English Language & Usage Asked by Possum on April 9, 2021
I came across some sentences similar to these:
I can’t immediately tell whether the “no” is intended to apply to all of the elements in the list following “no” or only the element directly following it (although I do think the penultimate word would more naturally be “or” if “no” applied to all elements). I would find it less ambiguous when some elements have “no” but others don’t.
I know the semicolon can be used as a “super comma” for lists where elements contain commas, but I have not found anything about using it with negations such as above.
To reduce ambiguity, would it be acceptable to use semicolons as separators for lists such as this? Would it be preferred?
(This question is similar, but the answers don’t address whether semicolons could or should be used.)
Imagine you are in front of a low-quality microphone-and-speaker at a fast food drive-through. If you want to be as clear as possible you'd say:
"I want my burger with mustard, lettuce, and pickles; but with no jalapenos, no onions, and no relish."
Answered by gorlux on April 9, 2021
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