.
In your original sentence, the text after the semicolon ('arguing...education') is not an independent clause; it is merely a sentence fragment. It should be replaced by a comma. There is no hint of a 'run-on sentence' anywh
In your original sentence, the text after the semicolon ('arguing...education') is not an independent clause; it is merely a sentence fragment. It should be replaced by a comma. There is no hint of a 'run-on sentence' anywh
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