Caraway Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 How would you punctuate this: "Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are, they need money more than I need pearls". Is it correct the way that it is? It could be broken into two sentences, but that still leaves that awkward are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookValley. Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 My Girl Scouts are more important than jewels; they need money more than I need pearls. Though I'm not really a fan of the semicolon, it does work that way. You could separate the above into two sentences as well. That's my totally on-the-fly first suggestion. Give me a minute and I may have something better (though by the time I do, someone else will have given you something good)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 How would you punctuate this: "Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are, they need money more than I need pearls". Is it correct the way that it is? It could be broken into two sentences, but that still leaves that awkward are... I would say, "Jewels are not important to me. My Girl Scouts are important to me. They need money more than I need pearls." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 My Girl Scouts are more important than jewels; they need money more than I need pearls. Though I'm not really a fan of the semicolon, it does work that way. You could separate the above into two sentences as well. That's my totally on-the-fly first suggestion. Give me a minute and I may have something better (though by the time I do, someone else will have given you something good)! I actually LOVE me some semicolon; I think that works nicely. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 My Girl Scouts are more important than jewels; they need money more than I need pearls. Though I'm not really a fan of the semicolon, it does work that way. You could separate the above into two sentences as well. That's my totally on-the-fly first suggestion. Give me a minute and I may have something better (though by the time I do, someone else will have given you something good)! I like this best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I hate semicolons, but the answer to WWMCTD is semicolon, unless you make two sentences (or change the whole thing.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caraway Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caraway Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 I hate semicolons, but the answer to WWMCTD is semicolon, unless you make two sentences (or change the whole thing.) What is a WWMCTD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I'd use a colon - the first statement introduces the second. "Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are: they need money more than I need pearls." Laura (I moved the speech marks too, because I just can't help being a Brit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 What is a WWMCTD? What Would Michael Clay Thompson Do? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 How would you punctuate this: "Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are, they need money more than I need pearls". Is it correct the way that it is? It could be broken into two sentences, but that still leaves that awkward are... Those are two complete sentences. They must either be written as two sentences, or joined with a semicolon, or rewritten completely to make one sentence. Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are; they need money more than I need pearls. I don't understand why someone would not like a semicolon. :001_huh: Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJCMom Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 If this was testimony in a transcript (where I couldn't just change it), I would punctuate it this way: "Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are; they need money more than I need pearls." You have two independent clauses there, so if there is no conjunction you need a semi-colon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookValley. Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I don't understand why someone would not like a semicolon. :001_huh: Sorry. Because I am a technical writer/editor and I witness semicolon abuse every day. (I have yet to find a tactful way to explain that excessive semicolon use does not make one appear more intelligent. Neither does the word "utilize.") It's an absolutely unfair bias, I'll admit that much. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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