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Specific short query on Semicolon - experts help

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Specific short query on Semicolon - experts help

by kaps786 » Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:09 am
Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is precisely the opposite, a tool for communicating with a large, public audience.
A. Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is
B. Marconi conceived of the radio as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, but which is
C. Marconi conceived of the radio as a tool for private conversation that could substitute for the telephone; instead, it has become
D. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a tool for private conversation, a substitute for the telephone, which has become
E. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, other than what it is


In this qn choice C is given as official answer but .....

how is the sentence after the semicolon "independent clause". Sure "it" is a noun subject and "is"-verb; but wouldn't 'it' be ambiguous in a stand alone sentence.

As per rules, I think semi-colon is used only when the 2 parts of the sentence can stand alone as independent clauses...

Please help clarify my thinking ...
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by aspirant2011 » Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:21 am
kaps786 wrote:Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is precisely the opposite, a tool for communicating with a large, public audience.
A. Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is
B. Marconi conceived of the radio as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, but which is
C. Marconi conceived of the radio as a tool for private conversation that could substitute for the telephone; instead, it has become
D. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a tool for private conversation, a substitute for the telephone, which has become
E. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, other than what it is


In this qn choice C is given as official answer but .....

how is the sentence after the semicolon "independent clause". Sure "it" is a noun subject and "is"-verb; but wouldn't 'it' be ambiguous in a stand alone sentence.

As per rules, I think semi-colon is used only when the 2 parts of the sentence can stand alone as independent clauses...

Please help clarify my thinking ...
It is correct that a semi colon is used when two IC's are connected but a pronoun can refer to it's antecedent in a semi colon,therefore, it logically refers to radio and is correct.........
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by crick » Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:16 pm
The usage of semi-colon vs a colon is
1) semi-colon is used when the two clauses can stand independently.
2) colon is used as a replacement of "namely" or "that is/are". (only the first clause is independent).

Now to your question, the two clauses can be as independent as a full stop to form two sentences.

The dog is old;still, it looks healthy => The dog is old. Still, it looks healthy.

Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation. Instead, it has become precisely the opposite ....

Crick
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by prashant.mishra » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:22 pm
yes, you are right. The semi colon can be used when we have 2 Independent clauses in the sentence. The second IC explains the first IC further. So while the two sentences can stand alone independently, the second clause can borrow the antecedent from the previous clause as the second clause is adding information to the first clause, and therefore need not mention the antecedent of the pronoun again. Thus, "it" refers to the "radio" mentioned in the first clause.
kaps786 wrote:Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is precisely the opposite, a tool for communicating with a large, public audience.
A. Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is
B. Marconi conceived of the radio as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, but which is
C. Marconi conceived of the radio as a tool for private conversation that could substitute for the telephone; instead, it has become
D. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a tool for private conversation, a substitute for the telephone, which has become
E. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, other than what it is


In this qn choice C is given as official answer but .....

how is the sentence after the semicolon "independent clause". Sure "it" is a noun subject and "is"-verb; but wouldn't 'it' be ambiguous in a stand alone sentence.

As per rules, I think semi-colon is used only when the 2 parts of the sentence can stand alone as independent clauses...

Please help clarify my thinking ...
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