Comments on: Using Semicolons https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/ GrammarBook.com Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.5 By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1566097 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:51:00 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1566097 In reply to Laura.

We would write it as follows:
And you tell her “you are crazy,” don’t you?

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By: Laura https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1565317 Thu, 06 Oct 2022 19:24:58 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1565317 Would you please let me know if a semicolon is correct here? I’m a proofreader, and the person has a comma. Thank you!
And you tell her, “You are crazy”; don’t you?
The way it’s currently written is:
And you tell her “You are crazy,” don’t you?

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By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1555894 Mon, 15 Aug 2022 17:51:56 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1555894 In reply to benjie.

The semicolons would not be appropriate unless your sentence contains commas as in the following example:
“First, you find the present; second, you open the present; third, you look at what it is; and last, you say thank you.”
See Rule 2 of Semicolons, our post First vs. Firstly: When to Use Each One, and the our Confusing Words and Homonyms page.

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By: benjie https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1555585 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 01:11:49 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1555585 Is this sentence correct? “The choices are the following: First….; Second….;Third…;Lastly..”

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By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1435236 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:25:20 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1435236 In reply to Caden P Thompson.

We see no reason for a semicolon. You may find our complete list of Rules for Semicolons helpful.

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By: Caden P Thompson https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1434624 Thu, 10 Dec 2020 15:13:31 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1434624 I am an eighth grader who is writing an essay, and I was wondering if you were writing “based on the article (name of the article),” would you put a semicolon between “based on the article” and “(name of the article)”? Thanks in advance.

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By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1238193 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 04:32:28 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1238193 In reply to K.B..

As we mention in Rule 4 of Colons, “A colon instead of a semicolon may be used between independent clauses when the second sentence explains, illustrates, paraphrases, or expands on the first sentence.” Therefore, occasionally it is a matter of writer’s discretion as to the use of the semicolon vs. the colon. Our example of such a case in Rule 4 is He got what he worked for: he really earned that promotion.

While we would favor a semicolon over a colon in your “flamingo” sentence, a colon would not be incorrect.

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By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1229859 Sat, 30 Dec 2017 21:29:59 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1229859 In reply to Miyah.

As Rule 1 states, “A semicolon can be used in place of a period to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out.” The sentence in Pop Quiz question 1 could correctly be written as either
Let’s go dancing; afterward we can get dessert. OR Let’s go dancing, and afterward we can get dessert. Sentence 1B, Let’s go dancing, afterward we can get dessert is incorrect because it is a run-on sentence.

Similarly, use of semicolons in your example results in a run-on sentence. Periods are required. Your example should be written as follows:
I’m still confused about it. Do you use it instead of a comma, because on the pop quiz it looks like it. Did I use the semicolon right?
Please see our Rules for Semicolons and Rules of Commas for more information.

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By: K.B. https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1226839 Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:54:38 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1226839 Please would you confirm whether the semicolon is correct in the following sentence:

Like a flamingo, this sentence structure has two legs; each leg of the sentence must be able to stand on its own.

Having read your chapter on the semicolon, I’ve noted that semicolons and colons are not interchangeable, but one of the quiz answers (on the semicolon) states that both A) & B) are acceptable, so perhaps either may be used here?

My own sense is that it needs a colon, not a semicolon, following the Fowler rule that the 2nd clause “pays” what is “invoiced” in the 1st clause?

Thanks so much for a really helpful site.

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By: Miyah https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolons/#comment-1210635 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 01:02:43 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=680#comment-1210635 I’m still confused about it; do you use it instead of (,) because on the pop quiz it looks like it? Did I use the semicolon right?

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