WHEN TO USE THE SEMICOLON: Record the rules using p. 624-25
30a______
Ex. The side effects are not minor; some leave the patient quite ill.
** INDEPENDENT CLAUSES MUST BE ABLE TO STAND ALONE AS SENTENCES
** There must be a close relationship in thought between the two independent clauses
** Main clauses contain a subject and a predicate and do not begin with a subordinating word
** Distinguishing the comma, the semicolon, and the colon
The comma chiefly separates both equal and unequal sentence elements
-Main clauses linked by coordinating conjunctions
- Separates subordinate information.
The semicolon chiefly separates equal and balanced sentence elements—often the first clause creates an expectation, the second clause fulfills the expectation
30b______
Ex. An American immigrant, Levi Stauss, invented blue jeans I n the 1860s; eventually, his product clothed working men throughout the West.
**When either a conjunctive adverb (consequently, hence, however, indeed and thus) or a transitional expression connects two main clauses, the clauses should be separated by a semicolon.
** The position of the semicolon between main clauses never changes, but the conjunctive adverb or transitional expression may move around the clause.
Ex. Blue jeans have become fashionable all over the world; however, the American originators still wear more jeans than anyone else.
Ex. Blue jeans have become fashionable all over the world; The American originators, however, still wear more jeans than anyone else.
30c______
Ex. By a conscious effort of the mind, we can stand aloof from actions and their consequences; and all things, goods and bad, go by us like a torrent. –Henry David Thoreau
30d______
** We normally use commas to separate items in a series. But when the items are longer or internally punctuated, semicolons can help readers identify the items.
Ex. The custody case involved Amy Dalton, the child; Ellen and Mark Dalton, the parents; and Ruth and Hal Blum, the grandparents.
** Semicolons do note separate unequal sentence elements and should not be overused!
WHEN TO USE THE COLON: Record the rules using p. 626-627
30e______
**Use the colon to introduce a concluding explanation/summary, an appositive, a series, or a long or formal quotation.
Ex. Soul food is a varied cuisine: it includes spicy gumbos, black eyed peas, and collard greens. (explanation)
Ex. Soul food has one disadvantage: fat (appositive)
Ex. The order of the reading on the syllabus is as follows: The Color Purple, Beloved, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. (list/series)
Ex. One soul food chef has a solution: “Soul food doesn’t have to be greasy to taste good. Instead of using ham hocks to flavor beans, I use smoked turkey wings. The soulful, smoky taste remains, but without all the fat of the pork.” (long quote)
30f______
**Use the colon between figures in scriptural, volume and page number, time references, salutations, and between titles and subtitles.
Ex. The text of the sermon is Matthew 6:10
Ex. Science Digest 102:89-92
Ex. It is 2:45 p.m., much too late to order lunch in most restaurants.
Ex. Dear Sir:
Ex. I have just read On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy by Eric Lax
**DO NOT use the colon after verbs or prepositions.
- INCORRECT: The survivors were: One man, two women, and a child.
- INCORRECT: I like many varieties of ethnic foods, such as: Japanese, Mexican, Thai, and Indian.
WHEN TO USE THE DASH: Record the rules using p. 627-628
30g______
Ex. The poor condition of this road—you can feel every bump as you ride along—makes the route inconvenient.
30h______
Ex. Very few people in this class—three, to be exact—have completed their projects.
30i______
Ex. She joined the chorus for only one reason—she loved to sing.
** The dash and the colon are often interchangeable in this use. A dash is considered more emphatic in this use than a colon. If a dash is overused, it loses its emphasis
WHEN TO USE PARENTHESES: Record the rules using p. 628
30j______
Ex. Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) is remembered for her work in the Underground Railroad.
**Commas, dashes, and parentheses are frequently used interchangeably to set off INCIDENTAL matter. Commas and dashes are more common.
** Be sure that any material enclosed in parentheses can be omitted without changing the basic meaning or construction of the sentence.
** Punctuation marks are used within parentheses when they belong with the parenthetical matter. Punctuation marks that belong with the main part of the sentence are placed outside the closing parentheses.
WHEN TO USE BRACKETS: Record the rules using p. 629-630
30k______
Ex. The article stated that “at the time of that Democratic National Convention [ in Chicago in 1968] there were many protest groups operating in the United States.”
WHEN TO USE UNDERLINING (ITALICS): Record the rules using p. 630
30l______
**Quotation marks are reserved for short stories, short poems, chapters, articles, songs, single episodes of TV shows, etc.
30m______
Ex. Should the use of their for there be considered a spelling error or usage error?
Ex. The teacher couldn’t tell whether I had written an a or a c
Ex. Some U.S. coins were stamped with the inscription E pluribus unum.