Writers...

[Guest papacita]

Ok, I've got a "paper" to turn in tomorrow, and I just wanna make sure that this is right before I close out.

 

To strengthen his argument, Douglass stresses the humanistic qualities of enslaved Africans; qualities that, he argues, slaveholders themselves reaffirm in law enforcement.

Basically, I just wanna make sure I'm using the semicolon right. I appreciate any feedback.

[Guest J*ingus]

Hmmm, I'm not sure. Firstly ":" is a semicolon, and ";" is a colon. Also, I think that a real semicolon is needed there, but don't quote me. Any other wordsmyths out there who can lend a pen?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

You had it backwards, Jingus. ":" is a colon, ";" is a semicolon. And yes, papacita, you're using it correctly.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Ok, I've got a "paper" to turn in tomorrow, and I just wanna make sure that this is right before I close out.

 

To strengthen his argument, Douglass stresses the humanistic qualities of enslaved Africans; qualities that, he argues, slaveholders themselves reaffirm in law enforcement.

Basically, I just wanna make sure I'm using the semicolon right. I appreciate any feedback.

To strengthen his argument, Douglass stresses the humanistic qualities of enslaved Africans are qualities that slaveholders themselves reaffirm in law enforcement.

 

Thats how I would write it. Dump the semicolon issue together and dump "he argues" and tie it together a little bit neater. I don't know if it makes sense in terms of your research/paper, so thats your call.

[Guest papacita]

The original sentence makes a little more sense in relation to the rest of the paper, so I'll keep it in there as long as it's right. Thanks for your help everybody.

[Guest J*ingus]

You had it backwards, Jingus.

Crap. ::crumples up SAT Verbal test scores::

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Semicolons break up two independent clauses unless you're just using them to separate items in a list. A colon is used to direct attention to the subsequent clause: a clause which elaborates on or provides a specific example pertaining to the sentence which preceded it (thus).

 

So, replace your original semicolon ( with a colon ( and you're fine. I'd also change "that" to "which" (the latter is more specific) and move it to the other side of "he argues."

 

"To strengthen his argument, Douglass stresses the humanistic qualities of enslaved Africans: qualities, he argues, which slaveholders themselves reaffirm in law enforcement."

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

You had it backwards, Jingus.

Crap. ::crumples up SAT Verbal test scores::

When I took those, I still to this day have no idea how I got equal scores on both parts, when I'm much better at math.

[Guest J*ingus]

They're weird. I got a perfect 800 on the verbal, and look at me now.

[Guest papacita]

Semicolons break up two independent clauses unless you're just using them to separate items in a list. A colon is used to direct attention to the subsequent clause: a clause which elaborates on or provides a specific example pertaining to the sentence which preceded it (thus).

 

So, replace your original semicolon ( with a colon ( and you're fine. I'd also change "that" to "which" (the latter is more specific) and move it to the other side of "he argues."

 

"To strengthen his argument, Douglass stresses the humanistic qualities of enslaved Africans: qualities, he argues, which slaveholders themselves reaffirm in law enforcement."

Thank you Marney.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

All in day's work for your friendly neighbourhood part-time speechwriter.

Welcome.