For want of a Comma

[Sam91]

This is a deadly serious issue!

Was that a veiled threat?

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

I think you'll find they are.

Mea Culpa. Yes, you're right. The second explains the first though, so you should be using a colon, not a semicolon.

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

Was that a veiled threat?

If you should learn anything from this thread, it is that people have literally been executed on the grounds of punctuation. You have been warned.

 

[LaSorcia]

Mea Culpa. Yes, you're right. The second explains the first though, so you should be using a colon, not a semicolon.

Like this, a semicolon is fine:
I love my parents; they're Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

Take out 'they're' and you need a colon since it's no longer an independent clause.

Quit bringing out the geek in me!

 

[LaSorcia]

@Quid est Veritas?
Do you have a style guide preference?

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

Like this, a semicolon is fine:
I love my parents; they're Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

Take out 'they're' and you need a colon since it's no longer an independent clause.

Quit bringing out the geek in me!

I disagree. If you connect two independant clauses with a semicolon, they are both on equal footing. This is not the case here, as the second must follow the first.

Alternatively, if you connect two related independant clauses by use of a conjunction or transitional phrasing, you could use a semicolon. I do not think "they're" qualifies for such criteria. I am no longer certain though. I must muse on this.

@Quid est Veritas?
Do you have a style guide preference?

Not really, but I am more of an Oxford man myself, with regards to spelling and such. Yes, I support their confounded comma, but often ommit it myself. If anything, old fashioned Partridge's Usage and Abusage I think should be the last word, perhaps.

 

[Sam91]

I hope this doesn't penalise me at college; course commences in August. Could you two help me by dumbing down your writing a little, in order that I can learn?

Or could you, at least, correct my usage of semi-colons?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Like this, a semicolon is fine:
I love my parents; they're Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

Take out 'they're' and you need a colon since it's no longer an independent clause.

Quit bringing out the geek in me!

I seem to remember also the Humanities Research Council Guide - or some such name - is a good guide to writing.

 

[LaSorcia]

I hope this doesn't penalise me at college; course commences in August. Could you two help me by dumbing down your writing a little, in order that I can learn?

Or could you, at least, correct my usage of semi-colons?

Oh, people will think you're erudite just for having a clue nowadays. And if you really want to impress them, start a discussion on the contrast of the hyphen and the dash.

 

[Sam91]

Oh, people will think you're erudite just for having a clue nowadays. And if you really want to impress them, start a discussion on the contrast of the hyphen and the dash.

You already know that I am inept to do such a discussion. Unless, I consider word length, etymology, or social differences of people using said structure -Is that what you mean?

 

[mama2one]

husband and I were discussing the comma recently

with a series of items, I said comma is needed before AND
he says no

were we each taught different?
we did grow up in different states, lol

 

[Sam91]

husband and I were discussing the comma recently

with a series of items, I said comma is needed before AND
he says no

were we each taught different?
we did grow up in different states, lol

I see they didn't teach periods; called full stops in the UK. (Oh I'm sorry btw, just couldn't resist. You write beautifully and have seen you punctuate properly in other places.)

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

husband and I were discussing the comma recently

with a series of items, I said comma is needed before AND
he says no

were we each taught different?
we did grow up in different states, lol

That is two variant systems: The Oxford Comma and AP-style's lack thereof.
It is a contentious issue amongst us pedants and grammar nazis. The Law seems to come down squarely in favour of the Oxford Comma though (a comma before and).

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

You already know that I am inept to do such a discussion. Unless, I consider word length, etymology, or social differences of people using said structure -Is that what you mean?

Etymology can be fun. You can call someone nice and really mean it as an insult.

Nice is derived from Latin 'ne-scire' meaning not-knowing, and used to be the term for an ignorant fool, before changing its meaning. It is theorised by some that it did so via Down's syndrome people or such, who are always so friendly and pleasant, yet low functioning.

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

Oh, people will think you're erudite just for having a clue nowadays. And if you really want to impress them, start a discussion on the contrast of the hyphen and the dash.

One of my colleagues once saw a girl, whose name was written Le-né. He assumed it was pronounced 'le NAY', only for her mother to inform him that the dash wasn't silent.
Turns out they were calling the girl 'le DASH ni'.

 

[mama2one]

I see they didn't teach periods; called full stops in the UK.

on CF

if I don't cap the first word, then don't use a period
kinda like when I text husband, lol

 

[Sam91]

on CF

if I don't cap the first word, then don't use a period
kinda like when I text husband, lol

I like me and my dots (elipses)... these ones... It is quicker and friendlier.

 

[LaSorcia]

One of my colleagues once saw a girl, whose name was written Le-né. He assumed it was pronounced 'le NAY', only for her mother to inform him that the dash wasn't silent.
Turns out they were calling the girl 'le DASH ni'.

That's ... creative. I guess I should start spelling my name like this:
Ada.

 

[Sam91]

That's ... creative. I guess I should start spelling my name like this:
Ada.

Satha!

 

[Ron Gurley]

... + , + : + ; + /...love 'em all!