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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
semicolon usage
Hi,
I wonder how close the relationship between the two clauses (or more??) have to be in order to be able to use a semicolon.
1.They complained because they sister dies at forty; they said God was unfair.
2.Foolishness didn't seem to be the problem; not surprisingly, continued hostility was.
3. Some animals thrive in captivity; others will not.
I think no. 2 and 3 look to be connected in content, whereas no. 1 would be doubtful. I am sure there are cases where it would be hard to call whether it is related. Can you tell me how to measure that if there is a meothod? Should be related contextually? Yes, I think, but I thhnk it can be related chronologically or sequentially or some other ways. Am I right?
I wonder how close the relationship between the two clauses (or more??) have to be in order to be able to use a semicolon.
1.They complained because they sister dies at forty; they said God was unfair.
2.Foolishness didn't seem to be the problem; not surprisingly, continued hostility was.
3. Some animals thrive in captivity; others will not.
I think no. 2 and 3 look to be connected in content, whereas no. 1 would be doubtful. I am sure there are cases where it would be hard to call whether it is related. Can you tell me how to measure that if there is a meothod? Should be related contextually? Yes, I think, but I thhnk it can be related chronologically or sequentially or some other ways. Am I right?
Top answer
They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentences. It is very much your call, contextually or otherwise, with such as #1. ) My feeling is that as often as not the semicolon is used as relief from the full stop.
- They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentences.
- It is very much your call, contextually or otherwise, with such as #1.
- ) My feeling is that as often as not the semicolon is used as relief from the full stop.
- It helps vary the pace of the discourse.
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3 Answers
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They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentences. It is very much your call, contextually or otherwise, with such as #1. (#2 and 3 won't stand alone well-- if at all-- because too much of the understood context of the second clause resides only in the first clause.)
My feeling is that as often as not the semicolon is used as relief from the full stop. It helps v
They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentences. It is very much your call, contextually or otherwise, with such as #1. (#2 and 3 won't stand alone well-- if at all-- because too much of the understood context of the second clause resides only in the first clause.)
My feeling is that as often as not the semicolon is used as relief from the full stop. It helps v
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Thank you.
I have trouble distinguishing when I need to use 'as' and when I have to use the form 'as something as'. In your sentence, are 'as' and 'as something as' both good?
When should I use either of them? I often just go with 'as something as' is a situation similar to the one you wrote.
Your sentence:
They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentenc
I have trouble distinguishing when I need to use 'as' and when I have to use the form 'as something as'. In your sentence, are 'as' and 'as something as' both good?
When should I use either of them? I often just go with 'as something as' is a situation similar to the one you wrote.
Your sentence:
They all seem fine to me; #1 would also seem fine as 2 sentenc
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As...as is a comparative form, and as is a correlative conjunction. As happy as a lark.
In my sentence, '... fine as 2 sentences', as is a preposition meaning 'in the role, function, or status of'.
When I say that #2 and 3 won't stand well, I mean alone-- as two separate sentences each. With the semicolon they are f
As...as is a comparative form, and as is a correlative conjunction. As happy as a lark.
In my sentence, '... fine as 2 sentences', as is a preposition meaning 'in the role, function, or status of'.
When I say that #2 and 3 won't stand well, I mean alone-- as two separate sentences each. With the semicolon they are f
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