Proper Use of The Semicolon

Proper Use of The Semicolon Proper Use of The Semicolon Proper Use of The Semicolon By Mark Nichol Pity the poor semicolon so often misunderstood, so seldom asked to dance because he is seen as stiff, formal, and pretentious. But he’s such a practical, useful fellow whose talents should be appreciated that I would like to reintroduce him to you. A semicolon has two primary functions, exemplified in two labels attached to it: It is said to be the equivalent of a weak period and a strong comma. Think of the two as distinct dance steps. In its weak-period mode, the semicolon stands in for a period when an independent clause could appear as a separate sentence but is so closely related to the previous independent clause that the semicolon is inserted to signal that relationship: â€Å"An investigator files and locates court documents; librarians file claims for missing serials and locate requested information.† As a stand-in for a strong comma, it separates items in a list when one or more items in that list are themselves lists: â€Å"The apple figures prominently in Christian and Islamic belief; Greek, Nordic, and Celtic legends; and folklore throughout the Western world.† It serves that function, too, when one or more list items otherwise include a comma: â€Å"Astrology’s origins can also be traced to several other locations and cultures, including Egypt, which developed sophisticated timekeeping and calendar science; Greece, where Ptolemy authored influential astrological and astronomical texts; and Rome, where many of the most learned men including two emperors were astrologers who wrote laws and counseled citizens based on the stars.† That said, though semicolons are underutilized in the first role, they are overused in the second they’re underappreciated for their facility with one dance step and are too often called on to demonstrate the other dance step when the dance is not appropriate. Here are some solutions for balancing out the semicolon’s dance card: 1. â€Å"More than 900 million people still lacked access to clean drinking water in 2010; and 2.6 billion did not have adequate sanitation.† An independent clause following a weak-period semicolon should not begin with a conjunction; they are redundant to each other. Often, the conjunction is preferable: â€Å"More than 900 million people still lacked access to clean drinking water in 2010, and 2.6 billion did not have adequate sanitation.† (This usage, common in the past, is frequently seen in classic literature, but it’s fallen out of favor.) 2. â€Å"Part of the company’s responsibility is to show others their responsibility; to help other water users see that small changes can save a lot of water.† If a thought does not constitute an independent clause, use a comma (or, for greater emphasis, perhaps an em dash), not a weak-period semicolon: â€Å"Part of the company’s responsibility is to show others their responsibility, to help other water users see that small changes can save a lot of water.† (Again, easily found in older works, but no longer considered proper usage.) 3. â€Å"That is true, however, the increasing conflicts over water for energy involve the vast amounts power generation makes unavailable for people and aquatic ecosystems.† Here is a weak-period construction complicated by the presence of the conjunctive adverb however, which requires a comma after it. The one before it should be a weak-period semicolon: â€Å"That is true; however, the increasing conflicts over water for energy involve the vast amounts power generation makes unavailable for people and aquatic ecosystems.† 4. â€Å"Residents had to slash their water use by a third, farmers by nearly half.† Here’s a similar problem. The phrase â€Å"farmers by nearly half† is an incorrectly punctuated abridgement of the potential independent clause â€Å"farmers had to slash their water use by nearly half.† The elided repetition of the phrase â€Å"had to slash their water use† is signaled by a comma in its place, and the two independent clauses are stitched together by a weak-period semicolon: â€Å"Residents had to slash their water use by a third; farmers, by nearly half.† 5. â€Å"He also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation; motion detectors; barometric pressure monitors; and thermometers.† This sentence is grammatically correct as is, but so many semicolons in a short sentence make it look cluttered. Reconstruct the sentence to eliminate the need for the strong-comma semicolons: â€Å"He also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation, plus motion detectors, barometric pressure monitors, and thermometers.† 6. â€Å"Our services can identify sites that infringe on brand name, content, or trademarks; misuse a brand name or image; or disparage a brand.† Here’s another solution for the correct-but-excessive strong-comma semicolon when only one item in a list is itself a list, if it’s logical to do so, move that item to the end of the sentence: â€Å"Our services can identify sites that disparage a brand, misuse a brand name or image, or infringe on brand name, content, or trademarks.† 7. â€Å"Follow-up studies are needed to improve our understanding of whether influences on decision making carry through to patterns of actual disclosure; whether involvement in counseling affects outcomes; and whether access to professional assistance at the time of planned disclosure is helpful.† Semicolons are not required to separate items in a list just because one or more items is lengthy, especially in this sentence, in which the repetition of whether clearly signals the beginning of each list item. Replace the strong-comma semicolons with authentic commas: â€Å"Follow-up studies are needed to improve our understanding of whether influences on decision making carry through to patterns of actual disclosure, whether involvement in counseling affects outcomes, and whether access to professional assistance at the time of planned disclosure is helpful.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesHow to Punctuate with â€Å"However†Grammar Review #1: Particles and Phrasal Verbs

