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.

Behavioural Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Behavioural Studies - Essay Example The development of motivation theory goes in the direction of individual approach to every employee. Abraham Maslow was the first to point to the fact that money and benefits aren’t the only factors motivating people. Frederick Herzberg and his colleagues carried out a broad research examining the factors contributing to job satisfaction and excellent performance of employees. As a result of their work Herzberg formulated the Motivation-Hygiene Theory or Dual-Factor Theory. Herzberg distinguished two types of separate factors. The first type are motivators resulting in job satisfaction, while the second type are hygienes, which simply prevent dissatisfaction. The motivators include: achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, and advancement. The hygienes are: company policy and administration, supervision, working conditions, salary, interpersonal relations, status, and security. If applied effectively, hygienes may prevent dissatisfaction, but do not provide a gua rantee of employees’ long-term satisfaction. If applied poorly, they result in negative feelings about the job. Motivators contribute to psychological growth and development on the job. They are associated with the concept of self-actualization and involve a challenge and opportunity to get pleasure of achievement and feeling worthwhile. If a manager wants to motivate people, it is necessary to concentrate on the job itself and not only on working conditions, provide opportunities for growth and development. However, this theory cannot be applied to all the employees. The practice shows that many people are quite satisfied by good working conditions and do not strive for further development. Moreover, people’s needs and goals change with time and motivators may be different in different situations, conditions and time periods. Victor Vroom argued that to make employees happy and satisfied with a job it is necessary

Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Changes - Essay Example However, the question on which of these factors will have the greatest influence remains unanswered. This paper outlines three of the changes expected in criminal justice in the next fifty years. Like any other system or discipline, criminal justice is expected to evolve. This evolution will be apparent in both crime and justice. In fact, as criminal evolve; their potential victims will also evolve in the preventive strategies they will use against the perpetrators. For instance, criminals are expected to use devices that would counter or unlock the more advanced devices and technologies such as alarm systems and locks that potential victims are expected to use to protect themselves (Ritter, 2006). As is currently the case, crime fighting strategies will however continue to focus on the reduction of crime opportunities, removing criminal-motivators, and altering peoples’ basic values by nurturing positive values, more so in the youth so that their propensity to commit crimes is reduced (Ritter, 2006). Population experts believe that in the next three to five decades there is a likely increase in the percentage of the over-30 population, particularly those over 65 year s of age. The implication of these demographic changes on criminal justice is that more people will be highly likely to become victims and criminals. The other change expected in the next fifty years in criminal justice is the increased use of technological advances in fighting crimes. In this regard, there is an expected increase in the development and use of more sophisticated biometric devices, surveillance equipment, identification microchips, and DNA analysis in preventing, detecting and reducing crime (Ritter, 2006). These technological devices will be quite effective in enhancing crime prevention and crime solving in the future. Technologically, more complex and effective intelligence databases for policing and analysis of crime trends by experts and the public will be exploited

Broadcasting And Programing :: essays research papers

Broadcasting and Programing Steiner's Model Steiner's model on programming preferences and broadcasting choices tries to show how stations come to the conclusion of what programming to show. This model goes on the assumption that broadcasters will go after the largest audience possible. Going on the information given about this hypothetical situation, we can predict what each of the four stations in this market will show. There are three distinct audience preferences. The first groups of 1200 viewers has a first programming preference of sitcoms and a second choice of soaps. The second group numbers 900 viewers and would pick cops first and soaps second. The third group, 500 viewers, likes soaps first and sitcoms and their second choice. This model says that the audience will watch their first choice first and then the second choice, but only is their first choice is not available. Let's say that the Federal Communications Commission licenses station A in their market. Looking at the viewer preferences, station A would start to broadcast soaps. By show soaps, it would capture a market of 2600 viewers. All viewers would watch because soaps is their first choice or it is their second choice but their first is not available. The FCC then offers a license to station B. After examining the audience sizes, stations B also starts to show soaps. By programming to this audience, it splits the soaps market with station A and both of them have 1300 viewers. Station B does not pick another programming because no other choice can offer more than 1300 viewers. When the FCC offers a license to station C, things will definitely change in this market. Station C sees the biggest audience available is the sitcom market with 1200 viewers. But when station C takes that 1200 viewers from the soap audience which hold sitcoms as their first choice, station A and B will both drop to 700 viewers. They now have to make a decision. Both can find larger markets elsewhere. One station, and it does not matter which one, will switch to cop shows. For this hypothetical, station B would choose cops for 900 viewers. Station A, who still is showing soaps, now only has 500 viewers. It does not like that, so it starts to show sitcoms. Audience 3, with 500 viewers, now is watching sitcoms because there are no soaps out there. Station A and C are both showing sitcoms and are splitting a viewer audience of 1700 for 850 each. Now that the viewers are confused about what station is showing what, the FCC offers a fourth license to station D.

