Anal grammar questions (quick and easy!)

Heofz said:
As far as I know, semicolons are used to prefix a clause that is an alternative wording of the previous clause; they are strange! ;)
Click to expand...

It is also used as a stronger division in a sentence that already contains commas:

"What has crippled me? Was it my grandmother, frowning on my childish affection and turning it to formality and cold courtesy; or my timid, fearful mother, in awe of everyone including, finally, me; or was it my wife's infidelities, or my own?"
 
paddy said:
Why on earth are you writing about the Ropewalk?

I lived in the Student ghetto that is Lenton for 3 years, The Grove was my local
Click to expand...

The Grove is terrible :p I lived 30 seconds away from it, and still made the long journey up Derby road instead of going there. I'm not writing about the Ropewalk, someone who still works there is and she asked me to proof-read a business plan she was presenting to the manager to try and get like £1500 for some after-show party to be hosted in the ropewalk.
 
Zefan said:
Just a comma. You could probably get away with a semi-colon even though it's not correct, as not many people know where to use them.
Click to expand...
Hey, here's an idea - why don't you take it upon yourself to point out to everyone where they should and shouldn't use semi-colons? ;)
 
Carzy said:
Colon as above? Or semi-colon as I think it should be. Please tell me I'm right :p

THANKS GUYZ
Click to expand...
I'd like to know what an "undefined" bar or venue is. Surely they would have to be licenced for use as either a bar, venue or both so isn't "undefined bar or venue" an oxymoron?

:p
 
Last edited:
phykell said:
I'd like to know what an "undefined" bar or venue is. Surely they would have to be licenced for use as either a bar, venue or both so isn't "undefined bar or venue" an oxymoron?

:p
Click to expand...

She'd have gone mad at me had I started correcting the actual prose! I was just there as a proof-reader haha.
 
phykell said:
Hey, here's an idea - why don't you take it upon yourself to point out to everyone where they should and shouldn't use semi-colons? ;)
Click to expand...

Yes but that would be terribly anal though wouldn't it? I couldn't imagine Zefan being terribly anal about anything...
 
Rebelius said:
"The two parts of a sentence divided by a semicolon should balance each other, rather than leading from one to the other."

So you're wrong.
Click to expand...


That would imply that the comma's only use was as parenthesis, it isn't.

That would imply that the comma's only use was as parenthesis; it isn't.


I stand by my comments. The second sentence looks better to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom