Having trouble on when to use a comma and when to use a semicolan with transitional phrases. For example, in the sentence, "The trees could not protect us from the thunderstorm therefore we had to go in to keep from getting wet." Would it be punctuated as thunderstorm, therefore, we or would it be tunderstorm; therefore, we
Thanks..
. . . thunderstorm; therefore we . . .
Don't put a comma after "therefore."
all of the options have commas after the therefore. There is not an answer choice without a comma after it.
To determine whether to use a comma or a semicolon in a sentence with transitional phrases, you need to consider the relationship between the two independent clauses (complete thoughts) that the transitional phrase connects.
In your example sentence, the transitional phrase "therefore" is used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship. Let's break down the sentence into its independent clauses:
1. The trees could not protect us from the thunderstorm.
2. We had to go in to keep from getting wet.
Since both clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, you have two options for punctuating the sentence:
Option 1: Comma
- The trees could not protect us from the thunderstorm, therefore, we had to go in to keep from getting wet.
In this case, you would use a comma after the transitional phrase "therefore" to separate it from the rest of the sentence. The use of commas here helps to indicate a slight pause and ensure clarity for the reader.
Option 2: Semicolon
- The trees could not protect us from the thunderstorm; therefore, we had to go in to keep from getting wet.
In this case, you would use a semicolon instead of a comma. The semicolon is stronger than a comma but not as strong as a period. It indicates a closer relationship between the two independent clauses.
Both options are acceptable; however, the choice between a comma and a semicolon depends on your preference as a writer and the desired emphasis you want to convey.