Ethics †Food Essay

Although most people do not realize it, patrons of food establishments place their lives in the establishments’ hands. Improper storing and labeling of food items or selling slightly-expired food can be tempting from a financial perspective but can lead to serious injury or worse due to food poisoning, cross-contamination or allergic reactions. Food establishments should include firm commitments to food safety in their codes of ethics, always placing food safety above financial concerns. This includes going beyond the letter of the law to enforce the highest product quality standards. A code of ethics should include a commitment to sell only healthy products and never to use harmful ingredients. (http://smallbusiness. chron. com/code-ethics-food-establishments-10815. html) Delicious This Code of Ethics describes standards of conduct for Healthylicious board members, officers, managers and all other employees of Heakthylicious, and has been approved by the Healthylicious Restaurant Group, Inc. Board of Directors. Many of the policies in this Code are based on various laws and regulations. Other are based on business and ethical principles than enhance Healthylicious ability to conduct its business effectively. Others restate basic work rules and principles contained in the Employee Handbook. The purpose of the Code is to provide guidance and set common ethical standards each of us must adhere to on a consistent basis. It governs the actions and working relationships of board members, officers, managers and all other employees in dealing with fellow employees, guests, competitors, vendors, suppliers, governmental and self-regulatory agencies, the media, and anyone else with whom our company has contact. These relationships are essential to the continued success of Healthylicious restaurant . (www. mortons. com/assets/pdf/code_of_ethics. pdf? ) This Code: †¢ Requires the highest standards for honest and ethical conduct, including proper and ethical procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. †¢ Requires full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that Morton’s files with, or submits to, governmental and regulatory agencies, and in other public communications made by Morton’s. †¢ Requires compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. †¢ Requires the prompt internal report of any illegal behavior or violations of the Code. †¢ Establishes accountability for adherence to the Code. †¢ Provides for methods to communicate violations of the code. * We consider moral as an inevitable factor in caring on any duties & talking decisions. We try to follow the highest standards based on Sincerity, generosity, conscientious. * We carry on the affairs individually & groups to bring about validity to our company. * We at all times spend all of our energy & resources towards production and services to guarantee our success against our competitor. * We behave equally towards all our guests all race religion, nationally and beliefs. * We offer all our services & productions in highest standard with perfect constancy. * We provide a safe & sanitary environment for all our guests and personal. * We try to stay for good at highest position & in majority in word, practice ethic affairs. * We promote knowledge, education experience and motivation for all the staff in order to do their duties in a higher standard. * We provide equal opportunities for anyone to carry on their duties and all the staff which is working in similar level would be evaluated no differently. * We fully try to protect the natural environment and resources while carry on our duties. * We are looking for a fair share of income, no more or less. an. Our Mission †¢ To provide a wholesome dining experience, with Top Quality food, healthy and a staff that wants to exceed the CUSTOMERS expectations!! Our Vision †¢ To maintain a profitable operation that will continue our TRADITION of Quality Family dining, at a reasonable cost, in a comfortable atmosphere, with exceptional service. Our Values †¢ We are in business to meet our customer’s needs. †¢ We believe in empowering our staff to resolve customers concerns on the spot. We treat our employees as we want them to treat our customers. †¢ We believe in continuing our Family Tradition. †¢ We believe in you the customer, and by this tradition we will continue to make a reasonable profit, that will allow us to remain competitive, healthy, community involved, and a Family Restaurant where generation will continue to gather. †¢ We seek your comments, for we realize to exceed your expectations, we need to know what they are. †¢ Your safety, health, comfort, nourishment and Quality Service are Number â€Å"One† to US!!!

Gender History Women And Women - 1602 Words

Gender history focuses on the fundamental idea of what it means to be defined as a man or woman in history. Gender historians are concerned with the different changes that occur within a society, during a particular period of time in regards to the perceived differences between women and men. Also, they are concerned with the impact of gender on various historically important events. Gender history developed because traditional historiography excluded women from ‘universal’ and ‘general’ history. Feminism was one of the leading that attributes lead to the development of gender history. The fundamental basis of feminism is that women should have the same rights as men and should be considered equal, thus prompting feminist scholars to want to uncover the untold stories of women in the past as well as record the omission of women in from historical record. Gender history developed rapidly in The United States and by mid 1970s, women scholars were gaining in stitutional support for their work in uncovering untold stories of women in history. However, in Britain, women scholars did not garner enough institutional support in the 1970s compared to The United States and historians had to focus on gender history outside of academia. Though it was the feminist movement that is attributed to the development of gender history, the field developed differently in different national settings. In the United States, gender history was developed in search of the roots of women’sShow MoreRelatedGender Norms : Women And Their Plight Throughout History982 Words   |  4 PagesWomen s studies is an interdisciplinary study that revolves around women and their plight throughout history. One of the main focuses of women s studies is to perceive how a woman is seen in society according to their culture, race, and class. 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