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Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 05 Jun 2023, 12:07
by Kelsey Roy
Hello, in a recent review I lost well over 40 points for this issue: to use a comma or a semicolon? Below is my quoted sentence from the review.
“Part of the family fled, part of the family joined the resistance, part of the family stayed to themselves on the farm, and some even befriended the Nazis to remain alive.”
An editor argued that I should have used semicolons instead of commas throughout this sentence (3 separate marked errors). Is this correct or should I ask the editor to recheck?
Re: Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 05 Jun 2023, 14:37
by Kelsey Roy
Update: I still need help, the editor denied my request to recheck and I’m trying to decide if I should do an admin recheck BUT I’m so discouraged by this.
Re: Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 09 Jun 2023, 09:11
by MsH2k
Kelsey Roy wrote: ↑05 Jun 2023, 14:37
Update: I still need help, the editor denied my request to recheck and I’m trying to decide if I should do an admin recheck BUT I’m so discouraged by this.
“Part of the family fled, part of the family joined the resistance, part of the family stayed to themselves on the farm, and some even befriended the Nazis to remain alive.”
Hi Kelsey,
Your comma usage was correct as written. A comma is used to separate items in a series, and a series can include independent clauses. You cannot add anything to your original recheck request at this point, but if you have provided an ample explanation in your initial recheck request, I recommend asking for an admin recheck. I feel confident they would rule in your favor.
FYI, the following link supports your usage:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
All the best.
Re: Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 12 Aug 2023, 14:07
by Seetha E
MsH2k wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 09:11
Kelsey Roy wrote: ↑05 Jun 2023, 14:37
Update: I still need help, the editor denied my request to recheck and I’m trying to decide if I should do an admin recheck BUT I’m so discouraged by this.
“Part of the family fled, part of the family joined the resistance, part of the family stayed to themselves on the farm, and some even befriended the Nazis to remain alive.”
Hi Kelsey,
Your comma usage was correct as written. A comma is used to separate items in a series, and a series can include independent clauses. You cannot add anything to your original recheck request at this point, but if you have provided an ample explanation in your initial recheck request, I recommend asking for an admin recheck. I feel confident they would rule in your favor.
FYI, the following link supports your usage:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
All the best.
Thanks for this link. Are there any more reference links that can be useful, especially for profanity and its bifurcations? There are many words that cannot be clearly put under one or the other category and borderline leaves a lot unanswered and this can be quite subjective.
Relatively new here. Any assistance is appreciated.
Re: Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 04 Sep 2023, 23:02
by Danna Vergara
MsH2k wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 09:11
Kelsey Roy wrote: ↑05 Jun 2023, 14:37
Update: I still need help, the editor denied my request to recheck and I’m trying to decide if I should do an admin recheck BUT I’m so discouraged by this.
“Part of the family fled, part of the family joined the resistance, part of the family stayed to themselves on the farm, and some even befriended the Nazis to remain alive.”
Hi Kelsey,
Your comma usage was correct as written. A comma is used to separate items in a series, and a series can include independent clauses. You cannot add anything to your original recheck request at this point, but if you have provided an ample explanation in your initial recheck request, I recommend asking for an admin recheck. I feel confident they would rule in your favor.
FYI, the following link supports your usage:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
All the best.
Thank you, I had the same doubt.
Re: Need help! Semicolon or comma?
Posted: 22 Oct 2023, 10:22
by mazen2008
I think that using semicolons instead of commas would be more feasible because there are independent clauses.