This week we talked about the various forms of stop punctuation – punctuation designed to end one thought before another thought begins. A period, a question mark, an exclamation point, and a semicolon are all stop punctuation. A comma with one of the FANBOYS can also be considered stop punctuation because it takes the place of a semicolon.
Since a semicolon and a comma FANBOYS are interchangeable, you might be wondering, “How do I know which one to use in my sentence?”
There are no hard and fast rules for when to use a semicolon and when to use a comma FANBOYS. It all comes down to answering the question, “Which sounds better?”
When we write, we should be trying out different sentence structures. Sometimes, we’ll use a compound sentence; other times we’ll use a complex sentence. Sometimes we’ll begin our complex sentence with the subordinate clause, and other times we’ll lead with the independent clause.
The secret to writing well is to experiment with various word choices and word order. Read your writing out loud. Listen to the flow of the words. Is the cadence of the language pleasing to the ear, or is there a better way to express your thoughts? This is very true when deciding whether to use a semicolon or a comma FANBOYS. Using a semicolon gives your sentence a short, abrupt feel. Using a comma and one of the FANBOYS makes a smoother, longer sentence.
The best writing uses a variety of sentence styles. One long sentence after another puts your reader to sleep. Short sentence after short sentence may sound jarring to the reader. Try to vary your sentence length when you write. Using a semicolon instead of a comma/FANBOYS is one way to do that.