Indulging the Art of the Semicolon

Outside of the period, comma, question mark and exclamation point, many beginning writers stray away from using semicolons, colons and long dashes simply because they fear they’ll use them incorrectly.

Embrace these punctuation marks. Not only do they offer more opportunities for sentence variety, they increase the level of creativity with which you write.

Semicolon < ; >

The most common use for a semicolon is between independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction. However it is also used between items in a series when that contain internal punctuation.

Separating Independent Clauses
Use a semicolon only when the two independent clauses are closely related or depend on one another for articulation. If the two independent clauses can stand alone as two sentences, end them with periods. This is a relatively blurry line, but as you practice more, you’ll find the difference in your style.

Example
Don’t trust the government to help you; trust that they’ll make things harder for you.

It’s almost election time; there’s almost no point in impeaching Bush now.

Even though those two clauses could stand alone as two sentences, they do not stand alone as independent thoughts; they compliment each other. With only one or the other, the sentence would be vague and slightly ambiguous.

Coordinating Conjunctions
For sentences with coordinating conjunctions, such as, "but," "so," "and" and "even though" use a comma.

Example
It’s almost election time, and there’s almost no point in impeaching Bush now.

Between Items in a Series Containing Internal Punctuation
What this means is when listing a series of phrases that contain commas or long dashes, use a semicolon to clearly denote the separation of the items; using commas can be confusing since there are already other commas in use.

Example
As an American I am cautious to trust the media and the government because they lie to us to boost morale, even though the truth eventually leaks out; they bolster minor events into large catastrophes to instill fear in the average American; and, despite the push to improve the state of the union, the government insists on force-feeding democracy to countries unwilling to cooperate.

NOTE When using typing programs with a built-in grammar check, such as Microsoft Word, the program will most likely pick out sentences similar to the example above and mark it as a "long sentence." Grammatically there is nothing wrong with long sentences. Depending on the reader, the sentence and your writing style, long sentences have a tendency to confuse the reader. Sticking with a long sentence or rewriting in shorter sentences is up to you. Stay true to your style. As long as your content is clear, the reader shouldn’t struggle. But that’s another topic.

Use Commas Correctly

First thing’s first: An articulate writing style depends on grammar. Although syntax, semantics and vocabulary define style, universally clear language is contingent upon appropriate grammar.

English grammar when broken down into specifics requires years of studying and practice to perfect. So don’t worry about being perfect. There will always be another writer out there to criticize something insignificant. As long as the language is clear to everyone, you’re golden.

The basics start with punctuation. You know a period goes at the end of every sentence except questions. Make sure you understand and use semi-colons, colons and long dashes as well. But most importantly, wrap your fingers permanently around appropriate comma usage. Commas can be the keys to unraveling an ambiguous sentence or address. Without a comma, sentence parts collide causing misinterpretations.

Comma < , > One of the biggest sources of confusion when discussing commas comes from elementary, middle school and high school English/grammar teachers saying, "Put a comma where you would naturally take a breath (or pause)." In some ways that is true, but the problem is that universally we do not all breath and pause in the same place; we take breaths and pause when commas tell us to — not the other way around. This misappropriation of rules leads to writers arbitrarily throwing commas around, attempting to control the pace at which the reader reads. Cut that out.

Here is a relatively comprehensive overview of correct comma usage:

• Direct address:
  Place a comma after a person’s (or the subject’s) name. If in the middle of the sentence, enclose the name in commas.
  
  Karl Rove, would you please stop lying?
  
  The problem, Mr. Bush, is your indifference to public opinion and logic.
  
  
• Direct Quotations:
  Commas belong inside of the quotation marks before the attribution even if the quote is a complete sentence.
  
  " . . . And there is distrust in Washington, " President George W. Bush said during an interview with National Public Radio. "I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it’s the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."
  
  For attribution in the middle of the sentence, place a comma before the attribution and after.
  
  "Make no mistake about it," President George W. Bush said on Dec. 7 2006, "I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die."
  
  If the quote finishes a sentence, but is not a complete sentence independently do not put a comma before the quote, only before the attribution.
  
  A graceful exist out of Iraq "has no realism to it at all," President Bush said.
  
  
• After a preposition or an introductory word group:
  
  When George W. Bush became president, the American status quo started to crumble.
  
