Page 11 - Style Book 2020

10
Semicolons
• Generally, semicolons are used to indicate a greater separation of thought and information than a comma can provide, but less than a period conveys.
• Use semicolons to separate items in a series when the individ- ual elements must be punctuated with commas.
The student was offered scholarships to colleges in Washington, D.C.; New Haven, Conn.; and Berkeley, Calif.
• Use a semicolon to link independent clauses when a coordinating conjunction is not present.
The math books arrived today; the science books are on order.
• Use a semicolon to join independent clauses containing con- junctive adverbs such as however, therefore, otherwise, con- sequently, nevertheless, otherwise, moreover, etc. When these words do not connect independent clauses, use commas.
He took the test yesterday; however, test results are not expected for two or more weeks.
Test results are not expected, however, for two more weeks.
Slashes
• A slash means or.
Each school should be represented by a principal/assistant principal. (Each school should be represented by a prin- cipal or an assistant principal, not principal and assistant principal.)
• Do not use a slash in place of a hyphen to symbolize and or to.
• Slashes can be used as a substitute for hyphens in month- day-year dates or to separate words. Slashes also are used in fractions and to mean per.
meetings and/or seminars
$30/year