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Excellent points, all. "Then" and "than" does get me a lot. "Would of" also makes me cringe when I see it.
Kelly, as far as how the semicolon is used, this is how I understand it. You can use the semicolon to link two independent clauses, so long as they're similiar in meaning. Example: "I didn't know how to properly use semicolons before; this lesson is helping me learn." You do NOT use semicolons to link an independent clause to a dependent one. Incorrect: "While I didn't know how to use semicolons before; this lesson is helping me learn." You use commas there. A good general rule to remember is that you use a semicolon where a period would work, but the ideas are too intimately entangled to separate them thus.
The one place I've seen that gets tricky is longer sentences with more than two clauses, or sentences involving lists of things. Then you can use a semicolon in place of a comma to avoid confusion. Example 1: "While I am bored by this lesson, it does help significantly; I'm glad I asked the question, else I may never have known." Note: In places like this, it's usually better to use a period anyway; it's merely acceptable to use a semicolon. Example 2: "Before they stole Greek gods, Roman gods were sort of shit gods, you know? Like Jeff, the god of biscuits; Steve, the god of hairdos; etc." (Eddie Izzard - Dress to Kill) Example 3: "Things you may bring to the potluck include: soda or juice; silverware, plates, cups, and napkins; chicken, beef, or unagi; or chips and crackers."
And who doesn't peek at his sister while she's changing?
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