Sometimes an adverb gets pulled out to the beginning of a sentence to form a “bridge” to the sentence before it. It becomes a linking word for the two sentences and shows a relationship between the two sentences. This is called a conjunctive adverb. Some examples are however, moreover, nevertheless, therefore, still, thus, yet, then Generally there is a comma …
“i.e.” and Its Friends
These eight expressions are often used when something is being renamed or reiterated: i.e., that is, e.g., for example, to wit, namely, for instance, in other words The punctuation depends upon where they are in the sentence and/or what follows them. There are six rules; so we will do a few at a time. WHEN THESE WORDS AND WHAT FOLLOWS …
Parallel Construction and the Semicolon
…I arrived on Saturday; he arrived on Sunday. …He resigned in 2010; she resigned in 2011. …The first train leaves at 5:00 A.M.; the last train leaves at 10:00 P.M. The Rule: When two sentences have NO conjunction between them and have parallel grammatical construction, use a semicolon between them. This question always arises: Could I use a period? My …
The Word “So” — Third Time Is a Charm?
So we had a discussion over on FB about “so” — again! As you all know, I want us to punctuate according to the grammar that is going on in the sentence. I believe with my heart and soul that punctuation is an outgrowth of grammar most of the time. The word “and” and the word “so” simply do not …
The Compound Sentence
I am going to start this topic today and will keep coming back to it over the next weeks. The question is what to do with an element that begins a second sentence after an and or but (or, nor). One of the basic reasons to have punctuation is to sort out the structure of the sentence. Cardinal Rule No. …
The Adverb Being Used as a Conjunction
This one is from an answer on Facebook to the question of what punctuation these sentences need: …He worked late on Friday; so he couldn’t attend the party. …She approached the intersection cautiously; then she came to a complete stop. “So” and “then” are, by nature, adverbs.…was so excited……to then see what was happening…When these adverbs are pulled out to …
The Word “So” — Again
We continue to struggle with this word “so” — so little and so much trouble!! When “so” means “in order that” and implies the reason for doing something, it is a subordinate conjunction that begins a dependent clause, and there is no punctuation. …walking slowly so I wouldn’t miss anything… …going to see her so I could give her the …
Comma Turns Into Semicolon
We all know that there must be a comma in front of a coordinate conjunction that has a complete sentence after it. …went with her, and she declined the assistance. …was standing nearby, but there was no opportunity to speak up. Sometimes there is an element right after that conjunction that needs commas around it. …went with her, and, well, …
Those “Conjunctive Adverbs” Again
When certain adverbs are pulled out to the front of a sentence and are used to form a bridge — that is, show a relationship — between two sentences, they become conjunctions which we call conjunctive adverbs. Some of them are moreover, however, nevertheless, therefore, consequently thus, hence, yet, still, then, so (Here is where I would make the argument …
Those Conjunctive Adverbs
If you followed the conversation on the previous blogs on the word so, you know that a conjunctive adverb needs a period of semicolon in front of it when it starts a new sentence. And that is the key to look for: Is it in front of a complete sentence? …Ron had had three speeding tickets; yet he was not …