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Andrewwhyte

Can a sentence have two semicolons?

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Yes.

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5. Semicolons are also used to punctuate mixed lists in continuous prose writing:

Four objects lay on the desk: a large book; a spiral-bound notepad; a glass vase containing flowers; and a silver propelling pencil.



(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

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Yes.

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5. Semicolons are also used to punctuate mixed lists in continuous prose writing:

Four objects lay on the desk: a large book; a spiral-bound notepad; a glass vase containing flowers; and a silver propelling pencil.



What's a propelling pencil?:ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:
Does it come with a propeller hat?:D:D:D
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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OH REALLY, sometimes I really am concerned about the level of interlekt 'round here:P


Seriously, I've never heard of a propelling pencil.:)
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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Shropshire is correct. One may use use a semicolon between items in a series...

Another example:

I've been to boogies in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas; Quincy, Illinois; Rosharon, Texas and Eloy, Arizona.
Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

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I was however thinking more along the lines of Andy908's example. Anyone have any grammar books that indicate that that usage is either permissible or not?



I think that it's permissible, but it's usually advised to use the semicolon sparingly, so it would probably be best to not use it in that manner.

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i have a bad habit of over using them at times. i picked it up from writing poetry & song lyrics. that & the fact that i'm a terrible typer + i hit it when i mean to use a period or comma & i'm too lazy & don't care enough to go back & correct. but usually i go to the opposite extreme and use little or no punctuation at all. until someone says something. (already got a couple of those here my 1st day). then i gotta try to use them more often. it's the effort not accuracy that counts. :Pso don't ask me. i prefer to do without any of them saves time

It's pretty pathetic when you have to TELL people you're fucking cool Skymama «narrative»This thread will lock in 3..2.. What a load of narrow-minded Xenophobic Bullshit!-squeak

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Right, but if you find that you need to use the semicolon the way that Andy used it in his example, then it would probably be better to reconsider your sentence structure so that you don't need to use more than one semicolon. Perhaps make another sentence?

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Sorry, thought that you were taking the piss. Must be a cultural thing.


Mechanical Pencil...clicky

oh we call that a Refill pencil or a "CLICK" pencil
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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(Dusting off my Elements of Style, Third Edition):

If two or more clauses grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction are to form a single compound sentence,the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon.

Also:

In a series of three or terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.


As I have understood it, a semicolon is used to separate independent clauses, not lists.
"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so."

Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

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So sad;
The once-mighty Bonfire;
Home to all those great boobie threads;
Now reduced to discussions of punctuation.[:/][:/][:/]

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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There once was a mighty Bonfire;
Sometimes the denizens would ire;
The mods would get pissed;
And then shake their fist;
Baning the offender entire
Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

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