<p>Why is a semicolon sometimes required before the word 'so' even though it is a FANBOYS? i thought that if a FANBOYS seperates 2 independent clauses, only a comma is required before it. Also in my barrons ACT 36 book, it says that if 'so' or 'otherwise' follow a semicolon then they do not need a comma after them. Several websites i have found online contradict this. ***?</p>
<p>I think that if there’s a subject + verb after the initial part of the sentence, you’ll need a semi-colon. If not, then use a common instead. I’m not positive though, this is just the rule I go by when taking the SAT.</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>I dont know what you are talking about when you say “FANBOYS”, but a semi-colon is use to separate two different ideas, when both are sentences. </p>
<p>It would be incorrect to say: </p>
<p>John is my best friend, he is a good basketball player. </p>
<p>It needs to be: </p>
<p>John is my best friend; he is a good basketball player.</p>
<p>If the second part can be written as a regular sentence you cannot have a comma, it must be a semicolon.</p>
<p>i already know that… FANBOYS stands for the 7 correlative conjunctions</p>