The SemiColon

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The Semi-Colon

• There are only TWO constructive things you can do
  with semi-colons
• Combine COMPLETE sentences
• Separate items in a list that contains internal
  commas

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Job 1Combines COMPLETE sentences

• RULES
• The statements on both sides of the semi-colon
  must be independent clauses (COMPLETE
  sentences).
• The second statement is NOT capitalized.

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Recognizing an independent clause

• Does the statement have a subject, an action, and
  an object?
• Does it make sense in this test sentence
• I just cant believe that __________________.

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An independent clause?

• Although it hadnt gone well.
• I just cant believe that although it hadnt
  gone well.

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An independent clause?

• Steve Smith had only one catch for six yards.
• I just cant believe that Steve Smith had only
  one catch for six yards.

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STYLE RULE 1for semicolon use

• Both sentences should be of equal weight
  (about the same length and importance).
• Englethorpe McGilicutty is a junior taking five
  classes and majoring in technical communication
  at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas he likes it.

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TYLE RULE 2for semicolon use

• The second sentence should be clearly related to
  the first sentence.
• Englethorpe McGilicutty is a student at Texas
  Tech University Dr. Fricke had a bad fantasy
  football day.

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use semicolon or period?why?

• Students at Texas Tech are quite bright they
  understand concepts quickly.
• Art had a bad fantasy football day because his
  receivers were horrible Angelas team did well.
• Art had a bad fantasy football day Steve Smith
  really underperformed against the Eagles.
• Report writing involves skills that can be used
  in any type of professional writing audience
  analysis, tone, and organization are important
  for every document.

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JOB 2 Punctuates a listcontaining internal
commas

• Items in a list can be either independent
  objects or qualities of independent objects.
• EXAMPLE How many objects are in this list?
• Englethorpe, the CEO, Steve Smith, the head of
  IT, An Jing, and the VP of Sales were in the
  meeting.

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could be FOUR, or FIVE, or SIX

• Englethorpe
• the CEO
• Steve Smith
• the head of IT
• An Jing
• and the VP of Sales were in the meeting.

• Englethorpe, the CEO
• Steve Smith, the head of IT
• An Jing
• and the VP of Sales were in the meeting.

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semi-colons in a listseparate objects from
qualities

• Use semi-colons for clarity when list items have
  internal commas.
• RULES
• Once you use semi-colons to separate items, they
  ALL must be separated by semi-colons (even if not
  all items have an internal comma).

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Examplehow many items are in this list?

• Englethorpe the CEO Steve Smith, the head of
  IT An Jing and the VP of Sales were in the
  meeting.

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summarySEMICOLONS ARE USEFUL FOR

• Managing style by changing the pace of your
  audiences reading
• Reinforcing connections by highlighting related
  statements
• Clarifying lists by unambiguously separating
  objects