Use of semi colon question?

Hymer · External Since: Sep 22, 2005 Posts: 12

Hello,

Does anyone know the rules for using a comma vs. a semi colon in a sentence
such as:

The colors are: (a) red, (b) blue, (c) yellow.

and

The house has: (a) a roof, shingled, and blue color, (b) a kitchen with
sink, range, and microwave, and (b) garage with cement floor, plasterboard
walls, and electronic doors.

Should a semi colon be sued to separate (a), (b) and (c) in either example?

Thanks,

Bob

aalaan · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 106

An interesting question, but you did show an example that was (a), (b),
(b)...

"Hymer" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
news:44fa504a$0$96236$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Hello,
>
> Does anyone know the rules for using a comma vs. a semi colon in a
> sentence such as:
>
> The colors are: (a) red, (b) blue, (c) yellow.
>
> and
>
> The house has: (a) a roof, shingled, and blue color, (b) a kitchen with
> sink, range, and microwave, and (b) garage with cement floor, plasterboard
> walls, and electronic doors.
>
> Should a semi colon be sued to separate (a), (b) and (c) in either
> example?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>

Opinicus · External Since: Nov 19, 2003 Posts: 157

"Hymer" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote

> Does anyone know the rules for using a comma vs. a semi colon

These are pretty good:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicolon

> The house has: (a) a roof, shingled, and blue color, (b) a kitchen with
> sink, range, and microwave, and (b) garage with cement floor, plasterboard
> walls, and electronic doors.

> Should a semi colon be sued to separate (a), (b) and (c) in either
> example?

Semicolons would be incorrect in the first example. I would write the second
example as:

<quote>
The house has (a) a blue shingled roof; (b) a kitchen with sink, range, and
microwave; and (c) a garage with a cement floor, plasterboard walls, and
electric doors.
</quote>

But then I learned spelling and grammar in The Old School.

By the way, I never saw a lawyer desperate enough to go so far as to sue a
*semicolon*. Wink

--
Bob's Editing Service. Insert coin [] here.
http://www.kanyak.com

Patrick Page · External Since: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 2

1=no; 2=yes.
"Hymer" <ergobob@sonic[REMOVE].net> wrote in message
news:44fa504a$0$96236$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Hello,
>
> Does anyone know the rules for using a comma vs. a semi colon in a
> sentence such as:
>
> The colors are: (a) red, (b) blue, (c) yellow.
>
> and
>
> The house has: (a) a roof, shingled, and blue color, (b) a kitchen with
> sink, range, and microwave, and (b) garage with cement floor, plasterboard
> walls, and electronic doors.
>
> Should a semi colon be sued to separate (a), (b) and (c) in either
> example?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>