Punctuation smackdown!

Forums: English, Grammar, Punctuation
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Which is correct?

Work hard; dream big.

Work hard, dream big.

Thanks!

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Type: Question • Score: 18 • Views: 4,640 • Replies: 62

[+4] - timur - 01/31/2015The problem with ellipses is that they tend to increase eccentricity :-) [img]http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/eccentricity.gif [/img]
[+3] - ehBeth - 01/30/2015I like the comma
[+3] - contrex - 01/30/2015Either is correct. A semicolon can be used between two closely related independent clauses, provided they are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. Semicolons can also be used in place...
[+3] - contrex - 01/31/2015[quote="izzythepush"] You can never have too many exclamation marks, I'd go for about 23. [/quote] I have a colleague who feels that way about apostrophes. If in doubt, put one in!...
[+3] - Walter Hinteler - 01/31/2015[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/f9ox3k.jpg[/IMG]
[+3] - boomerang - 01/31/2015I went to double check my idea of the semicolon as a pause and as a way to give equal weight to each part of a sentence: [quote] 1. Use a semicolon as a soft period. By using a semicolon...
[+3] - Roberta - 02/01/2015When I first saw the question (before I read all the responses), I thought that the semicolon was the better choice. Now that I've read what everyone has to say, I still think that the semicolon is...
[+3] - boomerang - 02/02/2015Sorry to be so anal about something that will be permanently affixed to my wall. (Shrug.)

@boomerang,

Work hard and dream big.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

I can't add another word.

Getting just this to space out right was a nightmare.

I could do: Work hard. Dream big.

But I like the lowercase "d" better, graphically speaking, so I'm stuck between suing the comma or the semicolon.

2 Replies

@boomerang,

I like the comma

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

Same here.

0 Replies

Either is correct. A semicolon can be used between two closely related independent clauses, provided they are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. Semicolons can also be used in place of commas to separate items in a list.

1 Reply

In typical writing I think I would go with the comma but for some reason this sounds more forceful with the longer pause indicated by the semicolon.

I suppose if either is correct I can just use the one that looks best in the layout....

3 Replies

@boomerang,

Work hard... dream big.

1 Reply

@boomerang,

boomerang wrote:

In typical writing I think I would go with the comma but for some reason this sounds more forceful with the longer pause indicated by the semicolon.

Longer pause? Really? In any case I would resist the temptation to use a semicolon as a "supercomma".

2 Replies

@Region Philbis,

I'm setting this in tile so an ellipse would add about 3 inches while a comma would add only one. I need to keep it pulled together a little closer than that.

0 Replies

@contrex,

That's the way I always think of it --

Comma = brief pause
Semicolon = longer pause
Period = full stop

1 Reply

@boomerang,

I would go with the semi colon.

0 Replies

I would go for the comma.

0 Replies

@contrex,

Both work. I feel sometimes that I am the last person in the world to use semicolons, but in this case I'm slightly more for the comma, as in time the question from others may be "what is that funny thing after the word hard?"

I suppose I also think of a semicolon as a kind of division between word sequences that are similar while being different - so that your choice may have to do with how much you want to differentiate working and dreaming. It's a bit more formal in doing that.

0 Replies

@boomerang,

Quote:

I suppose if either is correct I can just use the one that looks best in the layout....

Good thinking, boomer.
P.S. -- I'd go with the comma; it's simpler.

1 Reply

@boomerang,

I like it better with the comma

1 Reply

@dalehileman,

Comma is the winner!

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Am I the only one who thinks that the semicolon gives both parts of the sentence equal weight in the way that a comma does not?

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@boomerang,

I agree with that. Not that the comma is a failure, but that the semicolon is stronger re the equal weight... I think.

0 Replies

@Lustig Andrei,

"Simple".

That's a beautiful word.

There have been several times that I've thrown my hands up in frustration over this project only to dig back in.

When I finally figured it out I discovered that finding 1/2" plain white tiles isn't nearly as easy as I thought it would be.

Mr. B has rolled his eyes at me so much I'm surprised he can still see but when he saw phase 2 today he had to admit it was pretty cool.

0 Replies

Punctuation smackdown!

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