The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:48 pm

;

Seriously, how does one use that thing? I never quite understood its uses in any language. All that I know is that it lies somewhere between a period and a comma. So respond here how to use that thing. I'd also be interested to know how it's used in languages other than English, but write the explanations in English ;) Examples of when to use and not use one are appreciated.

All that I know is that it's used for line ends in some programming languages and as a comment indicator in others :P
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Eloise » Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:53 pm

I didn't provoke this topic did I? ;)
The mistress of TBC...

Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:32 pm

Nuclearo wrote:;

Seriously, how does one use that thing? I never quite understood its uses in any language. All that I know is that it lies somewhere between a period and a comma. So respond here how to use that thing. I'd also be interested to know how it's used in languages other than English, but write the explanations in English ;) Examples of when to use and not use one are appreciated.

All that I know is that it's used for line ends in some programming languages and as a comment indicator in others :P


In English it is generally used to break up a sentence, or for listing things... so if you are about to list things for example on football you would put

football; and then list all the stuff to do with it!

Thats usually its main use

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby haloguy » Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:37 pm

here in the US, we usually use the colon for listing, we use the semicolon for saying something like

football; the greatest sport

and we use the colon for

football:
helmets
blood
sweat
pigskin

Re: The semicolon

Postby sarobah » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:16 pm

The semicolon “separates those parts of a sentence between which there is a more distinct break than would call for a comma, but which are too closely connected to be made into separate sentences. Typically these will be clauses of similar importance and grammatical construction, e.g. To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
– The Oxford Guide to English Usage.
As an habitual semicolon overuser, my rule is: Don’t use a semicolon when a full stop does the job just as well.
~ Sarah
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:29 pm

See, in halo's example I would've used a comma.
Do any of you have some technical grammatical rules for this? Like "Use when in each part of the sentence the verb has a different subject" (Excuse my completely wrong grammar vocabulary, but all we learn in English class is the time tenses). I think the only real way to learn this is to start reading really long books (or articles by really stuffy grammar nazis :P) but I can never find the dedication.
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:34 am

oh dear is that all they teach you.. bit pointless! :?

I could give you a lot of stuff on English, as I am an A level English student and know my stuff... but there is so much you need to learn!
Ill have a look around for websites to help you Nuclearo! :) I'm sure I have seen some around :)

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:10 am

My knowledge in English works as follows: if it sounds right, it is right. When I finally learned the times and stuff I just found out that mostly it meant my intuition was correct :D All of that works great for spoken English and spelling, but I find my writing pretty lacking :P
Also I use smilies as punctuation on the internet, but that's voluntary ;)
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:18 am

Ah I see!
Well I guess then.. writing when your 1st language is not English is going to be tricky! If you wish to write.. I'm sure I can help you out there :)

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:45 am

Well, if you want to help I have some stories on my dA (deviantArt) page. As of now the only useful writing critique I got is that I use the same type of sentences all the time, but I don't see it ^^; I found that when you're writing fetish type stories on the internet while being anything above illiterate you'd mostly just get good replies from people who share those fetishes :P
You can give as much or little critique as you'd like; it all helps. (Correct usage? I was just trying to plug one of those :P) The stuff I posted here can (and should) be critiqued too.
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:12 am

So what do you want me to do?! I am highly confused! Do you want me too proof read them or something?

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:50 am

No, that'd be way too much to ask for. Just even like one or 2 examples in one story. I think I could deduce it from there :)
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:58 am

Hey Nuclearo, If that is what you need doing, I'm happy to do it for you... I'll always help people, that are worthy of my help!

Though whatever you wish for me to do, I shall do it to the best of my ability :D

Cheers.
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:01 am

I don't feel very comfortable with asking for more when someone offers their help. Do as much or as little as you feel, and I'll be your grateful maid in any case :)
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:24 am

So what do you wish for me too look at then?!?!

Oh I know you will be :P

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:49 am

Let's take this one for now: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1020
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:53 am

OK... I shall do it for you... and see what I can find.. but I do remember it being a good story... but Ill go through it nonetheless :D

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:12 am

Thank you, and your kind memory too ^^
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Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:36 am

No problem! Oh I know, my memory is somewhat useless :P I joke... tis obviously good :P

Cheers,
BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Dalekfire » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:48 am

;)

That's the correct way of using a semicolon. Notice how it preceeds the close-parenthesis.

Using semicolons any other way is incorrect grammar; this is irrefutable fact.

...oh wait, hold on... :worried:
Image

Re: The semicolon

Postby haloguy » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:46 pm

;

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:35 am

Hey, don' spam my thread you halo guy!
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Re: The semicolon

Postby haloguy » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:35 pm

SORRY;

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:54 pm

Compilation error.
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Re: The semicolon

Postby haloguy » Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:59 pm

?compilation error;

Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:09 am

haloguy wrote:?compilation error;


Seriously need to stop doing that, you really are bugging me now!

BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:43 pm

Well, it could be syntax error. Probably is. In any case, it's not a valid code line. (In C++)
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Re: The semicolon

Postby haloguy » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:51 pm

sorry; I will stop. we have just been doing a semicolon lesson in my english class and I am just all peachy about semicolons, but I will refrain from now on

Re: The semicolon

Postby Boundgal08 » Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:36 pm

haloguy wrote:sorry; I will stop. we have just been doing a semicolon lesson in my english class and I am just all peachy about semicolons, but I will refrain from now on


I have 4 English lessons a week, you just don't see me getting peachy about Sylvia Plath, or exam papers do you :D

BG
BOUNDGIRL!
Probably the kinkiest woman you will ever meet!
I am a switch, I like to put a man in ropes and also have a man put me in ropes!
I am the 'Queen of bondage'

Re: The semicolon

Postby Nuclearo » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:40 pm

I haven't had a programming lesson in years but I still make programming jokes XD
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