[stylist] Commas and semi-colons

[Lynda Lambert]

The examples given are very good!
I am posting a website here that gives a really good list of how to use the 
semicolon in your sentences.  I love to use it when listing closely related 
items and for joining two independent clauses in a sentence.  When I am too 
lazy to look it up,  I will often use a period and break it into two 
complete sentences. This gives  the sentence(s)  even more impact at times. 
These are the things I re-think when  I am working on  successive drafts. 
The other thing that helps me so much, is to read my work out loud so I can 
hear the impact of the punctuation. How does it sound?

This site provides good information for writers.

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html



Lynda Lambert, MFA





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aine Kelly Costello" <ainekc at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Commas and semi-colons


> To add to that, I think semicolons are also used to list items, in the 
> case where one or more of said items contains a comma
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com
> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 17:17:05 -0600
> Subject: [stylist] Commas and semi-colons
>
> A little info on using semi-colons and commas: Use a comma when a
> clause, or text, after the comma pertains to the first section but can
> not stand as it's own complete sentence.  Example: This day has been a
> laundry list of chores, dishes, sweeping, taking care of baby.
>
> A semi-colon connects two clauses where the text following the
> semi-colon can stand as a complete sentence.  Example: This day has been
> a laundry list of chores; it's been full of dishes, sweeping and taking
> care of baby.
>
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 09:12:53 -0500
> From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Eve's Writing prompt
> Message-ID: <1BE90E2454064ACC9B9E2B250721AA03 at ChrisPC
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
> reply-type=original
>
> Hi Eve,
>
> Your piece is filled with passion, which is always good.  I actually
> agree
> with what Bridgit wrote, that I'd like to see some quotes to illustrate
> the
> claims you mentioned, but that somewhat depends on what your purpose in
> writing is.  When I read a piece like this, the professional writer in me
>
> thinks -- this would make a good op-ed piece, and I want some quotes and
>
> references to back it up.  But, for a blog post, what you wrote is fine.
>
> One thing I think you could work on is semi-colons.  You use a lot of
> them,
> too many in my opinion.  For example, you wrote:
> If we wish to be led by a Bishop; we need to go to church, not become
> one.  I'd suggest using a comma there instead of a semi-colon, or use a
> period and
> make it 2 sentences:
> If we wish to be led by a Bishop, we need to go to church.  Not become
> one.
>
> I think this is a powerful sentence, and you may even want to end the
> piece
> with it.  Nice job.
>
>
>
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