Need help in understanding the difference between Yet and se

[priyanshua562]

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Source- Manhattan SC book
Correct-
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia AMONG numerous
armed factions; this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no FEWER than eight countries and twenty-five militia

Incorrect
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia AMONG numerous
armed factions yet this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no FEWER than eight countries and twenty-five militia

Explanation in book:
Yet should be a semicolon. Yet is illogical because the action in the second clause (this conflict ... militias) did not happen despite the action in the first clause (Between .. factions), as a word such as yet suggests.

I request you to give more clarity on usage of yet and semicolon in above case

[TiffanyB]

Hello priyanshua562,

My apologies for the delay! I can definitely help to explain this.

Source- Manhattan SC book
Correct-
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia AMONG numerous
armed factions; this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no FEWER than eight countries and twenty-five militia

Use of Yet

Incorrect
Between 1998 and 2003, there was heavy fighting in Parthia AMONG numerous
armed factions yet this conflict, so much more complicated than a conventional war between two states, involved no FEWER than eight countries and twenty-five militia

The meaning of yet indicates a change in direction. For example: The beach was beautiful, yet we had a horrible day there. In the sentence you have listed, there is no change of direction, so using yet doesn't make sense logically.

Use of Punctuation


When you combine two independent clauses, you can do so with a conjunction, but you would need to use some form of punctuation, as well. For example: We went to the beach, but it was raining when we got there. The comma in this example is the punctuation. In the sentence that you offer, there is no punctuation.

You could use either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon in the sentence you provided.