Comments on: Connecting Sentences with Commas and Semicolons

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:09:34 +0000

Both Rule 20 in our “Commas” section as well as Rule 2 in our “Semicolons” section recommends commas after the word however when used as an interrupter or as an introductory word, respectively. Note that I did not use a comma nor did you use a comma after the word in our sentences because however was not used either as an interrupter or as an introductory word.

By: Claudette

Claudette — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:03:57 +0000

When using the word “however” in a sentence, does it always have a comma to follow?

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:54:20 +0000

You should use the semicolon since you have two sentences you are connecting without a conjunction.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:18:14 +0000

He was the last supervisor to whom you reported; is that correct?

Semi colon before is that correct or comma?

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:53:28 +0000

There is no rule limiting the number of independent clauses in a single sentence, however, the reader’s ability to comprehend the sentence will certainly decrease if a compound sentence “rages on and on,” even if the conjunctions and punctuation are correct.

By: Inq

Inq — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:12:45 +0000

How many independent clauses can be joined by conjunctions, semicolons, and the like? Could a single compound sentence rage on and on with appropriate or proper links and/or conjunctions?

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:58:17 +0000

According to Rule 9, you should not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause.

I moved closer to the wall hoping my sister wouldn’t hear me.

Rule 8 states that you should use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow.

He was playing and, unfortunately, fell. OR
Unfortunately, he fell while he was playing.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:08:01 +0000

I am having a problem with the following sentence:
1. I moved closer to the wall, hoping my sister wouldn’t hear me.

Is there a comma after wall?

2. He was playing and unfortunately fell.

I have used a rather short sentence here, but my problem is when a conjunction is used to join a clause (which doesn’t have a subject), and there is a paranthetical clause that immediately follows it where does the comma go. Is it:

He was playing and unfortunately, fell.
Or
He was playing and, unfortunately, fell.

I have several long sentences where the and doesn’t need a comma but there is a paranthetical clause that follows immediately and needs a comma.

Thank you so much for your response!

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:18:36 +0000

To follow your colon with questions, you should change the wording: Who are they? What do they do? How do they do it?
If you don’t want questions because this is a title, then use the following: Who they are, what they do, and how they do it.

By: william

william — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:22:40 +0000

I want to know if this would be correct.

Employers’ Organizations: Who they are? What they do? and How they do it?