Punctuation and the Semicolon Help

Semicolon Practice and Answers

Practice

Using the preceding information, decide whether each of the following sentences is correctly punctuated. Insert semicolons where necessary.

1. No one will ever forget those Olympics, so many records were shattered.
2. My heart was set on the American winning, my dream was shattered.
3. Although I was so disappointed that we had lost; I watched the award ceremony anyway.
4. Kate accepted our earlier invitation to stay for the weekend a week later she cancelled because of illness.
5. The purchase of Alaska in 1867 helped America take its first steps to power in the Asia-Pacific region meanwhile Russian efforts ceased to expand trade and settlements on the Pacific coast of North America.

Answers

Avoiding Confusion with Semicolon and Commas

Using a semicolon sounds easy enough; for variety, just join two complete thoughts with a semicolon instead of a period. Or join two complete thoughts with a comma plus a connecting word such as and, but, or. However, if you do this, there is the potential for a problem. On occasion, two complete and related thoughts already contain commas. What can you do to avoid confusion?

I usually buy organic blueberries, strawberries, and grapes; but I don't buy them as often when the prices go up in the winter.

Normally, as noted earlier, two related thoughts can be connected by a comma when you use the word but:

I usually buy organic strawberries, but I don't buy them as often when the prices go up in the winter.

However, with all the commas in the original first clause (blueberries, strawberries, and grapes), you need to avoid the confusion that too many commas can cause. When this occurs, use a semicolon before the small connecting word:

Candy, my calico cat, is not very large; but even though she never wins, she tries to fight the local dogs.

Finally, use a semicolon between items in a series that contains internal punctuation. For example:

This is sometimes called a serial semicolon—for obvious reasons.

Punctuation Errors Practice and Answers

Practice

Correct the punctuation errors in the following sentences.

1. We packed lunch, put suitcases in the car, and filled the gas tank, so we ended up leaving late.
2. Our to-do list included addressing Christmas cards, taking clothes and shirts to the cleaners, and buying several last-minute gifts, but when our dog became ill, there was no time to do any of it.
3. Trucks, vans, and recreational vehicles are required to use the right lane, but cars can use three left lanes.
4. Early settlers prepared as carefully as possible for the journey, drove across the country, and used natural resources as they needed them, but they didn't practice renewal or replacement.
5. The secretary took our health insurance information, the nurse led us upstairs, and the laboratory technician drew blood, yet we were just getting started in what had to be accomplished.

Answers

Using Semicolons with Conjunctive Adverbs

The connecting words in the previous sentences were all short ones—but, yet, so. What if the connecting word you need is a long word? The following longer connecting words (conjunctive adverbs) are always preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma when used to connect two complete thoughts.

• however    
• therefore    
• nevertheless    
• in as much as
• moreover    
• consequently    
• otherwise

Examples

Semicolons with Conjunctive Adverbs Practice and Answers

Practice

Use the preceding two examples to help you correct the punctuation errors in the following sentences.

1. Supposedly, we've been on a low-carbohydrate diet for a long time nevertheless we continue to eat bread at lunchtime and cookies at night.
2. Remove your shoes at the door otherwise you'll have to take the responsibility of cleaning the floor again.
3. The country has made its decision therefore we must move through the future with confidence and determination.
4. You may not have received exactly the position you expected however you still have to offer your best work.
5. Before you buy an expensive houseplant ask the grower how much light the plant needs moreover ask questions about watering and feeding the plant.

Answers

Practice

Punctuate the following sentences correctly according to the rules you have learned.

1. David and I went home after work; while Chico went to the game.
2. In 1772, Lord Mansfield's decision outlawed slavery only in England it did not apply to British colonies.
3. The painters plan to repaint the entire house however we will not be able to replace the roof at the same time.
4. The day is cloudy, we cannot take pictures.
5. When you are ready for dinner, please call me and I although still at work will meet you.
6. Although all the dress stores have sales now I can't go shopping.
7. If you have ever overspent your budget you know how I feel therefore no one will convince me to shop.
8. We brought an umbrella for each of us because it was raining heavily when we left home
9. The new school year is about to begin consequently we're busier than ever preparing for it.
10. For the longest time Julia worked at the counter in the kitchen or in a corner of her bedroom finally she had an attached porch finished and heated for her workspace.

Answers

Practice

This exercise is a review of many punctuation rules. You should be able to easily correct the punctuation errors. If you find it difficult to do so, review Chapter 4 and this chapter before you go further. Read the following paragraphs, and insert or delete punctuation marks wherever necessary.

Paragraph 1

I'm not a big eater however chocolate is my downfall. I know that dark chocolate is actually good for me but how much do I really need "for my health?" Each meal ends with an immediate desire for the dark chocolate that I love, (add almonds and it's even better.). Now I'm feeling the results of all that pleasure my waistline shows the results. I'm now willing to forget how good it is for me moreover I want to lose the new inches I've gained!

Paragraph 2

People who are concerned about the health of our planet go beyond warnings about plastic bottles and efficient lightbulbs they want us to become vegetarians. They believe that the growing, and killing of more than 60 billion animals worldwide each year is a large part of the devastation brought on by the farming industry. Experts say that while it takes 25 gallons of water to grow a pound of wheat; it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef.

Answers