Use of a semi-colon rather than a coma?

Question

Hi - I am writing a book, and am wondering if the following sentence is punctuated correctly?
"Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you; and in My Body." Grammarly, a software service on the internet, is suggesting a semi-colon rather than the coma I originally had between "you, and in My Body." and I am not sure why.
Thank you for your help, Chris

Tarirotari · Accepted Answer

I don't knoe about your semi-colon, but I hear Grammarly is quite far from being trustful.

Sam1947 · Answer

I'm sorry, but the sentence doesn't make any sense to me. It literally means that you have some brothers and sisters in your body, ergo, "open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you and (the ones in) my body."

First of all, what follows a semicolon has to be a complete sentence, and "in My Body" isn't. And why is "My Body" written with initial caps?

You ned to explain a little bit more about what you are trying to convey, because I'm not even able to offer an alternative suggested sentence because I'm at a total loss for what it is you are trying to say.

Avangi · Answer

C Willaims"Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you; and in My Body."

Personally, I can't imagine what justification the internet service can offer for the semi. The only other punctuation in the sentence is the period, so you can't call it a "strong comma." "And in My Body" is not a clause, so your comma would not be a "comma splice."

Truth be told, your sentence is a bit difficult to interpret. Are you saying there are brothers and sisters in your body? (I'm assuming you're paraphrasing a deity.)

Open the door to the people on the steps, and [to those] on the sidewalk.

Welcome to English Forums, C W. Thanks for joining us! [<:o)]

Best wishes, - A.

Anonymous · Answer

"Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you, and in My Body."

Thank you so much for your answers! I am a prophet of ***/Jesus Christ, and write down what I hear Him say daily. I have for 23 years. I am now attempting to get His daily Word from 2008 together, edited, and submitted as a book.

This sentence shouldn't be so difficult - right? Because I am not the speaker of these words it is, at times, very difficult for me to add the correct punctuation. In reality I am the one who decides what is capped, so please do not allow this to get in your way.

In this sentence, Jesus is the one speaking. He is saying that all of His Believers must, "Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you (ie in the world/earth)". He is also saying, "and {those within} in My {one} Body".

I think that the sentence should read, as some of you pointed out, "Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you, and in My Body" (with no semi-colon). I am not allowed to add words to these letters/sentences without a good reason. However, I believe you all have made a good point. It is very difficult to tell who is "within His Body". I think after reading your thoughts that, in this case, it does need to be explained in order to clarify the teaching. I will change it to, "Open your minds to those brothers and sisters around you, and those within My Body." By the way, the sentence does make more sense when the other sentences around it can be read also.

Thank you for all your help. I hope I have posted correctly. I have never done much posting. I am still learning. Again, thank you so much! Chris

Avangi · Answer

The revision you've made is helpful.  - A.

Use of a semi-colon rather than a coma?

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