45 Topics for Term Paper Writing

45 Topics for Term Paper Writing The list of the most trending term paper topics of 2017 covers three difficulty levels: hard, medium easy on the following subjects: Politics, Health, Medicine, Science, and General topics. In case you are working on a term paper or are simply looking for a topic to start your research, we have written down a short list of sample topics for you. The list includes such topics as Politics,  Health, Medicine, Science, and General. All topics are grouped by levels of difficulty, so you will be able to pick the topic that is the exact match to your requirements. Please note that this list is just sample topics. TERM PAPER FORMAT While choosing a topic its important that you select a topic that is neither too narrow nor too broad. Here is a list of the most trending term paper topics of 2017. Feel free to use any of them for your term paper. Politics Hard: US Troops Aiding Syria: Is this the right move? Obamacare: Constitutionally unjust or a way to force regulation on citizens? What happens behind the scenes that the Government keeps from the citizens of the US? Why the US feels the need to get involved in other countries affairs Medium: Electing Obama to a second term: Was it really the right choice for this country? Turmoil in the US Government: Why republicans and democrats disagree Is there controversy between the US and China or is it all made up for media purposes? Easy: The reason for multiple political parties and what each really represents Are electoral votes the right way to call an election? The people speak but the states ultimately decide The right way to approach local and state government entities with your political concerns to ensure they are handled Health Hard: The controversy surrounding aspartame Why whole grains help digestion and the reason to back away from starches not made from whole grains Is a liver cleanse really beneficial for those suffering from chronic illnesses Reducing processed food intake and why it is beneficial to your health Medium: How to make dietary changes to improve your health without shocking your body Foods that Diabetics should avoid maintaining body systems and eyesight The latest diet crazes and how they are potentially dangerous Easy: When too much exercise leads to obsession: Knowing when enough is enough How exactly does stress play a role in your total bodys   health? Stress reduction techniques to improve your mental stability and overall mental health Medical Hard: Scares from vaginal mesh surgeries and how to get help for your complications Understanding drug interactions and what side effects are more prominent dependent upon your ailment Spinal surgeries: Is the risk really worth it and why you should consider alternative treatment options Medium: How to know when it’s time to turn off the life support and let go of a family member When do you believe what you read about supplements and what doctors really know about them Is your doctor pushing specific medications to his/her patients to help pharmaceutical companies or is it really going to help you? Easy: Filing malpractice charges against your doctor: Understanding what malpractice really is Is your doctor telling you the truth? Understanding why second opinions are valuable for your treatment plan Recognizing mental illness in a loved one: The right steps to take so that they get the help they need Science Hard: Should NASA gain new funding for continued space travel explorations or do we know all we need to know? Cancer Research: What is really being done scientifically to find a cure for each specific type? Is there a scientific method to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, renal failure and joint deterioration? Mixing technology with scientific method to create convenience items for the disabled Medium: Studying the scientific formulations of water, ice and snow to compile meteorological differences What exactly about science is taught in the classroom? Is it really relevant? Is there true scientific validity to Women being from Venus and Men being from Mars? Easy: Getting your kids more involved with science and experiments are safe to complete at home What is the scientific explanation for how the Chinese zodiac and astrological signs are assigned? What is the scientific method of curing meats for preservation? General How much damage does stereotyping really do to a persons mental health? Why grief plagues some more than others Does getting a degree really make you more money and give you a more stable career? What is the real reason that higher Education costs keep rising? Why are fast food hamburgers so much higher in calories than homemade options? Auto branding: What is the reasoning behind the loyalty and which manufacturers are really better than others? APA TERM PAPER Email us your requirements and our writers will start coming up with all kinds of term paper topics. Once you have selected the topic you like, the writer who came up with that topic of your choice will be assigned to work on your paper. Together with you, the writer will draft the paper and then work on its text. We will only assign those writers who are professionals at what they do and have experience in the subject. This will ensure that your paper is well-written and properly formatted, contains no plagiarism and is a full match to your original requirements. Ultimately, this will result in your customer satisfaction, which is our utmost goal. Just place an order and get your professionally written term paper on time.