Perfect Punctua+on Part Three: The Semicolon and Colon

Transcription

1 Perfect Punctua+n Part Three: The Semicln and Cln Cpyright Heather McWhinney, 2017 Graduate Wri;ng Help Specialist, Student Learning Services

2 Learning Outcmes fr Part Three By the end f this presenta+n, yu shuld be able t: Understand the differences between a semicln and a cln. Imprve yur wri+ng by using semiclns and clns accurately and skillfully.

3 Overview f Screencast (Part Three) 1. Explain three rules fr the semicln and cmmn errrs. 2. Explain tw rules fr the cln and cmmn errrs.

4 Semicln Rule #1 #1. Use a semicln t shw a cnnec+n r cntrast between tw independent clauses. Candice reluctantly alended the class; the lecture exceeded her expecta+ns. Jeff likes winter hlidays in the Caribbean; Tracy prefers skiing in the Rckies.

5 Semicln Rule #1 Cmmn Errrs Using a semicln in frnt f a sentence fragment r single wrd. X Karen wants t leave Saskatn fr ne reasn; the winter. Karen wants t leave Saskatn fr ne reasn: the winter. Karen wants t leave Saskatn fr ne reasn; she desn t like the winter.

6 Semicln Rule #2 #2. Use a semicln befre a cnjunc+ve adverb r phrase t link independent clauses. Use a cmma ajer the cnjunc+ve adverb. Trnt has expanded its subway system; hwever, cmmuters s+ll cmplain f the +me it takes t travel t wrk. We had intended t study n Saturday evening; instead, we went t the mvies.

7 Semicln Rule #2 Cmmn Errrs Using a cmma instead f a semicln befre a cnjunc+ve adverb (e.g., hwever, thus, therefre, furthermre) t jin tw independent clauses (cmma splice) X Ping arrived at the airprt n +me, hwever, his flight t Beijing was delayed by six hurs. Ping arrived at the airprt n +me; hwever, his flight t Beijing was delayed by six hurs.

8 Semicln Rule #3 Use semiclns in a series that cntains cmmas and/r the wrd and t reduce cnfusin. The students in my evening class cme frm big ci+es arund the wrld: Las, Nigeria; Clmb, Sri Lanka; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Shanghai, China. Jus+n Trudeau prmised t cn+nue t welcme immigrants, refugees, and visitrs t Canada; t grw the ecnmy by 2.5% per year; t frge new trade agreements and reneg+ate thers; and t reduce Canada s impact n glbal warming.

9 Cln Rule #1 Use a cln t signify that smething else is cming. I knw the perfect candidate fr the psi+n: my daughter. While she was lst in the blizzard, Jan had nly ne thught: survival. My brther maintains that there are tw types f peple: thse wh believe in helping thers, and thse wh believe in helping themselves. Marie had ne all- cnsuming interest: she lved ging up in ht air ballns.

10 Cln Rule #2 Use a cln t intrduce a list. I bught three items fr my apartment: bright pink cushins, a funky flr lamp, and a s_ green rug. In his shrt presidency, Dnald Trump has already made three disastrus pli+cal errrs: aliena+ng freign leaders, damaging trade rela+ns with Mexic, and failing t repeal the Affrdable Care Act.

11 Cln Rule #2 Cmmn Errrs Inser+ng a cln a_er a verb r incmplete sentence. This errr can be crrected by ending the sentence with the fllwing r as fllws. X Sam s reasns fr staying in Saskatn are: the beau+ful summers, the friendly peple, and the easy lifestyle. Sam s reasns fr staying in Saskatn are the fllwing: the beau+ful summers, the friendly peple, and the easy lifestyle. Sam s reasns fr staying in Saskatn are the beau+ful summers, the friendly peple, and the easy lifestyle.

12 Summary Use semiclns t shw a cnnec+n r cntrast between tw independent clauses. Use semiclns in a series that als cntains cmmas and the wrd and. Use clns t signify that further infrma+n is cming, such as a list.