Semicolon and the word and

The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. On Monday we’ll see the Eiffel Tower, and on Tuesday we’ll visit the Louvre.

How do you use and in a sentence?

“And” can only be used once in a sentence to connect big ideas. “And” can be used two times in a sentence when making a list of things.
For example, look at the sentences below:

1. The cake tastes good. I ate the cake.
2. I went running. I went swimming.
3. My friend likes to swim. My friend likes to run. My friends likes to play.

Is there a comma before and?

Use a comma before any coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) that links two independent clauses.An independent clause is a unit of grammatical organization that includes both a subject and verb and can stand on its own as a sentence.

How do you you use a semicolon?

Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.

Can you use two and one sentences?

Yes, you should not use conjunctions like “and,” “but,” or “or” too many times in one sentence. Doing so indicates you have created a run-on sentence. Run-on sentences are when a writer strings together multiple independent clauses, thoughts, without much punctuation.

What is and and/or called?

Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that join, or coordinate, two or more items (such as words, main clauses, or sentences) of equal syntactic importance. In English, the mnemonic acronym FANBOYS can be used to remember the coordinators for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

What are the 7 types of sentences?

The other way is based on a sentence’s structure (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex).

• Statements/Declarative Sentences. These are the most common type of sentence.
• Questions/Interrogative Sentences.
• Exclamations/Exclamatory Sentences.
• Commands/Imperative Sentences.

How do you teach to use?

Introduce ‘Used To’
Introduce the structure “used to” by talking about one of the sentences on the board or using an example of your own. You can say “When I was a child I lived in New York City.” and then show students the target structure by writing “I used to live in New York City.” on the board.

What are the 10 examples of conjunctions?

Subordinating Conjunctions

Can you use a semicolon before and?

Semi-colons can be used before a conjunction like ‘and’ or ‘but’ to join two simple sentences, one or both of which already contain commas. The semi-colon is used in this way to outrank the commas.

Can you start a sentence with and?

It’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with “And,” as well as the other words that we are often taught to avoid such as “but” or “or.” Writing samples tracing back to the 9th century, including Bible translations, break these “sacred” rules, which stem from attempts to curb school children from stringing too

Does a semicolon mean or?

Most commonly, the semicolon is used between two independent clauses (i.e., clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences) when a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is omitted.

What is a semicolon example?

Examples of Semicolons: Joan likes eggs; Jennifer does not. The cat slept through the storm; the dog cowered under the bed. Semicolons are also used in a sentence when something stronger than a comma is needed.

How do you use a semicolon in a sentence?

Semicolons Separate Clauses
Here’s an example: I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight. The two clauses in that sentence are separated by a semicolon and could be sentences on their own if you put a period between them instead: I have a big test tomorrow.

What semicolon means?

: a punctuation mark; that can be used to separate parts of a sentence which need clearer separation than would be shown by a comma, to separate main clauses which have no conjunction between, and to separate phrases and clauses containing commas.

What can I use instead of and?

synonyms for and

• along with.
• also.
• as a consequence.
• as well as.
• furthermore.
• including.
• moreover.
• together with.

Can you use & and and in the same sentence?

Yes it can be used together. Sentence examples: Should I do it, in case he forgets?

Can you use and and but in the same sentence?

2 Answers. Yes, you can put two conjunctions together, but only if the first one is a coordinating conjunction (and, or, so, but, for, yet, nor) and the second one a subordinating conjunction (because, after, although, since, etc.).

Can I use and/or in an essay?

Please do not use “and/or” in either formal or informal writing. In common English, the “or” is a “non-exclusive or” which means “either A or B, or A and B”.

Is and/or ambiguous?

The word “and” is conjunctive, meaning it combines things. Conversely, the word “or” is disjunctive, meaning it separates things. Because the phrase “and/or” can reasonably be construed as conjunctive and disjunctive at the same time, it is inherently ambiguous.

Does mean and or or in math?

In mathematics, “or”, formally symbolised as ∨ , does not mean “=”. In everyday usage, or and = may have similar meanings, as @sumelic points out. In logic or in mathematical logic, however, they have distinct meanings. There, “or” is a logical operator that has the value, True, if one or both operands are true.

