Semicolons

This week I chose to post about one of the lesser used forms of punctuation, the semicolon. The semicolon does not get used much in modern writing. Often times papers or essays will have one or no semicolon present in the work. I believe this is due to the fact that there are several other grammatical ways to punctuate a sentence that could use a semicolon. This is why I, and those in my presentation group, really did not initially understand the use for a semicolon. The truth is that there are really very few situations that absolutely require a semicolon for a passage to be grammatically correct, and semicolons only two definitive rules on when to use one.The first rule is much less common, and more specific. This rule is that a semicolon should be used to separate a list that is already using commas. This is most commonly found in a list featuring cities, states, and countries. However the rule that I am focusing is the more commonly utilized one.The second rule is that a semicolon can be used to separate two closely related ideas. These ideas are usually two independent  clauses. For example, I could have inserted a semicolon in between the previous sentences. Semicolons separate two related closely ideas as does a period followed by a new sentence, or a comma followed by the words but or and. Instead of punctuating the way I did I could have said: The second rule is that a semicolon can be used to separate two closely related ideas; these ideas are usually two independent clauses [Pattern3]. This sentence is just as correct as the previous example, and it is pronounced the same way verbally. Punctuation is the only difference, and it really only comes down to personal preference. This is something I genuinely had no understanding of until very recently. If I ever used a semicolon in my own writing it was because the auto-correct told me to. In reality, semicolons are rather simple, and I have already been unintentionally using them more frequently.

Trervor

Self-Assessment

My writing and my grammar are nowhere near perfect, something I've long since accepted. I very well could have multiple glaring issues present in my writing at any given time. However, there is one particular segment that I am very aware that I struggle. I won't sugar-coat it commas generally kill me as far as my grades on papers are concerned. This is not to say that I do not know what a comma is, or that I don't know what a comma is used for. This is merely something I have had to work extra hard on as far as grammar is concerned. Comma splices and run-on sentences are usually responsible for my issues in this area. I do know what each of these things are, and I can usually identify them when editing papers. This is where my problem is. I often do not notice when one of these instances happens while I am writing and if I do not edit rather carefully I will miss many of these occurrences. I am aware of this particular problem because I have had previous teachers point it out and I still do on occasion. More than anything else, I notice this problem simply because it happens fairly often, and I get a little frustrated about this particular topic. That being said, I do look forward to learning more about this and my other grammatical mistakes in the future.