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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Semicolons within internal series

John Smith, 45, of Austin, Tex., Amy Downing, 65, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bill Blunt, 36, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., were arrested on a charge of grand larceny.

New offices in Framingham, Mass.; Rochester, Minn.; Metairie, La.; and Bath, Maine, will be opened next year.

My question is, comma or semicolon after S.C.? I say comma.

Comma or semicolon after Maine?

Do the semicolons correctly separate the elements within the internal series?
  

Top answer

C. and Maine-- note that newspaper style does not fiddle around with semicolons, and no clarity is lost. I myself would not punctuate at all after those words unless I were writing a formal paper.

— Mister Micawber

  • C.
  • and Maine-- note that newspaper style does not fiddle around with semicolons, and no clarity is lost.
  • I myself would not punctuate at all after those words unless I were writing a formal paper.
  • , but you can see how awkward it makes the subject.
  • Again, I think that for most purposes, commas are sufficient.
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2 Answers
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Comma after S.C. and Maine-- note that newspaper style does not fiddle around with semicolons, and no clarity is lost. I myself would not punctuate at all after those words unless I were writing a formal paper.

The semicolons in the second sentence are correct as it stands., but you can see how awkward it makes the subject. Again, I think that for most purposes, commas are sufficient.
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I myself would not punctuate at all after those words unless I were writing a formal paper.

What do you mean? I don't understand. Please write the sentence and the way you'd punctuate it.

Thanks.
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