1. What is a Semicolon?

In writing, a semicolon (;) is a type of punctuation used to combine full sentences and share complicated lists. Semicolons let us clearly share two or more related ideas in one sentence, which keeps us from writing a bunch of short, awkward sentences about the same topic or thing.

A good way to think about a semicolon’s job is that it creates a stronger pause than a comma, but doesn’t demand a complete stop like a period!

2. Examples

Here are some examples of how we use semicolons to combine sentences and write out detailed lists:

• I love ice cream; it is my favorite food.
• I like cake; however, ice cream is my favorite dessert.
• I know great ice cream shops in Burlington, Vermont; Wickford, Rhode Island; Wakefield, Rhode Island; and Chester, New Jersey.

3. Ways to use Semicolons

Semicolons have two main functions: to combine full sentences, and to share complicated lists clearly. The correct ways to use them are pretty specific, which leads many writers to use them the wrong way or not at all. These sections will show you how to use them properly!

a. To Combine Full Sentences

A semicolon’s first job is to combine two or more independent clauses, putting together several full sentences about related things. You cannot use semicolons to combine an independent clause with a dependent clause, in other words, a complete sentence with an incomplete sentence (see How to Avoid Mistakes). There are two ways we use semicolons to combine independent clauses.

Combining two independent clauses

The first way to use a semicolon is right between two independent clauses (which each have a subject and a predicate), with no other connecting words. You should use a semicolon in this way when you want to share related things that are different but equally important, in one sentence instead of two (or more), like this:

• Dessert is the best meal of the day; it’s definitely my favorite!
• There is one thing I know; ice cream is the best dessert.

Each of the sentences above shares two independent thoughts related to dessert, and neither is particularly more important than the other. Semicolons are the best options here—a period would make them too choppy, and a comma would make a comma splice (see How to Avoid Mistakes). Also, notice that the word after the semicolon is not capitalized; unlike a period, there is no need to capitalize the first word after a semicolon.

Combining two independent clauses with a transition

You can also use a semicolon to combine two independent clauses that are separated by a conjunction, like however, thus, moreover, though, but, therefore, and so on, like this:

• Sometimes I have frozen yogurt; however, it’s not as good as ice cream.
• They were out of Rocky Road; thus, I was forced to choose another flavor.

These examples are similar to the way you combine clauses with only a semicolon; but, sometimes adding a transition word strengthens the meaning of the sentences. For example, using a semicolon and “thus” in the second sentence makes the speaker’s situation seem more dramatic, emphasizing the he really wanted Rocky Road.

Really, when you use a conjunction, it’s okay to use a comma instead of a semicolon. In those cases, the pause that the punctuation creates is up to the writer, and a semicolon is a bit more formal.

b. To List Things

A semicolon’s second job is to help make detailed lists. Sometimes we need to share a lot of detailed information in one sentence, and that can be confusing for readers if it isn’t punctuated the right way. Semicolons are very helpful for that situation! Here are some examples:

• John has lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; and Miami, Florida.
• Rocky Road has chocolate, peanuts, and marshmallows; Cookies and Cream has chocolate sandwich cookies; Neapolitan has chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in one.

In the first sentence, the semicolons let you see the three detailed places where John has lived. The second clearly describes what’s in each of the different types of ice cream. The semicolons make these very descriptive sentences easy to understand—without them they would be pretty messy.

4. How to Avoid Mistakes

Semicolon mistakes are pretty common. But, these few things can help you avoid those mistakes in your writing:

a. Semicolons and colons are different!

A colon is different than a semicolon. The two have different jobs, and shouldn’t be used interchangeably. A colon lets the reader know that something else is coming after the first thought of a sentence. For instance, when a list is about to come, you need a colon, not a semicolon, like this:

• Jane likes three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Correct!
• Jane likes three flavors; chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. INCORRECT

To be clear, like in this example, colons can combine independent and dependent clauses, which semicolons cannot do (see below).

b. Semicolons and commas are different, too!

Today, a lot of people use commas instead of semicolons—sometimes that’s ok. But truly, commas have different jobs than semicolons, and there are some cases where you should use one and not the other.

For instance, when combining two independent clauses, if you aren’t using a transition, then you have to use a semicolon. Otherwise, you get a comma splice, like this:

• I love ice cream, I eat it every day. Comma splice, INCORRECT
• I love ice cream; I eat it every day. Correct!

