*Also, I know I missed a period on the first option of the 5th question. I'm sorry... please pretend it's there.
*After you've finished the poll, I have a follow-up answer sheet and rule explanation post. Please do not look at the answers until after you have completed the poll. Thank you!
Poll #681583 Grammar Grief: Semicolon cancer...
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All
Do you know how to properly use a semicolon?
Which is correct?
Man proposes: God disposes.
4 (1.8%)
Man proposes, God disposes. 83 (36.9%)
Man proposes; God disposes. 138 (61.3%)
Which is correct?
I remember when he couldn't write his own name on a gate; now he's the president. 66 (29.5%)
I remember when he couldn't write his own name on a gate; now, he's the president. 123 (54.9%)
I remember when he couldnt write his own name on a gate: now he's the president. 3 (1.3%)
I remember when he couldn't write his own name on a gate, now he's the president. 32 (14.3%)
Assuming Tom locked himself in the shed because of the loss, which sentence is grammatically correct?
Tom locked himself in the shed; England lost to Argentina. 67 (29.9%)
Tom locked himself in the shed: England lost to Argentina. 143 (63.8%)
Tom locked himself in the shed, England lost to Argentina. 14 (6.2%)
Which is correct?
Mary Shelley's works are engaging; they are full of interesting ideas 140 (62.2%)
Mary Shelley's works are engaging: they are full of interesting ideas. 53 (23.6%)
Mary Shelley's works are engaging, they are full of interesting ideas. 32 (14.2%)
Which is correct?
I never met the woman, however, I think she might be a whore. 20 (8.9%)
I never met the woman. However, I think she might be a whore. 99 (44.2%)
I never met the woman; however, I think she might be a whore. 105 (46.9%)
Which is correct?
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance"; the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face." 52 (23.3%)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance;" the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face." 44 (19.7%)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance"; the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face". 25 (11.2%)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance", the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face." 12 (5.4%)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance," the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face." 58 (26.0%)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance", the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face". 32 (14.3%)
Which is correct?
Fares were offered to Corfu, the Greek Island, Morocco, Elba, in the Mediterranean, and Paris. Margaret thought about it. She had been to Elba once and had found it dull, to Morocco, and found it too colorful. 9 (4.0%)
Fares were offered to Corfu, the Greek island; Morocco; Elba, in the Mediterranean; and Paris. Margaret thought about it, she had been to Elba once and found it dull, to Morocco and found it too colorful. 31 (13.8%)
Fares were offered to Corfu - the Greek island, Morocco, Elba - in the Mediterranean, and Paris. Margaret thought about it. She had been to Elba once and had found it dull; to Morocco, and found it too colorful. 48 (21.4%)
Fares were offered to Corfu, the Greek island; Morocco; Elba, in the Mediterranean; and Paris. Margaret thought about it. She had been to Elba once and had found it dull; to Morocco, and found it too colorful. 136 (60.7%)
Does your head hurt?
Last one, which one is correct?
I hate this; grammar is not my thing. 113 (50.7%)
I hate this, grammar is not my thing. 19 (8.5%)
I hate this: grammar is not my thing. 24 (10.8%)
Fuck you, Shelby. 67 (30.0%)
For the sake of data... how old are you?
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Comments
I know I'd usually try to help with grammatical needs and that kinda thang
But my use of the award winning semicolon is kinda bleak at best
Terribly sorry, all the best, miss
- cal
Of all grammar, punctuation use is probably my least favorite to obsess about, since I can usually come up with a way to avoid whatever punctuation I'm unsure of by just changing the words, and it usually sounds better that way anyway. But, me and the semi-colon usually get along. The elba one kinda blew my mind, but I don't think I was too terribly far off in the other ones. If I was though...maybe I need some help. At life. (Semi-colon there? Tee hee.)
I do think "although" is kind of a weird word to deal with, because while it's a conjunction, it's a variant of "also" which is considered a conjuntive adverb.
"I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again." -- Oscar Wilde
If you really want to nitpick, "however" should not be used to start an independent clause. It's a silly and archaic rule, but I had a Greek mythology professor who was DEATH on anyone who violated it. (It was so hard to remember that after finishing each of my essays, I had to do a global search for the word "however" just to double-check each instance.) According to him, the sentiment should be expressed thusly, with or without semicolon:
I never met the woman. I think, however, that she might be a whore.
Hopefully, the OED has struck down this nonsense, much as they have the bans on split infinitives and starting sentences with "hopefully" ;)
The first topic was "How to Swing Dance"; the second was "How to Not Fall on Your Face."
That's the option I picked, just because I can't *stand* to put anything other than a comma or a period inside quotation marks, but hate to sit either of those outside of them. I can't tell if this is a random preference or if it was drilled into me by some long-ago English teaher. Also, I'm pretty sure the rules for British and American English differ on the inside/outside stuff, and I can't remember which is which.
Colons and semicolons don't go inside quotation marks. They're the exception.
... I can't *stand* to put anything other than a comma or a period inside quotation marks...
Do you not put question marks and/or exclamation points inside quotes?
Did his email say "Just kiss the girl?", versus
Did his email say "Just kiss the girl"?
Commas and periods are pretty neutral, though, so I feel like tacking them on doesn't alter the sentence much. :: shrug :: Call me grammatically incorrect in the name of clarity.
She asked, "When does the next train arrive?"
vs.
Did his email say "Just kiss the girl"?
Likewise:
"He's dead, Jim!" McCoy exclaimed.
vs.
I can't believe you think it's not rude to say "Bollocks"!
Sorry, couldn't help it. I teach grammar. It's a compulsion.
It's actually in debate with the grammar folk. Strunk and White agree with your professor, but Diana Hacker and my copyediting book list "however" as a conjunctive adverb.
(You've also got multiple correct possibilities in some of those; I assumed you knew that, and simply chose the way I would be most likely to write it.)
(Yes, I did look it up to be sure. I can use a semicolon correctly, but I'm much more likely to avoid it in any ambiguous sense. This makes it hard for me to tell for certain if any given use is correct.)
Which ones specifically do you have questions on, because the reasons are different.
I'll be making a follow-up post explaining where I got the example from, why I chose them, and what rule applies.
Looking back, I'm sure I already screwed up one of them, and maybe one or two others. Oh well. (I went with the comma inside the quotation marks, but it was a title instead of dialogue, and... damn me, I'm not enough of a grammar geek to know for certain if that's a no-no or not.) The Morocco one, though? That one alone made my head hurt. I'm curious to know the "correct" answers, indeed.
This was fun. Good luck with your article.
I don't hate grammar either, I just figured that most people would like a good outlet for frustration, and I was willing to bear the brunt of it.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks loads!
Have you read her new book? I picked it up but haven't gotten to it yet.
Ack, I'm absolutely terrible(and I love Strunk and White!).
*shrug* At least I've learned something. Also, now I can irritate all of my grammar-loving friends.