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What Writing Rules Challenge You?
Do you have one or two writing rules that you always
seem to forget? As a result, you get stuck on a
word, sentence, or punctuation mark. Right?
Everyone does, even the most experienced and
successful writers.
So what do you do?
If you’re like
most
people, including me, you either look up the answer
or just find a different way to write the sentence.
That’s perfectly fine. Why not devise strategies that
make writing easier without compromising your
effectiveness?
Today, I will address one of
the most frequent questions people ask me in my
writing workshops, “When do I use a semicolon?”
Semicolons seem to generate a certain degree of
anxiety among writers, so let’s see if we can alleviate
some of that.
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When Do I Use a Semicolon?
The table below describes four rules for using
semicolons, followed by two examples. The first
example illustrates the rule; the second example
shows how to write the sentence without a
semicolon—an option you may want to consider
occasionally.
| Use a
semicolon |
Example with a
Semicolon |
Example without
a
Semicolon |
| 1) Between two closely
related
independent
clauses that could also stand alone as separate
sentences. |
Kelly goes to the beach to
swim; Steve likes to
build sandcastles with his kids. |
Kelly goes to the beach to
swim. Steve likes to
build sandcastles with his kids. |
| 2) Instead of a comma
between
two independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, so) if the clauses already have
commas in them. |
Although she was the last
speaker, Selma
captured the audience’s attention; and she received
a standing ovation. |
Although she was the last
speaker, Selma
captured the audience’s attention, and she received
a standing ovation. |
| 3) To separate items in a
series
when one or
more of the items has a comma. |
The president invited four
executives to join him
at the conference: Pete Ames, director of marketing;
Nancy Chiang, director of human resources; and Juan
Garcia, director of operations. |
The president invited four
executives to join him
at the conference: Pete Ames (director of
marketing), Nancy Chiang (director of human
resources), and Juan Garcia, (director of
operations). |
| 4) Before a transition word
or
phrase (however, for
example, consequently, then) connecting two
independent clauses. |
Mel is running faster since he
started training
with the coach; for example, he beat his personal
best in the hurdles by 2.3 seconds. |
Mel is running faster since he
started training
with the coach. For example, he beat his personal
best in the hurdles by 2.3 seconds. |
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Can you get through life without ever using a
semicolon? You may. In fact, some writing experts
recommend using semicolons sparingly to avoid
writing long, complex, and confusing sentences. As
with any other tool, aim for striking a balance, and
try using semicolons to make your sentences as clear
as possible for your readers.
Send Your Writing Challenges or Questions
I invite you to send your writing challenges or
questions, and I will either address them in a
newsletter or respond to you privately. You may be
surprised at how many people struggle with the same
issues.
If You Don’t Have Time to Attend a Class
If attending a writing class doesn’t fit into your
schedule, or if you prefer a program that focuses on
your individual needs, please contact me to discuss
the option of one-on-one coaching.
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Ilana G. Traverse, Principal
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