Next, for simple lists, you only need to use commas, not semicolons; however, for more complicated lists, you should use semicolons, not commas. These sentences show why:

• My three favorite flavors are strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.
• Jane likes her ice cream four ways: with hot fudge, cherries, and whipped cream; with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and bananas; with hot fudge and peanuts; and with just sprinkles.

As you can see, it’s definitely unnecessary to use semicolons in the first sentence because it only lists three simple things. But, the second sentence would be very confusing if it only used commas.

Finally, to combine independent and dependent clauses, you need a comma, not a semicolon. This leads us to the last rule:

c. A semicolon can’t combine an independent clause with a dependent clause.

As mentioned, when combining sentences you can only use semicolons to put independent clauses together, NOT to combine an independent clause with a dependent clause:

Yesterday after work; I ate three bowls of ice cream. INCORRECT
Yesterday after work, I ate three bowls of ice cream. Correct!

You can only use semicolons between independent clauses—complete sentences!

TIP Sheet
THE SEMICOLON

The semicolon is used to separate independent clauses in specific situations. It also separates a series of items which contain internal punctuation.

1. Use a semicolon between independent clauses when the clauses are closely related in meaning and when there is no coordinating conjunction between them.

• Often two independent clauses which are closely related in meaning can be connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, not, for, so, yet). However, if the relationship between the clauses is clear without the conjunction, the writer can choose to omit the coordinating conjunction and use a semicolon instead. The semicolon tends to emphasize the close connection between the two thoughts.

When you come to London, Kristen, you will stay with me; I wouldn’t have it otherwise.

Be careful and drive defensively; you’ll be glad you did.

2. Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression.

• Transitional expressions include conjunctive adverbs and transitional phrases.

Conjunctive adverbs

Transitional phrases

• When a transitional expression appears between independent clauses, the transition is preceded by a semicolon and usually followed by a comma.

The cook’s specialty is broiled salmon; however, tonight it’s not available.

That’s a difficult question; in other words, I’m not going to answer it.

• When the transitional expression appears in the middle or at the end of the second independent clause, the semicolon goes between the clauses.

The man pleaded innocent; his face, however, looked as guilty as sin.

• Transitional expressions should not be confused with the coordinating conjunctions and, but, or, not, for, so, and yet. When coordinating conjunctions connect independent clauses, they are preceded by a comma.

• Exception: Sometimes when independent clauses contain internal punctuation which might cause confusion, a semicolon may be used in addition to a coordinating conjunction.

The hike will be difficult to complete, dangerous to attempt, frightening for most of us, and long; and in spite of her reassurances, I don’t even think we should go.

3. Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal punctuation.

• When the division of items becomes confusing due to multiple punctuation marks, use semicolons to distinguish between major groupings of ideas.

We visited Washington, D.C., in the fall; Downer’s Grove, Illinois, in the spring; and Cooperstown, New York, in the middle of a very hot summer.

The population of my hometown in 1762 was 4,123; in 1790, 7,921; and in 1998, 42,380.

Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated.

Rules for Using Semicolons

• A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.
  

  Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil.

• Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.
  

  However they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing methods.

• Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.
  

  There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.

• Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.
  

  Some people write with a word processor, tablet, or even a phone; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.

Avoid using a comma when a semicolon is needed:

Incorrect: The cow is brown, it is also old.
Correct: The cow is brown; it is also old.

What’s going on here? Both parts of the sentence are independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction. This mistake is known as a comma splice.

Incorrect: I like cows, however, I hate the way they smell.
Correct: I like cows; however, I hate the way they smell.

What’s going on here? The conjunctive adverb however signals a connection between two independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction.

Incorrect: I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good, they give us beef, which also tastes good, and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.
Correct: I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good; they give us beef, which also tastes good; and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.

What’s going on here? It’s unclear what the three list items are, since the items are separated by commas.

Incorrect: Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millennia, are still one of the great species of this planet, domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by.
Correct: Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millennia, are still one of the great species of this planet; domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by.

What’s going on here? It’s unclear where the first independent clause ends and the second independent clause begins.

Avoid using a semicolon when a comma is needed:

Incorrect: Because cows smell; they offend me.
Correct: Because cows smell, they offend me.

What’s going on here? The first part is not an independent clause, so no semicolon is required.