Tutor profile: David I.

When do I use the semi-colon?

The semicolon is my second favorite punctuation mark; the first is the interobang, but that is no longer used. The above sentence is an example of using a semicolon to join two independent clauses (complete sentences) together without the use of a conjunction. It is a great way to vary sentence structure; however, you have to make sure the two complete sentence go together. That last sentence shows the semicolon used with a conjunctive adverb, in this caser "however," to join two independent clauses as well. Finally, use a semicolon when making a list of things that already have commas in them.

What is a good source of information?

The best thing to do is to get as close to the primary source as possible. This could be a published study or a historical document. It is best to avoid headlines as they do not provide the entire picture.

What is the significance of Ahab's peg-leg being made of whale bone in Moby Dick?

Ahab is becoming the monster he is chasing. He requires the whale to support him in his pursuit, as the whale literally hold him up.