Semicolons | The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Colon vs. Semicolon

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 11:00:36 +0000

English provides us with punctuation as a system of symbols and signs that allow us to structure, pace, and clarify communication. When used correctly, punctuation contributes to succinct and persuasive writing (the word punctuation originates from the Latin punctuare, which means “making a point”). When used incorrectly, it can confuse and even repel our readers. […]

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What Is a Compound Sentence?

GrammarBook.com — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:00:13 +0000

You might vaguely recall learning about compound sentences at some point earlier in your education. There’s also a chance a refresher may help, because review and practice are good for remembering grammatical guidelines. In this post we’ll revisit what a compound sentence is and how it is formed. How Do We Create a Compound Sentence? […]

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Semicolon Use in Lists

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 12 May 2021 11:00:36 +0000

A properly inserted semicolon helps to provide pause and clarifying separation in sentences. It also connects closely related thoughts. In this review, we’ll further consider how the semicolon operates in forming lists that involve items in a series. Semicolons Use in Lists: Items with Internal Punctuation Some of us at some point may have come […]

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Connecting Sentences with Commas and Semicolons

GrammarBook.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:00:49 +0000

Many of you have been asking for help with punctuating between clauses and phrases within sentences. You want to know when you should use a comma and when you need a semicolon. Here are a few rules with examples that I hope you find very helpful. Commas Rule: Use a comma between two independent clauses […]

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Composing with Conjunctive Adverbs

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 05:00:42 +0000

Many of us probably use conjunctive adverbs without being aware we’re doing so. Further understanding their role aids our precision with their inclusion in our writing. Conjunctive adverbs are adverbs that connect related main (independent) clauses. They provide a transition between sentences, typically by comparing and contrasting statements or demonstrating cause and effect. They include […]

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Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part Three

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 15 May 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Sentence structures are the beams of the building of composition. The stronger and better formed they are, the firmer our communication foundation will be. Part One of our discussion introduced us to simple and compound sentences. In Part Two, we explored complex and compound-complex sentences. Let’s take a brief look at all four as a […]

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Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part One

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 05:00:11 +0000

The art of writing resembles any trade that begins with the basics and evolves into skillful applications of them. A key component of precise and eloquent composition is understanding sentence structures. English comprises four foundational sentence constructions: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. In part one of our discussion, we’ll review simple and compound sentences. Simple […]

The post Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part One first appeared on The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.

Year-End Quiz 2018

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 05:00:11 +0000

Another year of grammatical exploration has concluded with linguistic miles behind us. What we’ve learned and discussed with you along the way has been illuminating, and we are grateful for the thought and insight it has inspired. We hope you gathered even more sharpened tools for communicating in concise and eloquent English. A year-end review […]

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So Tell Me—When Is It Correct to Use So

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 05:00:13 +0000

So: It’s among the shortest words in English, and use of it abounds. So, when are we going to meet up? That movie was so good. I so much want to be there. He’s not feeling well, so he probably won’t go to the meeting. The word has become a versatile agent for our language […]

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Oxford Comma Dispute Settled

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:30:52 +0000

Eleven months ago, in our newsletter of March 29, 2017, we passed along to you the newspaper article “Lack of Comma Costs Company Millions in Dispute.” Our Rule 1 of Commas discusses the value of the Oxford comma in a series of three or more items. Our rule allows writers to exercise discretion as to whether to omit […]

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