![]() Once you get the hang of identifying independent clauses, the second rule for semicolons is just as simple. Take the following example:Īndrew bought a suede vest a red, white, and blue bandanna and a vintage guitar for his Willy Nelson costume. Essentially, if you have lists within lists, you need a semicolon. The first and easiest rule involves lists. Many people find the semicolon tricky, but it actually is one of the easiest forms of punctuation to use. Still not sure how to tell the difference between the two? An easy way to remember this rule is right there in the names: although both may include a subject and verb, an independent clause can stand alone and a dependent clause cannot. The idea that Mary disliked science is not a full thought, so it cannot be separated by a comma. Mary didn’t want to study medicine because she was afraid of needles, and disliked science. Take a look at the following example of two dependent phrases spliced with a comma: However, you do not need a comma if the phrases are dependent. If you have two or more independent clauses in a sentence, those phrases should be separated by a comma. ![]() (Or should I say you need a comma when that is the case?)Ģ) Don’t separate dependent clauses with a comma. You just as easily could say, “Internet privacy wasn’t a primary concern when we started the association in 1990.” When that is the case, you need a comma. When we started the association in 1990, Internet privacy wasn’t a primary concern. That means any time you say something like “In 2019…,” “In fact…,” or “When the association was founded…,” a comma should follow it. And I recall just as distinctly the exact moment I realized how wrong she was.Īlthough comma usage isn’t quite that simple, there are a few straightforward rules to ensure your commas always are correct.ġ) Always use a comma with an introductory element or statement. I recall one of my elementary school teachers telling me that comma usage was as easy as placing this little piece of punctuation anywhere in a sentence where you naturally would pause. So how do you prevent your minor mistakes from turning into major issues and embarrassing errors in the minds of your readers? Be Clearer with Commas (and Semicolons) ![]() But that doesn’t mean they won’t notice grammatical errors and make a judgment-whether consciously or subconsciously-about you and your content as a result. ![]() Most people who read your board minutes, proposals, or newsletters likely aren’t doing so as attentively as I might. Let’s get this out of the way immediately: yes, I am one of those grammar people.Įvery time I see a misplaced apostrophe on a restaurant menu (appetizer’s, entrée’s, etc.), I can’t help but joke (much to my companions’ delight, I’m sure), “Who is appetizer and what’s he got?”Īn unnecessary comma in a novel forces me to pause my internal monologue dramatically, as must have been intended by the author (because why else the comma?). ![]()
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