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English 1b3 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Style and punctuation

How would you write this statement, choosing between the following, and keeping in mind the statement is to be emphatic, (which in my opinion possibly rules out d because it uses a period and e because it is too long-whinded)?

a. You were not just friends, you were sisters. (comma splice)

b. You were not just friends, but sisters.

c. You were not just friends; you were sisters.

d. You were not just friends. You were sisters.

e. You were not just friends, but you were sisters.

f. You were not just friends - but sisters

g. You were not just friends - you were sisters.
  

Top answer

If it's emphatic, where are your exclamation points?

— Mister Micawber

  • If it's emphatic, where are your exclamation points?
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5 Answers
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If it's emphatic, where are your exclamation points?
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Mister MicawberIf it's emphatic, where are your exclamation points?
I did not know an emphatic sentence required this. Maybe emphatic is not the word I'm looking for. I want the sentence to be important, compared to those that surround it, which I think works best if succinct.
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English 1b3I did not know an emphatic sentence required this
It is probably not a requirement, but it is certainly the first step toward indicating emphasis.

Then I suggest:

You were not friends—just sisters.
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Mister MicawberYou were not friends—just sisters.
This has a diifferent meaning from my sentences. Yours says they weren't friends and that they were only sisters - it's almost a backhanded slap. Mine says they were not only sisters but also best friends.
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Right. I was not looking at the originals.

For this: Mine says they were not only sisters but also best friends.

This:

You were not just sisters—but best friends.
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