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Thread: comma or colon?

  1. 29-Apr-2007, 12:24 #1
    kohyoongliat
    kohyoongliat is offline Senior Member
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    Default comma or colon?

    "Yes, when I am upstairs," he answered; "but I can't walk upstairs now."

    Should a comma be used instead of a semi-colon after 'answered'?

    Thanks in advance.
  2. 29-Apr-2007, 14:32 #2
    Andrew Whitehead
    Andrew Whitehead is offline Member
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    Default Re: comma or colon?

    Quote Originally Posted by kohyoongliat View Post
    "Yes, when I am upstairs," he answered; "but I can't walk upstairs now."

    Should a comma be used instead of a semi-colon after 'answered'?

    Thanks in advance.
    Definitely not a semi-colon!

    It can be a comma or a full-stop depending on the sentence. In this one I would use a comma to match the 'but'.
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