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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage
Using a semicolon to introduce lists
This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon:
"In introducing lists, a colon is used when all the options are specified, whereas a semicolon is used when only some of the possible options are mentioned:
"The Gauls were afraid of only one thing: that the sky might fall on their heads.
I'm afraid of lots of things; of dogs, of the dark, of bogeymen under the bed, of being alone, of flying, of dying."
Is anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.
Regards,
Harry
"In introducing lists, a colon is used when all the options are specified, whereas a semicolon is used when only some of the possible options are mentioned:
"The Gauls were afraid of only one thing: that the sky might fall on their heads.
I'm afraid of lots of things; of dogs, of the dark, of bogeymen under the bed, of being alone, of flying, of dying."
Is anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.
Regards,
Harry
Top answer
[nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ... anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.
- [nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ...
- anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon.
- I can't find anything about it on the net.
- Regards, Harry[/nq] It's news to me.
- I wouldn't use it.
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21 Answers
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[nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ... anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net. Regards, Harry[/nq]
It's news to me. I wouldn't use it.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
It's news to me. I wouldn't use it.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
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[nq:2]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" ... can't find anything about it on the net. Regards, Harry[/nq]
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. Stephen Lennox Head, Australia[/nq]
It is news to me to; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and incomplete lists without using etc.
If this use of the semicolon is in fact
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. Stephen Lennox Head, Australia[/nq]
It is news to me to; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and incomplete lists without using etc.
If this use of the semicolon is in fact
00
[nq:2]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" ... can't find anything about it on the net. Regards, Harry[/nq]
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. Stephen Lennox Head, Australia[/nq]
It is news to me too; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and incomplete lists without using etc.
If this use of the semicolon is in fact
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. Stephen Lennox Head, Australia[/nq]
It is news to me too; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and incomplete lists without using etc.
If this use of the semicolon is in fact
00
[nq:2]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" ... semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it.[/nq]
I'll risk a "me, too" if only to redouble what Stephen said. I've never seen a semicolon used to introduce a list (that's the primary function of the colon), and I have certainly never seen or heard of a "rule" that
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it.[/nq]
I'll risk a "me, too" if only to redouble what Stephen said. I've never seen a semicolon used to introduce a list (that's the primary function of the colon), and I have certainly never seen or heard of a "rule" that
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[nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ... dying." Is anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.[/nq]
Ludicrous.
The semicolon construction could be used if the second clause is taken as an amplifying independent statement, not a recital of list items s
Ludicrous.
The semicolon construction could be used if the second clause is taken as an amplifying independent statement, not a recital of list items s
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[nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ... dying." Is anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.[/nq]
Sure. Whether the list is comprehensive or not is irrelevant. The difference is the "of" in the list in the second example. Thus:
"I'm afraid of l
Sure. Whether the list is comprehensive or not is irrelevant. The difference is the "of" in the list in the second example. Thus:
"I'm afraid of l
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[nq:2]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" ... semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net.[/nq]
[nq:1]Ludicrous. The semicolon construction could be used if the second clause is taken as an amplifying independent statement, not a ... the em dash). What it says is that what follows it is an amplification or explanation of what preceded it.[/nq]
Agreed in ev
[nq:1]Ludicrous. The semicolon construction could be used if the second clause is taken as an amplifying independent statement, not a ... the em dash). What it says is that what follows it is an amplification or explanation of what preceded it.[/nq]
Agreed in ev
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[nq:1]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" by George Davidson (2005) has to say about the semicolon: ... anyone else familiar with this use of the semicolon. I can't find anything about it on the net. Regards, Harry[/nq]
I would say use the colon in both cases, though I doubt that the use of the semicolon would cause an uproar.
"I'm afraid of lots of things: of dogs
I would say use the colon in both cases, though I doubt that the use of the semicolon would cause an uproar.
"I'm afraid of lots of things: of dogs
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[nq:2]This is what the "Penguin's Writers Guide: How to Punctuate" ... can't find anything about it on the net. Regards, Harry[/nq]
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. (like that)[/nq]
Nor I
[nq:1]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. (like that)[/nq]
Nor I
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[nq:2]It's news to me. I wouldn't use it. Stephen Lennox Head, Australia[/nq]
[nq:1]It is news to me to; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and ... semicolon is in fact non-standard, would anyone be able suggest another way of expressing that a list that is incomplete[/nq]
"for example"
[nq:1]It is news to me to; however, I like the idea of being able to distinguish between complete lists and ... semicolon is in fact non-standard, would anyone be able suggest another way of expressing that a list that is incomplete[/nq]
"for example"
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