Two quick questions: (a) Why is it that a transition word is preceeded by a semi-colon and followed by a comma when placed between two independent clauses. But, a conjunction word is only preceeded by a comma when used in the same fashion? (b) Being such a small word, is “yet” a transition word or a conjuction word?
I wager that (a) transition words are always multi-syllable words except for “yet”. And (b) “and”, “but”, and “or” are the exclusive conjunctions words. Is this the gist of it?
I don’t understand the question. “Conjunction” is a nice, traditional part of speech. “Transition word” is a description, which theoretically includes conjunctions. The length of the word is not relevant to its classification.
Two independent clauses crammed into one sentence are separated by a semicolon. The punctuation of what follows is irrelevant to the semicolonicity of that sentence. If the first word of the second clause is anything other than the subject [conjunction, adverb, prepositional phrase], it should be followed by a comma.
If the second clause is dependent on the first, you use a comma. It doesn’t matter if it’s grammatically capable of becoming an independent clause with only a few minor changes; if it’s dependent in sense, it has a comma.
Is there ever a time when you really need a semicolon? I never use them myself.
I use “FANBOYS” to have my students remember the conjunctions (and let’s forget for the moment the whole coordinating/subordinating conjunctions stuff.)
F = for
A = and
N = nor
B = but
O = or
Y = yet
S = so
When you have two independent clauses that are closely related, there are 3 things you can do.
Connect them with a comma + conjunction. “Jim Lovell orbited the moon on Apollo 8, and he commanded Apollo 13.”
Join them with a semi-colon. “Jim Lovell orbited the moon on Apollo 8; he commanded Apollo 13.”
Make two sentences. “Jim Lovell orbited the moon on Apollo 8. He commanded Apollo 13.”
Now, let’s assume I want to give emphasis to the second clause, because instead of merely orbiting the moon on Apollo 8, Lovell was the commander of 13. What I’ll do to create that emphasis is use “however.”
“Jim Lovell orbited the moon on Apollo 8; however, he commanded Apollo 13.”
The reason that ‘however’ comes with a comma has nothing to do with using a semi-colon or not using a conjunction. It is a non-essential word (or word group) that begins an independent clause. Those are set apart with commas. It works the same way if I had used the period: “Jim Lovell orbited the moon on Apollo 8. However, he commanded Apollo 13.”
Since ‘however’ is non-essential, it would also get set off by commas if it occurred in the middle of the clause: “He, however, commanded Apollo 13.” I’d also use it if it occurred at the end of the sentence: “He commanded Apollo 13, however.”
Does that make sense?