[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

I think the CMOS response that RG linked to above sums it up well (and, yes, it clearly doesn't advise using the semicolon in this type of construction and states that pretty directly): "CMOS does not support such use of the semicolon; semicolons—when not separating items in a syntactically complex

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

[quote='RGJaxon' pid='26959' dateline='1454255088'] They never will come out and say "this is forbidden." But if you want to abide by cmos (which is why many of us are here) you learn the guidelines as described. [/quote] Precisely. Also, 6.57 discusses using the semicolon before conjunctions

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

Examples of older writing by esteemed authors is interesting. Yes, grammar and punctuation evolve, and that's a good thing. Also, there are different types and styles of writing, and some contemporary authors can get away with an unusual twist (such as minimal punctuation or no dialogue tags), but t

[Forum] RE: order of adjectives and commas

"National banks" and "sports car" are not coordinate, but the other adjectives in your examples are. I'd punctuate as follows: the big, bloated, behemoth national banks the large, powerful, shiny blue sports car

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

[quote='Pixna' pid='26945' dateline='1454245227'] A series is three or more, not two. The examples in 6.58 reflect that. To my mind and eye, the statement "CMOS [b]does not[/b] support such use of the semicolon" doesn't leave any room for interpretation. That's about as clear as they could make it.

[Forum] RE: Mansion house

IMHO, whether or not to use commas should depend on how closely related the adjectives are. If one describes the next one, no comma should be used. If "and" or "but" can be used between them, a comma should be used. In the first bold section, I could see putting "and" between the first two adjective

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

I am reading from Garner's 3rd. He lists four common uses. "Fourth, the semicolon sometimes appears simply to give weightier pause than a comma would. This use is discretionary. A comma would do, but the writer wants a stronger stop . . ." He does not apply any further restrictions to the statement.

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

Sometimes it helps to browse through the Q&A section. Here is a relevant one that I found by just searching on "semicolon". http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Semicolons.html The part that applies here is "semicolons—when not separating items in a syntactically complex

[Forum] RE: Semicolon, coordinate elements?

[quote='j8_8_8_' pid='26965' dateline='1454276359'] If you consider a series to be three or more, that's good enough for me. :) I can work with that, and it solves all the problems.[/quote] I'm not sure if my perspective is accepted by everybody, but I consider two to be a pair and three or more

[Forum] RE: Commas again.

[quote='pinkymcfiddle' pid='33768' dateline='1505083235'] Does anybody agree with my commas as being spot on in those examples? [/quote] I think they're technically fine, but I would never allow the third one to go to print like that. As punctuated, it makes the adjective "two-inch" appear coo