Punctuation Workshop

Beware the Semicolon, Part II

A good place to begin with anything is the RULES; therefore, you know exactly how to break them!

1. Use to connect two related independent clauses.

• Simply put, an independent clause is a group of words that can stand on their own as a sentence.  Therefore, two related sentences means that the second sentence typically provides more information about the first.

Some examples:

Johnny loves animals; he has a sanctuary for stray cats.

Tallen loves cheesecakes; blueberry is his favorite.

Sky_dancer crafts all kinds of necklaces; she prefers Mala beads.

2. Use to replace a coordinating conjunction.

• Simply put, a coordinating conjunction connects words, phrases, and clauses. The seven coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. An easy way to remember them is via an acronym such as FANBOYS. Let’s look at the same examples with coordinating conjunctions instead of semicolons.

Johnny loves animals, so he has a sanctuary for stray cats.

Tallen loves cheesecakes, yet blueberry is his favorite.

Sky_dancer crafts all kinds of necklaces, but she prefers Mala beads.  

3: Use when writing serial ( not to be confused with cereal, Tallen ) lists.

• Simply put, a serial list is a list that is long, or requires punctuation to divide up different clauses ( sentences ).

Here are two examples:

Doesn’t require a semicolon—{N}omoth enjoys writing metaphorical poetry, both literal and abstract.  

Requires a semicolon—{N}omoth enjoys writing metaphorical poetry; literal metaphors easily relate to others; abstract metaphors act as his secret language.

So, the answer to your previous question, {N}omoth, is yes; you can properly use two semicolons in the same sentence.

I saved the trickiest for last—

4. Use when a conjunctive adverb links two independent clauses.

• Simply put, common conjunctive adverbs are: however, likewise, moreover, otherwise, indeed, nevertheless, etc.  Unlike a conjunction, a conjunctive adverb creates a weaker connection; therefore, the conjunctive adverb is nestled between a semicolon and a comma to separate the two independent clauses ( not to be confused with an erotic nestling between two breasts ).

Deep Underground is the best poetry site on the internet; moreover, it offers more categories than other poetry sites.
 
Team Napo 2020 is excited to launch registration; indeed, they are also looking forward to participating.

April is the cruelest month; however, its rain brings May flowers.

• Remember: the semicolon is only used to join two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb, so you don’t need to use a semicolon every time you come across words like however, otherwise, and moreover. The tricky part is that sometimes conjunctive adverbs can be used in sentences without linking two independent clauses. Here are examples of using only commas:

_[S]hadoe_ declined Tallen’s generous offer of blueberry cheesecake. Tallen is determined, nevertheless, to get _shadoe to try a piece.  

After writing all night, _shadoe_ was just too tired to eat. She did manage to drink some coffee, however.

• However! If the break is weak, you don’t need commas:

{N}omoth celebrated his newly acquired knowledge about using two semicolons in one sentence. He will therefore use them confidently.

Sources:
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/08/01/the-birth-of-the-semicolon/
https://www.amazon.com/Semicolon-Past-Present-Future-Misunderstood/dp/0062853058
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicolon
https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htm
https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/conjunctiveadverb.htm

Any suggestions for the next punctuation mark?  I have an affinity for the Em dash!

OMFG!! ----->>>>> 3: Use when writing serial ( not to be confused with cereal, Tallen ) lists. <<-----&---just so You (all) know, i often eat some cereals (Capt'n Crunch, Frosted Flakes) as a dry snack for a mid-afternoon boost!!

& OMFG!!!  --- i almost got way tooooooooo agog with this lay down of gorgeousness of letters strewn together and co-mingling in a near coition of Ecstasy ..........WHEW!!  i need a cold shower now!
.........................----->>>>>" 4. Use when a conjunctive adverb links two independent clauses.

• Simply put, common conjunctive adverbs are: however, likewise, moreover, otherwise, indeed, nevertheless, etc.  Unlike a conjunction, a conjunctive adverb creates a weaker connection; therefore, the conjunctive adverb is nestled between a semicolon and a comma to separate the two independent clauses ( not to be confused with an erotic nestling between two breasts ). "

LOL!  

Enter Punctuation Porn!

{N}omoth (??) thinks that this is so excellently explained and super interesting; indeed, he thanks you and hopes that ellipses are the next subject; however, he would enjoy following the workshop on the  'em dash'.

edit: pls correct any of this. I was so bad at Eng. Lit.

thanks againx

nomoth said:{N}omoth (??) thinks that this is so excellently explained and super interesting; indeed, he thanks you and hopes that ellipses are the next subject; however, he would enjoy following the workshop on the  'em dash'.


or a complete' Cleanse
with the
Colon?!!!  

nomoth said:{N}omoth (??) thinks that this is so excellently explained and super interesting; indeed, he thanks you and hopes that ellipses are the next subject; however, he would enjoy following the workshop on the  'em dash'.

edit: pls correct any of this. I was so bad at Eng. Lit.

thanks againx


You're welcome! You'll be a novice before long!  That sentence was EXCELLENT!

Let's make it fun!

Ellipses - 1
Em dash - 1

Tallen said:

or a complete' Cleanse
with the
Colon?!!!  

Didn't see that coming!

Ellipses - 1
Em dash - 1
Colon - 1

Gonna need someone to break this tie!

thanks Miss. lol.

*hand up for a complete off-topic question*

as i just felt completely incomfortable for referring to myself in 3rd person; I  did do a bit  of quick research on Deixis and 1st,2nd,3rd  person grammar; which would be another wonderful subject to workshop.

Understand your plate is full: but, would enjoy anyone with expertise to take a lead on this.

am a bit semi-colon-conjunctive-adverb -mad at the moment.

vote... #ellipses  

nomoth said:thanks Miss. lol.

*hand up for a complete off-topic question*

as i just felt completely incomfortable for referring to myself in 3rd person; I  did do a bit  of quick research on Deixis and 1st,2nd,3rd  person grammar; which would be another wonderful subject to workshop.

Understand your plate is full: but, would enjoy anyone with expertise to take a lead on this.

am a bit semi-colon-conjunctive-adverb -mad at the moment.

vote... #ellipses  

Sorry! Your vote only counts once!

I thought it was quite comical to use the third person!  Sometimes stepping out of the picture allows you to see it in a different light!

LOL, Sky!  Fun but never stressful!

Ahavati said:

Didn't see that coming!

Ellipses - 1
Em dash - 1
Colon - 1

Gonna need someone to break this tie!

Ampersand - 1

JohnnyBlaze said:

Ampersand - 1



LMAO!  

Ellipses - 1
Em dash - 1
Colon - 1
Ampersand - 1

& & & & & & & & & &

It really is an evil thing that doesn't belong in poetry.

JohnnyBlaze said:& & & & & & & & & &

It really is an evil thing that doesn't belong in poetry.




LOL!

A crusade against the Ellipses of Evil! ( I SHIT you not! )

https://jamestoddlewis.com/ellipses-of-evil/

Excerpt!

Now, for perspective, the Fallen (v3) has 272,407 words and is 688 pages long, as formatted for a 6×9 novel print format.  There were 6,754 ellipses in the book!  That means, on average, every 40th word was an ellipses.  Oi.  Doctor Cass was right!