Ask Jack Writing Style Questions!
Yesterday, Pete asked:
Also, Pete, "that is" statements often will be set off with a semicolon, just since they start a second thought and you don't want run-on sentences. If it's not a full clause (that is, something that'd be an incomplete sentence on its own, like this) you can use parentheses (like that) or just commas, if it's clear enough.
Incidentally, Jack, I've gotten into the habit recently of setting off my "that is," statements from what precedes it with a semicolon; is that correct?No, that is not correct. Your statement should read:
Incidentally, Jack, I've gotten into the habit recently of setting off my "that is" statements from what precedes them with semicolons.In other editing news, the first book that I copyedited is actually in the warehouse now, which feels a little anticlimactic, since my work was finished months ago. Still, I can now say I'm a Published Copyeditor, except no one says that, and I should probably check again whether "copyeditor" is really a closed compound before I embarrass myself.
Also, Pete, "that is" statements often will be set off with a semicolon, just since they start a second thought and you don't want run-on sentences. If it's not a full clause (that is, something that'd be an incomplete sentence on its own, like this) you can use parentheses (like that) or just commas, if it's clear enough.
1 Comments:
I was really worried that I was going to have to write something insulting to you in the comments here, until that last paragraph. Thanks.
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