EPT[TL] Learning to Write - The Comma - Page 2
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n.DieJokes
United States3443 Posts
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Fontong
United States6454 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:11 Smix wrote: A semi colon separates two independent clauses, while a comma separates an independent clause with a dependent clause. A) I was so angry that he 5 pooled me; I was even angrier because I sorta expected it to happen. -->Here each part of the semi colon can be its own sentence. B) I was so angry that he 5 pooled me, since I had sorta expected it to happen. --> Here the second part can't stand alone. Personally, I prefer using a dash to a semi colon, but I think that's stylistic choice. A little more than stylistic, as the dash cannot set off a complete sentence. I also prefer to use the dash since it is pretty underused in general. It is a lot harder to get in trouble for using it since even many grad students are unsure as to how to use it correctly. | ||
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Archaic
United States4024 Posts
EDIT: I still find it scary how you managed to post that monstrosity without editing it... | ||
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Jayme
United States5866 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:11 Smix wrote: A semi colon separates two independent clauses, while a comma separates an independent clause with a dependent clause. A) I was so angry that he 5 pooled me; I was even angrier because I sorta expected it to happen. -->Here each part of the semi colon can be its own sentence. B) I was so angry that he 5 pooled me, since I had sorta expected it to happen. --> Here the second part can't stand alone. Personally, I prefer using a dash to a semi colon, but I think that's stylistic choice. See that's the thing, I understand all of that. The problem comes into effect when you have PH.D English professors say, "Well you used this semicolon wrong, why not just use a period?" I understand where to use a semicolon instead of a comma no problem. I guess the real issue is where to use a semicolon instead of a PERIOD. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with how closely the independent clauses are to each other but I have no idea where to draw that blurry line. | ||
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n.DieJokes
United States3443 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:14 Fontong wrote: A little more than stylistic, as the dash cannot set off a complete sentence. I also prefer to use the dash since it is pretty underused in general. It is a lot harder to get in trouble for using it since even many grad students are unsure as to how to use it correctly. Wait...what? A dash in place of a semi colon? I never used a dash for anything but loose conjunction of two words...please explain. | ||
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fight_or_flight
United States3988 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:13 n.DieJokes wrote: That was fantastic! I've learned more grammatical jargon reading this post than I have in the last three years of schooling. In my experience, Grammar is the most shamelessly neglected subject in the public education system. I just use comma's when it sounds or feels right and I know it's wrong. 5/5, will re-read, please make more! I suggest the next topic be apostrophes. edit: thank you for this + Show Spoiler + WRITING IN THE WORLD Commas between the last two items in a series Wether you should insert a comma between the last two items in a series depends on what kind of writing you're doing. In newspapers and magazines, the comma is typically omitted; however, academic, business, and professional writing includes a comma before the last series item. Ommiting the comma sometimes causes confusion. Journalistic convention I thank my parents, Robert Pirsig and Harley-Davidson for my outlook on life. Academic convention I thank my parents, Robert Pirsig, and Harley-Davidson for my outlook on life. also, I think a discussion on the use of spoilers would be much more valuable than apostrophes. There may not be a nice book section on it, but that is precisely the reason we need it. | ||
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Zapdos_Smithh
Canada2620 Posts
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Smix
United States4549 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:14 Fontong wrote: A little more than stylistic, as the dash cannot set off a complete sentence. I also prefer to use the dash since it is pretty underused in general. It is a lot harder to get in trouble for using it since even many grad students are unsure as to how to use it correctly. Actually, dashes can be used to separate independent clauses - do you see what I mean? | ||
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errol1001
454 Posts
ed; some places semi-colons are obvious though, such as with interjections, and as posterboard 'semi-colon situations' I think it'd be awkward to use a dash instead. blah blah - however, blah blah.. | ||
lilsusie
3861 Posts
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So no fek
United States3001 Posts
But seriously, thanks for the post. :p Edit: Susie beat me to it!  | ||
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Mastermind
Canada7096 Posts
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EvilTeletubby
Baltimore, USA22250 Posts
On May 11 2009 10:39 KizZBG wrote: ![[image loading]](http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4968/tanksinfoko5.jpg) Holy Christ rofl... I scrolled half-way into the pic, so all I saw was "tanks" and the upper half of the image... did not expect the bottom caption to be what it was. lol'ed hard. | ||
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CharlieMurphy
United States22895 Posts
Best use of semi-colon : TL;DR | ||
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Fontong
United States6454 Posts
On May 11 2009 11:32 Smix wrote: Actually, dashes can be used to separate independent clauses - do you see what I mean? Are you referring to a dash or a hyphen, because you said dash but used a hyphen in your sentence ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; im confused | ||
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Smix
United States4549 Posts
On May 11 2009 16:43 Fontong wrote: Are you referring to a dash or a hyphen, because you said dash but used a hyphen in your sentence ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; im confused Wow, never mind I didn't realize -- was dash and - was hyphen... hyphen_hyphen | ||
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snowbird
Germany2044 Posts
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qrs
United States3637 Posts
On May 11 2009 10:33 EsX_Raptor wrote: thank you, I was starting to feel fucking retarded for making this >.> irony... | ||
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QuanticHawk
United States32027 Posts
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Elemenope
Burkina Faso1704 Posts
When a conjunctive adverb comes in the middle of a sentence, set if off with commas preceding and following. If you really want to prevent your pipes from freezing, however, you should insulate them before the winter comes. Why don't you use a semi-colon before the however? I always learned that you do =\ | ||
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