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Panda blue 483 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Use of semi colon in direct speech

(1) You are the highest bidder; You are to blame; I can't help you; Try and look for some other help. (thoughts and direct speech). Related statements.

(2) You are the highest bidder: you carry the blame. I can't help you, so try and find some other help.


I noticed the usage of a dash to break down something similar to the above example (1). I've used a semi-colon.

It looks a mess in example (1) but is it necessarily wrong.

What is the term for the restructuring of the clauses into a clearer sentence with these examples.

Sometimes people will (informally) just break down direct speech with dashes or semi-colons on emails; rather than formatting it into a coherent sentence or more easy to read sentence.

And can a semi colon ‘mask’ a shift or a need for the start of a new sentence- as it has done in (1). After ‘blame’ there is a new idea, for instance.

  

Top answer

(1) You are the highest bidder; You are to bla me; I c an't help you; Try and look for some other help. (thoughts and direct speech). Related statements.

— Clive

  • (1) You are the highest bidder; You are to bla me; I c an't help you; Try and look for some other help.
  • (thoughts and direct speech).
  • Related statements.
  • (2) You are the highest bidder: you carry the blame.
  • I can't help you, so try and find some other help.
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1 Answers
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(1) You are the highest bidder; You are to blame; I can't help you; Try and look for some other help. (thoughts and direct speech). Related statements.

(2) You are the highest bidder: you carry the blame. I can't help you, so try and find some other help.


I noticed the usage of a dash to break down something similar to the above example (1). I've used a semi-colon.

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