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[TAKEDA]

Hello

I have a question about punctuation marks.
I don�t know how I should use punctuation marks in the following sentences.

a) He worked very hard; otherwise he would have failed.
b) He worked very hard; or he would have failed.

In the case of a), can we use a comma instead of the semicolon?
In the case of b), is it better if we use a comma instead of the semicolon, or we don�t use any punctuation mark?

Would you explain to me?

[Educationslave]

neither, a semi-colon Seperates two complete sentences. I cannot think of a good example of this though.
ES

[Kristea]

a) He worked very hard; otherwise he would have failed.
b) He worked very hard; or he would have failed.

**
This is easy once you know the rule.

You are in both cases joining 2 sentences, so the big factor is the word and mark between them.

Sentence A - The joining word (otherwise) is not a coordinating conjuction, so you use the semicolon.

Sentence B = The joining word (or) is a coordination conjuction, so you should have used a comma. However IF either sentence had additional punctuation, a semi-colon would be used regardless. (Example, ""Although it was early, she sat at her computer; and she wrote a response to the question." - to be honest, only picky English teachers catch this, but that is what I am. Easy to remember thought, I think.)

(Coordinating cunjuctions - and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)

Hope this helps - Kristi
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