What is a semicolon quote?
The semicolon should be placed outside ending quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon in the quotation is dropped: The agency reviewed those petitions that were “timely”; it ignored those that were late.
What did Kurt Vonnegut say about semicolons?
When I was a teenager, newly fixated on becoming a writer, I came across a piece of advice from Kurt Vonnegut that affected me like an ice cube down the back of my shirt. “Do not use semicolons,” he said. “They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.”
How do you use a semicolon in a quotation?
The general rule is that commas and periods should be inside the quotation marks at all times, while all other forms of punctuation, such as question marks, colons, semicolons, and exclamation points, should be outside the quotation marks, unless they were contained in the original quotation.
Does Stephen King use semicolons?
Stephen King uses a ton of semicolons, but he also does a lot of nonstandard technical stuff. He’s a big-time Elmore Leonard worshipper. I’ll give the writer the benefit of the doubt with semicolons if their voice is strong and their prose is unusual.
What is a semicolon example?
When to Use a Semicolon. A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that has two main functions: Semicolons separate items in a complex list. For example, The Council is comprised of ten members: three from Sydney, Australia; four from Auckland, New Zealand; two from Suva, Fiji; and one from Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Can you end a quote with a semicolon?
Quotation marks and other punctuation marks
In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.
Do not use semicolons quote?
First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Read more quotes from Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Is using a semicolon pretentious?
Wired magazine has said that using semicolons in text messages is, basically, a socially lame and pretentious thing to do. “No one uses semicolons in day-to-day casual writing; it’s a literary piece of punctuation, not a colloquial one,” the magazine noted.
Do you put a semicolon before a quote?
In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.
How do you introduce a quote with a colon?
When to use a COLON: If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, place a colon (not a comma) after the sentence and before the quote.
Why do writers use semicolons?
A semicolon has two general uses: to clarify a series and to indicate two closely related sentences. Series—If one or more elements in a series contain a comma, use semicolons to separate them.
Are semicolons ever necessary?
Semicolons have two functions. They connect closely related independent clauses and they serve as sort of uber commas to manage unwieldy lists. Independent clauses by definition can stand alone as sentences. That means that a semicolon between them is never necessary.
What are 3 ways to use a semicolon?
3 Ways to Use a Semicolon
- Use a semicolon to connect related independent clauses. An independent clause is a sentence that communicates a complete thought and makes sense on its own.
- Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase.
- Use semicolons to separate items in a list.
What words do you use a semicolon after?
This rule means that a writer may use semicolons between two complete sentences that are joined by transition words like however, meanwhile, next, similarly, therefore, for example, in addition, in conclusion, etc. This transitional word is often followed by a comma.
When should you use a semicolon?
Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.
When should a semicolon not be used?
Do not use a semicolon when a dependent clause comes before an independent clause. As we have stated above, semicolons can be used to join two complete sentences. Since a dependent clause does not express a complete thought, it is not a complete sentence and cannot be joined to your independent clause by a semicolon.
Should I avoid semicolons?
Avoid using a semicolon when a comma is needed:
Incorrect: Because cows smell; they offend me. Correct: Because cows smell, they offend me.
When should you not use a semicolon?
Can you use a colon to introduce a quote?
Colons can introduce lists, quotes, examples, and explanations. is another punctuation mark used to indicate a full stop. Use a colon to introduce lists, quotes, examples, and explanations.
Do you use a colon or semicolon before a quote?
To present a quotation after a complete sentence (e.g., those ending in thus or as follows), put a colon after the introductory sentence and before the quotation marks.
What is the effect of semicolon?
Uses of Semicolons
The semicolon forces the reader to make a pause, shorter than you would with a period, but longer than you would for a comma; however, the pause isn’t as abrupt as for a dash. The semicolon pause creates that relationship, close, but not too close, not too abrupt.
What semicolon means?
A semicolon separates two independent but related clauses; it may also replace the comma to separate items in a complicated list.
Why do people not like semicolons?
Distaste for the semicolon comes from a lot of different angles. Some people have a sheer aesthetic distrust of it. They just like short sentences, for instance. They think that’s more direct or more pleasing in some way, or more clear.
How do you use a semicolon in creative writing?
With that in mind, here’s how to use the semicolon.
- Use a semicolon to divide two closely related sentences.
- Use a semicolon to bring clarity to a convoluted sentence (as the ‘super-comma’)
- Use a semicolon to separate elements in a list where each element contains commas.
Can a sentence end with semicolon?
Semicolons do not represent a full stop at the end of a sentence, as periods do; rather, they’re like the “yellow light” of punctuation marks: they signal a pause between one sentence and the next. You slow down, then stop at the end of the second sentence.