  
• Set off transitional, parenthetical, contrasted elements and absolute phrases:
  Phrases such as "therefore," "however" and "as a matter of fact" should be set off by commas.
  
  Transitional Phrase
  The war, for example, is sinking our troops in quicksand because the president won’t budge on his unpopular opinion.
  
  Parenthetical Expression
  Congress, so far as we know, is in a stalemate with the president.
  
  Contrasted Elements
  A handful of politicians, not the American people, support this war.
  
  Absolute Phrases
  The president having seen his popularity plummet, started to cover his tracks and lie.
  
  
• Between items in a series:
  
  Wal-Mart, Haliburton, Chevron and Nestle are evil corporations.
  
  
• "Yes," "No" and other interrogative tags and mild interjections:
  
  Yes, I believe it’s time for new leadership in our government.
  
  Well, I assume there’s someone out there capable of running the country without trying to make himself and his friends rich.
  
  That was a pretty shady trick they pulled in Florida, wasn’t it?
  
  
• Before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses:
  
  Most Americans understand that the government is corrupt, but there is nothing we can about it.
  
  
• Between multiple adjectives:
  
  Our government is shady, greedy and heartless.
  
  
• To set off a nonrestrictive element:
  A general rule is to place a comma before "which." The words "that" and "which" are often interchangeable, but "which" requires a comma — just one more confusing rule for English grammar.
  
  To be more specific, use "that" only with restrictive clauses and "which" only with nonrestrictive clauses. A restrictive clause alters the meaning of the sentence and the word it modifies. A nonrestrictive clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and is set off with commas.
  
  RESTRICTIVE
  The monotony of office work deprives us of the happiness that makes the day bearable.
  
  NONRESTRICTIVE
  The monotony of office work deprives us of happiness, which staves off depression.
  
  In the restrictive clause example the thought is not complete ending the sentence at "happiness." The restrictive clause is therefore necessary. In the nonrestrictive clause example, the nonrestrictive clause, " . . . which staves off depression," is not necessary to complete the thought, assuming the reader knows happiness wards off depression; therefore the nonrestrictive clause is more of an afterthought than part of the sentence. Block it off with a comma.
  
  Adjective Clauses
  Enclose nonrestrictive clauses with commas when in the middle of the sentence; omit the commas when it is restrictive.
  
  RESTRICTIVE
  A company that employs overseas workers and treats them inhumanely must be cautious of too much media exposure.
  
  NONRESTRICTIVE
  Wal-Mart, which uses sweatshops to manufacture goods, unabashedly makes millions of dollars off of underdeveloped countries.
  
  In the restrictive example, "company" is undefined. The italicized restrictive clause defines it and is therefore necessary to the sentence. Wal-Mart in the nonrestrictive example is clearly defined. The nonrestrictive clause is additional information not absolutely pertinent to complete the sentence.
  
  Adjective Phrases
  The same rules apply to adjective phrases as do to adjective clauses. The only difference is a clause is just a detail. The adjective phrase is a more in-depth detail, a phrase with a verb referring to the subject.
  
  RESTRICTIVE
  The graveyard filled with dead soldiers from an unjust war sits at the top of the hill as a reminder of carelessness and greed.
  
  NONRESTRICTIVE
  Homeless children, with their empty stomachs crippling their health, live in every corner of every country.
  
  Appositives
  An appositive is a noun or pronoun that describes or specifies another noun.
  
  RESTRICTIVE
  Ron Whitehead’s poem "I refuse" captures the attitude appropriate for an American frustrated with the degradation of our country.
  
  NONRESTRICTIVE
  Our president, George W. Bush, has a tendency to lie the American people.
  
  
• Dates, Titles and Addresses
  
  On February 13, 2006, Dick Cheney shot another man in the face with a shotgun.
  
  EXCEPTIONS: Commas are unnecessary if the date is inverted (13 February 2006) or if only the month and year are provided.
  
  Bill O’Reilly, host of the O’Reilly Factor, tends to use his volume more than his words to prove his argument.
  
  Commas should also be used for professional titles after names including abbreviations such as M.D. or Ph.D.
  
  Mail your protest letters and petitions to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, District of Clumbia, once you’ve written them.