Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

You should rest first; we'll talk business later.

Why the *semi-colon*?

Thanks

[bud]

Sometimes I think it's a matter of choice which (if any) punctuation to use. My own style is that I tend to put a comma wherever I would pause when speaking the sentence. Semi-colons, colons and dashes are more complicated.

In your example, I can see someone choosing a semi-colon, someone else choosing a dash, and a third person choosing a period. I don't think any of them would be wrong.

I think the persons choosing the semi-colon and dash would look upon the two clauses as two parts of a complete thought: We need to talk business but you also need to rest, so you rest first and then we'll be better able to talk business.

The person choosing the period is looking at them, although closely related, as two separate thoughts.

It's a good question but a fuzzy issue, MissD.

[river1974]

One more question, bud. How to distinguish a dash from a hyphen? A dash is longer than a hyphen? A hyphen is used for connecting two words while a dash is used for connecting two clauses?

Thanks.

[bud]

Correct!

In printing, a dash is longer than a hyphen. Of course, on computers we only have the one character to use as both. Another small difference is that a space is used on each side of the dash, while no spaces are used with the hyphen.

[river1974]

Thanks bud. Now that I realize I always used the wrong usage before since I didn't leave a space on each side of the dash...

[renecohrt]

You got problems with punctuation?

I recommend Cassell's Guide To punctuation by ioreto todd.
_________________
Ren� Cohrt

[advoca]

Gee, Miss Daredevil,

The first sensible question for a long time; wow!



*You should rest first; we'll talk business later.*

Why the *semi-colon*?

The semicolon has only one major use. It is used to join two complete sentences into a single written sentence when any of the following conditions are met:

1. The two sentences are felt to be too closely related to be separated by a full stop (period);
2. There is no connecting word which would require a commas, such as and or but.
3. The special conditions requiring a colon are absent.

The classic quotation for explaining the use of the semicolon is from Charles *beep*, who wrote, *It was the best of times; it was the worst pf times.*

He might have written:
*It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.*
*It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.*

However, the use of the semicolon suggests that the writer sees the two smaller sentences are closely related.

But note that both sentences are complete in themselves.

[asterix]

It appears that D i c k e n s is a rude word where Nana and Corey live --- Give me a bleeding break!

[helen1]

I would disagree with Advoca's statement

[bud]

Good point, Helen!

As pitiful as it is, I am convinced the only goal Advoca has as a teacher is to help his students see what a brilliant teacher they have. I've had a few like that along the way, but fortunately, just a few.