3 Sentences with Unnecessary Semicolons

3 Sentences with Unnecessary Semicolons 3 Sentences with Unnecessary Semicolons 3 Sentences with Unnecessary Semicolons By Mark Nichol Semicolons, used to separate two independent clauses or two or more words and/or phrases in a list when at least one phrase is itself a list whose items are separated by commas, are sometimes erroneously employed when those conditions do not exist. Here are three such sentences, each followed by a discussion and a revision. 1. The regulation extends the civil market abuse regime to new markets and instruments; adds extraterritorial scope; and introduces a new offence of attempted market manipulation. A long sentence that lists several things with extended phrasing does not merit semicolons; commas are sufficient the separate the elements: â€Å"The regulation extends the civil market abuse regime to new markets and instruments, adds extraterritorial scope, and introduces a new offence of attempted market manipulation.† 2. The organization saw an opportunity to connect more clearly with a multitude of stakeholder expectations; position risk in the context of an enterprise’s performance, rather than as the focus of an isolated exercise; and enable organizations to become more anticipatory. This sentence does not require semicolons, either- â€Å"rather than as the focus of an isolated exercise† is clearly parenthetical to the second item, not part of a list within a list: â€Å"The organization saw an opportunity to connect more clearly with a multitude of stakeholder expectations, position risk in the context of an enterprise’s performance, rather than as the focus of an isolated exercise, and enable organizations to become more anticipatory.† (Notice how each item begins with a verb, signaling a clear syntactical structure.) 3. Advances in digital technologies- including intelligent devices and machines; virtual reality; mobile technologies; cloud computing; social business; and smart grids, factories, and cities in an app-centric world- are driving disruptive change. Only one item in this list itself consists of a list, and it is the last item, so no confusion about the organization of the sentence is likely: â€Å"Advances in digital technologies- including intelligent devices and machines, virtual reality, mobile technologies, cloud computing, social business, and smart grids, factories, and cities in an app-centric world- are driving disruptive change.† An alternative is to set the final item apart from the others: â€Å"Advances in digital technologies- including intelligent devices and machines, virtual reality, mobile technologies, cloud computing, and social business, as well as smart grids, factories, and cities, in an app-centric world- are driving disruptive change.† This version also avoids the cluttered look of a semicolon-laden sentence, though it makes the sentence slightly more complex. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point ArcTaser or Tazer? Tazing or Tasering?48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids