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Is a comma or a semi-colon more appropriate here?
I'm having an argument with a classmate about whether or not a comma or a semi-colon is more appropriate in this sentence:
"It prompts the spread of information, but only under certain circumstances such as emotional impact, and the relevance of the information to the user/reader."
I say that a semi-colon is more appropriate after "information" but she insists on the comma. What is the grammatically correct form?
Thanks!
1 Answer
- Gretchen SLv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
Actually you don't need either. "It prompts the spread of information but only under certain circumstances, such as emotional impact and relevance to the reader/user" has the correct punctuation.
You don't need the comma because there isn't a clause after "but." Semicolons go between two independent clauses. You have only one.