1396-02 (7dh72 dist, 2.7 mean)
Selected-By: Tim Chew <twchew@mindspring.com>
The Internet Oracle has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> Oh most chatty, cogent, copious, cursive, declamatory, disputatious,
> easy, effortless, effusive, eloquent, facile, flowing, garrulous, glib,
> liquid, loquacious, mellifluent, mellifluous, natural, persuasive,
> prompt, quick, ready, running, silver-tongued, smooth, smooth-spoken,
> talkative, verbose, vocal, voluble, well-versed, wordy Oracle....
>
> What is the correct grammatical usage of the semi-colon?
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And in response, thus spake the Oracle:
} In this century, at least, the semicolon has only three common uses.
}
} *** USAGE 1: Separate the items in a list after a colon:
}
} This seems obvious enough:
}
} The following books will be covered on the midterm: the Odyssey,
} through book 12; passages from Ovid's Metamorphoses; and the
} selections from Chaucer.
}
} *** USAGE 2: Separate two independent clauses in one sentence:
}
} Shakespeare's comedies seem natural; his tragedies seem forced.
}
} A simple test for this use is: if you can use a period and a new
} sentence, you can also use a semicolon. In this use, the semicolon can
} always be replaced by a period and a new sentence:
}
} Shakespeare's comedies seem natural. His tragedies seem forced
}
} is correct, so a semicolon can be used.
}
} It's unsafe to use a semicolon anywhere else.
}
} Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark
} stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you
} can make your writing sound more sophisticated.
}
} Use a semicolon to combine two independent clauses with no connecting
} words. For example:
}
} Pam is going to school; she plans on staying there.
} My truck broke down; it should be fixed in a week.
}
} A semicolon can also be used when joining two independent clauses
} together with one subordinating conjunction. Subordinating
} conjunctions are words such as: moreover, however, therefore,
} consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, and thus. For example:
}
} Pam is going to school; moreover, she plans on staying there.
} My truck broke down; however, it should be fixed in a week
}
} Do not join independent clauses by a comma! If two or more clauses,
} grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a
} single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a
} semicolon.
}
} Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting
} adventures.
} It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
}
} It is of course equally correct to write the above as two sentences
} each, replacing the semicolons by periods.
}
} Stevenson's romances are entertaining. They are full of exciting
} adventures.
} It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.
}
} If a conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma (Rule 4).
}
} Stevenson's romances are entertaining, for they are full of exciting
} adventures.
} It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark.
}
} Note that if the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as
} accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a
} conjunction, the semicolon is still required.
}
} I had never been in the place before; so I had difficulty in finding
} my way about.
}
} In general, however, it is best, in writing, to avoid using so in this
} manner; there is danger that the writer who uses it at all may use it
} too often. A simple correction, usually serviceable, is to omit the
} word so, and begin the first clause with as:
}
} As I had never been in the place before, I had difficulty in finding
} my way about.
}
} If the clauses are very short, and are alike in form, a comma is
} usually permissible:
}
} Man proposes, God disposes.
} The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.
}
} *** USAGE 3: Control colon diseases
}
} In the field of human health care, there exist several diseases of the
} colon. These are considered immunity-system diseases, because they all
} affect the body's ability to protect itself from airborne virii. The
} semi-colon can help protect the colon from some of the worst colon
} diseases, such as Ulcerative Colon, or Chron's disease.
}
} After his colon got an ulcer, many people viewed it as a semi-colon.
}
} Note: Do not confuse Irritable Bowel Disease with Ulcerative Colon.
} While the symptoms of both diseases are similar, they respond very
} differently to treatment. Your doctor should begin by running tests to
} properly diagnose your disease.
}
} [Incarnation AllanW]
}
} You owe the Oracle a barf bag.
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