Question

Which of the following sentences use semicolons incorrectly?

a) Professor Chiaro’s course taught the basics of painting technique, including the proper use of pencil, pen, charcoal, and watercolor, how to work in layers, and how to select the appropriate brushes.
b) Because he hated having his picture taken, William rejected the role of the dashing hero.
c) Alicia cast Sean in the supporting role; though he she preferred Harold for the part.
d) Harboring doubts that his script had energy and cleverness; Charles wasn’t sure the actors would like their parts.
e) Cecil B. DeMille set box office records with Samson and Delilah; he later made the Academy-Award winning The Greatest Show on Earth.

Answer 1

Sentences c) and d) use semicolons incorrectly because they fail to connect two independent clauses. Semicolons should connect independent clauses or clarify lists with internal commas, not separate dependent clauses from independent clauses or replace commas in complex lists.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentences that use semicolons incorrectly are:

• c) Alicia cast Sean in the supporting role; though she preferred Harold for the part. This is incorrect because 'though she preferred Harold for the part' is not an independent clause that can stand on its own.
• d) Harboring doubts that his script had energy and cleverness; Charles wasn’t sure the actors would like their parts. Here, a semicolon is used incorrectly to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause.

To provide further clarification, semicolons should be used to connect two independent clauses, particularly when the second clause restates the first or when the two clauses are very closely related. Semicolons can also be used for lists where the elements contain commas to improve clarity. However, they should not be used to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses or to replace commas in lists with multiple items. Using semicolons correctly can help prevent comma splices and clarify the relationship between clauses.