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Daedalus Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Semicolon/stylistic question
Hello. Long time reader first time poster. (I suppose using a sentence fragment is probably not the best way to introduce myself.)
Anyway, I'm having trouble with the following sentence:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love the anomalous one."
A. I'm wondering if I can use this semicolon. I'd prefer not to change the sentence to "...occupation, while love is the anomalous one" because I feel it would lose the sort of dramatic effect I'm going for.
B. I'd love any verb suggestions to replace "are" in the first clause.
Thank you for your help.
Anyway, I'm having trouble with the following sentence:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love the anomalous one."
A. I'm wondering if I can use this semicolon. I'd prefer not to change the sentence to "...occupation, while love is the anomalous one" because I feel it would lose the sort of dramatic effect I'm going for.
B. I'd love any verb suggestions to replace "are" in the first clause.
Thank you for your help.
Top answer
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9 Answers
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I think a comma would interrupt the flow less:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation, love the anomalous one."
or with an "em dash," for a more visual contrast:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation, love the anomalous one."
or with an "em dash," for a more visual contrast:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation
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Thank you for your response.
I think interrupting the flow is an important part of the "dramatic effect" I'm trying to establish. I'm wondering what would be grammatically correct.
Would a semicolon be correct even though "love the anomalous one" is a fragment/dependent clause? Perhaps my understanding of the semicolon is incorrect, but I was under the impression that it connec
I think interrupting the flow is an important part of the "dramatic effect" I'm trying to establish. I'm wondering what would be grammatically correct.
Would a semicolon be correct even though "love the anomalous one" is a fragment/dependent clause? Perhaps my understanding of the semicolon is incorrect, but I was under the impression that it connec
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Hello Daedalus, welcome to EF!
Here's one possibility:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love, the anomalous one."
By inserting a comma, you preclude the misreading of "love" as an imperative.
On the other hand, there is a slight disharmony in the last clause, as "is" isn't implicit in the firs
Here's one possibility:
"In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love, the anomalous one."
By inserting a comma, you preclude the misreading of "love" as an imperative.
On the other hand, there is a slight disharmony in the last clause, as "is" isn't implicit in the firs
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PS:
In response to your second post, yes, the semi-colon is fine in your example.
MrP
In response to your second post, yes, the semi-colon is fine in your example.
MrP
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Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of posting.
How is "force" a response? Hatred is, certainly, but I'm not sure this is saying what you mean.
The problem with the semicolon is that it requires a complete sentence. "Love the anomalous one" reads like a command - I have to go figure out who or what the anomalous one is and go love it/him/her. I like Marius's idea of the em da
How is "force" a response? Hatred is, certainly, but I'm not sure this is saying what you mean.
The problem with the semicolon is that it requires a complete sentence. "Love the anomalous one" reads like a command - I have to go figure out who or what the anomalous one is and go love it/him/her. I like Marius's idea of the em da
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Ah, brilliant! Thank you so much for your help. That was exactly what I was looking for. Much obliged!
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Thank you all so much for your help.
Perhaps it would be clearer if I provided the context:
To preach love to a bar full of Irish nationalists in 1904 is to deny the legitimacy of force and hatred as a response to oppression. In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love, the anomalous one.
Both "force" and "h
Perhaps it would be clearer if I provided the context:
To preach love to a bar full of Irish nationalists in 1904 is to deny the legitimacy of force and hatred as a response to oppression. In fact, force and hatred are the normal responses to the humiliation and degradation of occupation; love, the anomalous one.
Both "force" and "h
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Hi,
I've come late to this party, so I've missed the opportunity to rant about my distaste for semi-colons.
Perhaps I can just suggest for your consideration that the original might read better if you said after the semi-colon love is the anomalous one.
Best wishes; Clive
I've come late to this party, so I've missed the opportunity to rant about my distaste for semi-colons.
Perhaps I can just suggest for your consideration that the original might read better if you said after the semi-colon love is the anomalous one.
Best wishes; Clive
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