Use of a semicolon before and comma after however These two grammatically correct sentences differ only in whether we followed the semicolon-and-comma rule you mention, showing its value clearly *Four-and-a-half if we include the informal use as an emphatic form of how; "However did you manage that?"
When should you use a semicolon *with* a conjunction? The semicolon between clauses suggests a connection between the sentences that is stronger than if there were a period between the two As (to me) it is generally acceptable to start sentences with the short conjunctions and and but, I believe the general rule can extend to independent clauses joined by a semicolon Possibly:
punctuation - Em dash vs semicolon: which is more appropriate in the . . . The main factor in choosing whether to use a semicolon or an em dash (if you're playing your cards right) is whether the clause that the punctuation introduces is more explanatory or expository in nature If it's the former, use a semicolon; if the latter, use an em dash
punctuation - Can you put a semicolon after an and in a list with . . . 1 You can use semi-colons to separate elements in a list, but the semicolon would go before not after the 'and' In your case, "watermelons; and [new line] oranges " However, you typically would only use semicolons to separate items if the list elements were long (phrases or sentences)
Comma or semicolon for genuine thank you at the end of a sentence? Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences If your intention is to connect two statements closely, and not simply convey politeness, then of the choices you offered the semi-colon is the way
punctuation - Is there an Oxford semicolon? - English Language . . . To quote your first source, "The semicolon can be used to sort out a complicated list containing many items, many of which themselves contain commas " This being so, it seems madness not to include the final, "Oxford" semicolon in such a list; the case for it is surely even stronger than for the Oxford comma If it is indeed necessary (as it seems to me), and is not a matter of personal style
What is the correct punctuation after as follows? Semicolons to separate the chapters, as proposed in another answer, is certainly a valid approach However, I'd like to answer from a different angle - one that comes from my experience with lists in technical writing, where they are very common First of all, the right punctuation after "as follows" is a colon There's no way around that "Follows" or "following" is the indicator You could