So you’re saying I can use the semicolon in a different context other than ending an instruction in my Java code ?
I missed the bus; and that is something I will never ever ever do again
Omit the “and”, and you’ve got it; otherwise, a regular old comma would be the right punctuation there.
If you want to use a colon, you can phrase it “There’s one thing I’ll never do again: Miss the bus.”
They can also be used as a super comma; because sometime you make a longer sentence, or a sentence with complex clauses.
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.
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My 2c is that if the majority of people are confused about the purpose of a punctuation mark or language feature in general, then that feature is not actually fulfilling a useful function. If it was actually useful then people wouldn’t be confused, they would just be using it. People would learn it organically and not need it to be explained.
That example sentence would function exactly the same if it was separated by a period, nothing is gained by using a semicolon. No new information is added, you are just going to make people wonder why there is a semicolon there making the sentence less comprehensible.
Its sorta related to the prescriptivism vs descriptivism distinction.
That example sentence would function exactly the same if it was separated by a period; nothing is gained by using a semicolon. No new information is added; you are just going to make people wonder why there is a semicolon there making the sentence less comprehensible.
FTFY. You aren’t supposed to separate two independent clauses with a comma.