Proper use of ;

[COL._Von_Spanker]

So what is the technical proper use of the semi-colon. (not the colon on yer inside)

[tomcat]

When you need to separate two complete ideas, use a semicolon. A colon is used when you have a complete idea followed by an incomplete idea (for example, a list of items).

 

For example : I climb all the time and I work all the time.

 

The above is an example of a run-on sentence. To fix this, you would say, "I climb all the time ; I work all the time." As you will notice, what comes after and before the semicolon could stand alone as a complete sentence, but when the two are included in the same sentence, it becomes a run-on, hence the inclusion of the semicolon.

[Greg_W]

A semicolon may also be used to join to phrases that could be complete sentences separately, but flow better when joined. Example: "We crested the ridge just as the moon rose; our reserves were about gone since we had been climbing since dawn."

 

I believe a rule of thumb is that you can use a semicolon where you would use "and" to separate two thoughts or phrases.

[COL._Von_Spanker]

Greg,

 

Your example is almost poetic.

[Mer]

For example : I climb all the time and I work all the time.The above is an example of a run-on sentence

Au contraire, mon frere:

It would be a run-on (comma splice) if you joined the independent clauses with a comma without using a co-ordinating conjunction, such as "and".

I know all the big grammar words, la-la-lala.

[Greg_W]

Greg,

 

Your example is almost poetic.

 

Life imitates art. I lived that one.

[erik]

"PUNCUATION, WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' PUNCUATION"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or spelling for that matter!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[b-rock]

I put it at the end of every line of code I write....

[iain]

I put it at the end of every line of code I write....

Perl is the ductape of the internet.

[gapertimmy]

I put it at the end of every line of code I write....

 

$gaper = "gaper";

$gaper . = "timmy";

echo $gaper;

[sk]

"PUNCUATION, WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' PUNCUATION"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or spelling for that matter!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ERIK RULES

[iain]

 

 

 while ((<HORSECOCK>) && ($cheese)) { chomp; }