[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.57,0:00:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It may seem like the semicolon\Nis struggling with an identity crisis.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.16,0:00:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It looks like a comma \Ncrossed with a period.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.08,0:00:20.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe that's why we toss these punctuation\Nmarks around like grammatical confetti.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.61,0:00:23.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're confused about \Nhow to use them properly.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.63,0:00:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it's the semicolon's half-half \Nstatus that makes it useful.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.34,0:00:33.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's stronger than a comma,\Nand less final than a period.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.39,0:00:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It fills the spaces in between,\Nand for that reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.76,0:00:40.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it has some specific\Nand important tasks.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.53,0:00:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one, it can clarify \Nideas in a sentence
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.58,0:00:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's already festooned with commas.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.68,0:00:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Semicolons: At first, they may \Nseem frightening,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.22,0:00:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then, they become enlightening,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.76,0:00:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finally, you'll find yourself falling\Nfor these delightful punctuation marks."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.86,0:01:00.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even though the commas separate \Ndifferent parts of the sentence,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.97,0:01:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's easy to lose track \Nof what belongs where.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.38,0:01:07.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then the semicolon \Nedges in to the rescue.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.75,0:01:12.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In list-like sentences, it can exert\Nmore force than commas do,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.27,0:01:17.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cutting sentences into compartments\Nand grouping items that belong together.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.53,0:01:22.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The semicolon breaks things up,\Nbut it also builds connections.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.41,0:01:26.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another of its tasks is to link together\Nindependent clauses.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.60,0:01:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are sentences \Nthat can stand on their own,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.44,0:01:31.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when connected by semicolons,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.56,0:01:35.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,look and sound better\Nbecause they're related in some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.66,0:01:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Semicolons were once \Na great mystery to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.81,0:01:41.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea where to put them."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.53,0:01:43.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Technically, there's nothing \Nwrong with that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.70,0:01:46.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These two sentences can stand alone.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.51,0:01:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But imagine they appeared\Nin a long list of other sentences,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.98,0:01:54.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of the same length,\Neach separated by periods.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.22,0:01:57.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things would get monotonous very fast.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.79,0:01:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.34,0:02:02.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,semicolons bring fluidity \Nand variation to writing
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.38,0:02:04.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by connecting related clauses.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.93,0:02:09.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as beneficial as they are,\Nsemicolons don't belong just anywhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.69,0:02:12.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are two main rules \Nthat govern their use.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.66,0:02:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Firstly, unless they're \Nbeing used in lists,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.69,0:02:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,semicolons should only connect clauses\Nthat are related in some way.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.73,0:02:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You wouldn't use one here, for instance:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.88,0:02:25.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Semicolons were once \Na great mystery to me;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.90,0:02:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd really like a sandwich."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.05,0:02:33.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Periods work best here because these\Nare two totally different ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.65,0:02:37.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A semicolon's job is to reunite \Ntwo independent clauses
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.79,0:02:40.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will benefit from \None another's company
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.26,0:02:42.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they refer to the same thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.45,0:02:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, you'll almost never find\Na semicolon willingly stationed
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.49,0:02:49.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before coordinating conjunctions:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.25,0:02:55.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the words, "and," "but," "for,"\N"nor," "or," "so," and "yet."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.76,0:02:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a comma's place, in fact.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.85,0:03:02.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But a semicolon can replace \Na conjunction to shorten a sentence
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.16,0:03:04.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to give it some variety.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.15,0:03:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, this underappreciated\Npunctuation mark
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.10,0:03:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can give writing clarity, \Nforce, and style,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.78,0:03:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all encompassed \Nin one tiny dot and squiggle
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.34,0:03:18.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's just waiting to be put \Nin the right place.