One thing I notice a lot while editing, but also through reading other people’s blogs, websites, etc. is that a lot of people seem to be confused about when the right time to use a semicolon vs. a colon is. Though the colon and semicolon might seem similar or confusing, once you learn and understand the rules of both, you will never make that mistake again.
A colon is used after a complete statement. They are usually used when creating a list, for example it is correct to say, “Emily enjoys school but there are two subjects she will never enjoy: science and math.” One way we could tell that the colon was used correctly there is by taking away ‘science and math’ from the sentence. Since we are still left with a full complete sentence, we can tell that the colon was used correctly. Another way to tell is by replacing the colon with words like ‘specifically,’ ‘namely,’ or ‘such as’ and seeing if the sentence still makes sense. Unlike a colon, a semicolon is used to join two ideas that could stand alone on their own. For example, using the sentence above, if we separate the part before the colon and the part after the colon we are left with: “Emily enjoys school but there are two subjects she will never enjoy,” and “Science and math.” The first sentence makes sense and can stand on its own, however the second sentence cannot. In fact, it’s not even a complete sentence at all. This is how you know that a semicolon cannot be used here, because these are not two separate ideas, one relies on the other to make sense. An example of a sentence using a semicolon correctly would be: I’m allergic to nuts; I’ll have to bring my own dessert.” If you separate what’s before the semicolon from what’s after it, both sentences still make sense and can stand on their own. Using the semicolon connects the two clauses.
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Since English is a verbal language, most people say things the way they hear them being said rather than breaking the sentence apart and paying attention to the meaning of the words. This is why it’s understandable that you see so many people making these mistakes.
You can often see people writing things like “use to” instead of “used to.” If you say both out loud they almost sound the same, don’t they? But if you think about the meaning of the words you’ll find it doesn’t make sense to say “use” in that context. “Used” is the past tense of “use,” meaning “having been used before.” Therefore, it makes more sense to say “I used to go to school” than it does to say “I use to go to school.” Similar to this is the use of “would of” rather than “would have.” The reason so many people write “would of” is because they’re hearing people say the contraction of “ would have” which becomes “would’ve.” Again, if you think about the meaning of each word you could clearly see that “of” does not make sense or belong there. For example, in sentences like “I would (of/have) left earlier if I had known I was going to be late,” think about the meanings of the preposition “of” and the verb “have” and you’ll see that “have” is the word that makes sense there. Another mistake people often make, in both speaking and writing, is using the pronouns “I” and “me” at the wrong times. As children we are constantly being corrected every time we say something like “me and my friend…” We’re continuously corrected and reminded to use “I,” however having this rule tirelessly forced upon us from a young age seems to have caused some confusion. People, trying to avoid speaking incorrectly, will often use “I” in places where it doesn’t belong. For example, with sentences like “My mom made my brother and I dinner,” you may be thinking that that sounds completely normal, which it almost does because we hear it said all the time. But, if you take away the other person in the sentence, you are left with something like “My mom made I dinner,” which clearly sounds incorrect. In cases like this “me” would be the correct pronoun to use: “my mom made my brother and me dinner.” There are tons of similar errors people make and hear all the time and don’t even think twice about because they are so used to hearing and seeing these mistakes be spoken and written. That’s why when you’re unsure of the correct way to say something, you just have to stop and think about the meanings of the words and figure out what makes sense. Sources- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/used When looking for an editor it is best to figure out exactly what it is you're looking for first. The type of medium you need edited will affect this, along with what it is you want the editor to do. The medium of your work will most likely affect the price the editor will charge. Some editors may charge by hour while others will charge per word or page number. Personally, I find that charging per words/pages is an easier and more efficient way to ensure that pricing is done fairly. When choosing an editor feel free to question him/ her and ask for samples of his/her work. It is important that you provide him/her with a clear explanation of what you are looking for and that you have a clear understanding of what they are able and willing to provide you with.
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