Tasnif Style Guide

Tasnif Style Guide — Page 66

66 TAŞNİF STYLE GUIDE Semicolon The semicolon represents a pause that is stronger than a comma, but less than a period or full stop. It is oftentimes used to separate two noun-verbal clauses that are closely related, complementary, or parallel to one another, but can be written as two distinct sen- tences on their own. It can also be inserted after a noun-verbal clause when it is followed by an explanatory expression or an afterthought. It can sometimes be viewed as a substitution for a conjunction that could link two complete sentences. Take the fol- lowing as examples: ■ " • ■ Before the Promised Messiah (as), Qadian was an unknown town in the middle of nowhere; if you blinked you might miss it. Religion dignifies man; Islam perfects him. I asked Mom, 'Why was Grandpa so captivated by the Promised Messiah as; everyone else seemed to be insulting him?' My grandfather told me the Arya Samaj eagerly antici- pated the Promised Messiah's death; they flaunted Lekh Ram's prophecy all over. Note that when the later clause explains the previous clause, a colon may be more appropriate.