Colon, Semi-Colon, or Other?
Nuclear weapons within Pakistan are reportedly stored disassembled with each part kept in a different location; effectively requiring more than one theft to assemble a functioning weapon.
Should that semi-colon be there? If not, what should?
asked Oct 21 '12 at 01:31
Victoria Godfrey
New member
Victoria Godfrey
New member
1 answer 
A semicolon is used to link two independent clauses or to replace commas in a comple serial list. Your sentence has neither, so the semicolon is incorrect.
The clause that begins with "effectively" is a dependent clause. Because it is a nonrestrictive clause -- meaning it can be deleted without changing the meaning of the main clause -- it should be set off by a comma.
"... kept in a different location, effectively requiring more ..."
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edited Oct 21 '12 at 07:52
Jeff Pribyl
Grammarly Fellow
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