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GSC Guide to Authors Semicolon
The semicolon comes third in the descending order of punctuation: period, colon,
semicolon, comma. It indicates a pause or degree of separation less than a colon
but more than a comma.
The semicolon is used in these instances:
- to separate clauses that are too closely related in meaning to be written
separately:
Phyllitic slate, phyllite, and fine-grained, argillaceous sandstone are
the dominant rock types; they are penetratively cleaved and weather greenish
grey and brown.
- to separate closely related clauses in a compound sentence where the
connecting conjunction is omitted:
In this section there are many graptolitic beds; in section 2, there are
none.
- to separate principal clauses in a long sentence from phrases or
subordinate clauses marked off by commas:
The succession is composed of the Carnival Formation, a quartz sandstone
unit; the Greentree Formation, a marine shale; and the Blackbird Formation,
a second, less extensive sandstone unit.
- between the clauses of a compound sentence when there is a contrast
of ideas:
In GSC publications, we refer to a fine-grained sandstone, not a fine sandstone;
a coarse-grained granite, not a coarse granite.
- before a conjunctive adverb (therefore, however, moreover, indeed,
in fact, that is, for example, consequently, and furthermore)
when it connects independent clauses:
Corrections can be made for variations in topography along a survey line
during data processing; however, surface conditions and the depth to the
water table are likely to vary with the topography, and these changes may
affect the frequency characteristics and resolution of the data.
A semicolon is not used before a conjunctive adverb if it is being used
in a transitional sense (i.e. not joining independent clauses):
Uranium-lead dating, however, suggests that the volcanic rocks in this succession
are not significantly younger than the Coldbrook Group (Bevier et al., 1994).
Therefore, although great uncertainties remain, the most sophisticated models
available for developing long-term predictions of climate change suggest
that the Palliser Triangle region will be warmer, and likely drier, in the
future.
Semicolons following quotations and parentheses should be placed outside the
closing quotation mark and parenthesis.
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