IXL | Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses

Add a comma or semicolon if needed. Otherwise, submit the text without any additional punctuation.

In 1999, New York Knicks Hall of Famer and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley announced his candidacy for if but lost the Democratic nomination to Al Gore.

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question

Add a comma or semicolon if needed. Otherwise, submit the text without any additional punctuation.

Lepidoptera, the name given to an order of insects, comes from the Greek for "scaly if it refers to the microscopic scales on the wings of moths, butterflies, and skippers.

key idea

Use a comma to separate two complete sentences that are joined with a coordinating conjunction, such as and, or, but, or so. However, if the coordinating conjunction joins verbs or verb phrases in a compound predicate, a comma should not be used.

Wyatt was reserved around new people, but he was hardly shy.

Wyatt was reserved around new people but was hardly shy.

Also use a comma after a dependent (or subordinate) clause if it is followed by a complete sentence. These dependent clauses usually start with a subordinating conjunction, such as after, although, or because.

Although Wyatt was reserved around new people, he was hardly shy.

Use a semicolon to connect two closely related sentences that are not joined with a coordinating conjunction.

Wyatt was hardly shy; he was simply reserved around new people.

Also use a semicolon to connect two sentences that are joined with a conjunctive adverb, such as consequently, however, or therefore.

Wyatt was hardly shy; nevertheless, he was reserved around new people.

solution

There are two closely related sentences that are not joined with a coordinating conjunction, so you should use a semicolon.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

PP.3Identify subordinating conjunctions

CC.4Identify dependent and independent clauses

UU.1Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses

FF.5Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?

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