• Dettweiler
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    2 years ago

    They can also be used as a super comma; because sometime you make a longer sentence, or a sentence with complex clauses.

    • Coolishguy
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      162 years ago

      I’m sorry, but the example in your comment is nonstandard usage. The part after the semicolon would typically be an independent clause, whereas the “because” marks yours as a dependent clause.

      There are still comma-like uses though. The major one I can think of is as a separator in a list where each element is long, possibly containing commas of its own.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      It’s more of a weak period than a strong comma; both sides of it need to be complete sentences.

    • @[email protected]
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      12 years ago

      You didn’t quite get it right; adding “because” removes the need for a semicolon. Take out that single word, and your sentence becomes proper.

  • smorty/maria [she/her]
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    62 years ago

    You people don’t use semicolons; I am very surprised. For real though, I like to use the in German class, as it makes me seem fancy and knowledgeable.

  • Sheridan
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    92 years ago

    What about three, four, or more independent clauses? Is that allowed?

    • Superb
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      122 years ago

      I think so! Go nuts though, rules are for suckers

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      (in standardized English) No, you can’t make them into a star with the semicolon in the center. Sentences are linear, so you can only connect two clauses at a time with one semicolon between them. However, you can chain clauses together, each time using a semicolon to join two independent clauses.

      Except language changes over time, so if the star usage of the semicolon catches on and introduces nonlinear sentences, then have at it.

  • Frozzie
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    772 years ago

    So you’re saying I can use the semicolon in a different context other than ending an instruction in my Java code ?

    • @[email protected]
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      52 years ago

      You can also use them to split lists where the items have commas in them. Like if you’re saying you’re holding a party and you invited A, whom you dislike but would feel bad to exclude; B, who you’ve not seen in years and really want to catch up with; and C, who is also going to be there.

      • Flying Squid
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        22 years ago

        What about Applesoft BASIC? Because I was pretty good at that on my Apple II, but I don’t think there were semicolons.

        Also, I don’t know how to code, so I don’t know what semicolons are for in code.

        • @[email protected]
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          32 years ago

          BASIC statements end on new lines. The language does use a semicolon at the end of PRINT statements in order to omit printing a newline character at the end, but I believe that’s the only use. (It’s been about 20 years since I’ve done anything in BASIC.)

          The meaning of a semicolon depends completely on the language. C and C-like languages (like Java and Rust) tend to use them to delimit the end of a statement.

  • @[email protected]
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    32 years ago

    I have been reading a lot of News Articles from the 1920s (project I’m working on) and it’s really noticeable that they use “;” a lot more.

  • @[email protected]
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    12 years ago
    ---------------------
             |
        ;    |    \n
             |
    ---------------------
    

    Python programmer: They’re the same picture

  • Malle_Yeno
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    2 years ago

    They’re also useful for separating multiple lists when using a comma would make it look like an item is an extended list.

    So let’s say I want to express:

    "My contacts are:

    • Jessica, Cook (as in a job title, not a name)

    • James, MD (as in the professional certification, not the name ‘MD’)

    • Doug, ABC (maybe to show that Doug works at ABC)"

    If I said:

    “My contacts are Jessica, Cook, James, MD, Doug, ABC.”

    There’s no clear indication of what is a list member and what is a new list. But this:

    “My contacts are Jessica, Cook; James, MD; Doug, ABC.”

    is a bit clearer. (There are probably better examples but I’m shooting from the hip here lol)

  • HowShouldIKnow
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    42 years ago

    I missed the bus; and that is something I will never ever ever do again

    • @[email protected]
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      72 years ago

      Semicolons generally replace a comma + conjunction. So use it instead of the “and” (or “because,” “but,” etc.) and you’re good.

    • @[email protected]
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      132 years ago

      Omit the “and”, and you’ve got it; otherwise, a regular old comma would be the right punctuation there.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

        If you want to use a colon, you can phrase it “There’s one thing I’ll never do again: Miss the bus.”

  • @[email protected]
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    142 years ago

    They are also a great tool to use in place of tabs or spaces to make java developers lose their minds.

  • @[email protected]
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    2 years ago

    DELIMITER //

    SELECT name, definition

    FROM definitions

    WHERE name like ‘;’//

    DELIMITER ;