How to Use Semicolon

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How to Use Semicolon
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Semicolon

• Join two sentences
• Items in a series w/internal punctuation

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Example 1

• Join two sentences (replaces a BOYSFAN) word
• The leaves were falling we picked up rakes and
  bags to gather them.
• Look through your papers for CS. Correct the
  errors with a semi-colon.

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Example 2

• Between items in a series containing internal
  punctuation
• Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with
  Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears Battlestar
  Galactica, with its Cylon raiders and Star Wars,
  with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

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Exercise

• Write a sentence with internal punctuation that
  presents a list.

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Lukeman

• Think of semicolon as a bridge between two
  worlds.

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Review

• Period is a stop sign
• Comma is a speed bump
• Semicolon is a bridge

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Artistic Use of Semicolon

• He ran with his shirt over his head. He had
  forgotten his umbrella once again.
• He ran with his shirt over his head he had
  forgotten his umbrella once again.
• Adds a sense of connectiveness.

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Smooth out choppiness

• She wasnt going to support him anymore. It was
  time for him to get a job. Hed never leave the
  house otherwise. Hed loaf forever if he could.
  He was born that way. It was thanks to his
  father. It had taken her 20 years to get rid of
  him. She wouldnt go through that again. The son
  had two years. After that, the locks were changed.

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How Lukeman did it

• She wasnt going to support him anymore. It was
  time for him to get a job. Hed never leave the
  house otherwise hed loaf forever if he could.
  He was born that way. It was thanks to his
  father. It had taken her 20 years to get rid of
  him. She wouldnt go through that again. The son
  had two years after that, the locks were
  changed.

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Use only with short sentences

• My neighbors fence was purple and hideous and
  fell apart every winter, encroaching on my
  property she had built it with her own hands,
  she constantly reminded me.
• (Effect is overwhelming and cumbersome.)

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Danger of Overuse

• Link only when the two sentences are connected.
• The police station was close to his house he
  would have to be careful.
• The police station was close to his house he had
  to do his laundry.

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Dont become a semicolon junkie!

• The telephone wire was down again the phone
  company told me it would be up by morning once
  again, bad information I wouldnt let them get
  away with it this time.