Do you know how to use a semicolon?

From time to time it comes in handy; often it is used to separate two ideas that are closely related, and is a slightly more serious pause than that of a comma (gasp).

I was taught that a semicolon could be use in place of a comma or when you need a stop but nothing a strong as a period; to separate ideas.

A semicolon serves the same function as a conjunction to join two independent clauses. It also has a further use to separate items in a list that may contain items with commas in them.

Are there times when the only punctuation you can use is a semicolon?

Not really. Like @gailcalled said, a semicolon is used to connect two complete sentences of like subject. Depending on how closely related your two complete sentences are, choosing between a semi-colon and period is mostly a style choice. I can’t think of any instance where a semi-colon would work and period wouldn’t.

Have you ever used a semicolon?

All the time. I work as a writing tutor, so I answer this question all the time :)

The best way to learn to use a semicolon is to practice using it. Try something like “I used a semicolon once; it was an awesome experience.” Okay maybe that wasn’t the best example, but you get the idea.

For more help see www.GrammarBook.com; the Purdue Owl website might also be a good site to check out.

Yes, I know how to use a semicolon; I also know how to use a period.

Sure I; do!

amidoinitrite?

@Fiddle PCB: Rong.

@gailcalled It’s Rong-o for FPCB. Missed the P; first try

@Tropical_Willie: Rightio.

I would like to think that I do; it’s entirely possible that I don’t.

If one would use a semicolon in a list, one must do the following:
make sure at least one of your list items has multiple bits,commas, and an “and”;
come up with enough stuff to have more than one list entry;
and end the list with a period.

I used a semicolon in a text message once to a guy I had just met earlier the same day. He laughed at me. I’m not sure if it came across as endearing or just kind of weird.

Anyone who is amused by a semicolon is not suitable dating material. Being literate is not weird.

@Mariah I always use proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling in text messages. It tends to befuddle people.

Yes, I do. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who does among my friends. Sometimes it seems the semicolon is dying out; I will do all I can to prevent that from happening.

There are 2 main uses for semi-colons. The first example is when you are writing a sentence that has 2 sections that are related and being joined. The 2 sections are always sections that can be written as stand alone sentences. The reason you might want to use a semi-colon is because you specifically want to emphasize their connection or that 2 short sentences sound and look choppy.

Example: I love to eat cheese; dairy products are always delicious. (Notice that each one of the sections can be written as separate sections, but because they are related in a special way, I chose to join them with a semi-colon.)

The second way in which semi-colons are used is when you have a selection of items that are descriptive (and may need commas to separate their descriptions) but you are also listing a group of several different items with their own specific descriptions.

Example: I went to McDonald’s and ordered a hamburger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese; a fish sandwich with tartar sauce, pickles, onions and ketchup; an order of French fries and a coke.

Sometimes the only way I can remember how to use semi-colons correctly is to have the examples written out and tacked to my bulletin board.

I didn’t know until about a year ago when I discovered this semicolon comic at the oatmeal which describes it perfectly (and in a funny way no less).

@mrlaconic: ^^ A golden opportunity.

I didn’t know until about a year ago when I discovered this semicolon comic; the oatmeal describes it perfectly and hilariously. (Parallel construction).

No; obviously not.

Yes, I do.

Most of the time it is discretionary; as long as the construction meets certain conditions, the semicolon can replace another mark, usually a period. But there are times when it is prescribed by style, such as for elements in a list run into text.

I know how to use them, and I find myself doing so all the time in a reflexive manner without even a glimmer of premeditation; my thoughts are often strung together in such a way as to make it more appropriate than a period or comma.

I would add that it’s a good idea to avoid overuse of this mark. I’d say the same about dashes. And that goes triple for exclamation points. Each has a different effect when used to excess, but all of them are detrimental to your writing.

@Jeruba How can I get my aunt to stop sending all of her e-mails in caps (and a bigger font size) with excesses of exclamation points without hurting her feelings?

I already unintentionally insulted her by telling her that I don’t read anyone’s forwarded jokes and tidbits, I only want to read about what my family and friends are actually doing, real stuff.

@Kardamom, I wish I knew. (Your aunt isn’t a sixty-something woman in Michigan, is she?) My friend who does this says it’s to save herself the trouble of pressing the shift key. Everything she writes is in caps and run on, with exclamation points being about the only punctuation, and plenty of them to make up for the dearth of other marks.

What drives me even more nuts,,,,,,,,, is someone who drops quantities of commas in,,, sort of like that and without any apparent pattern,, or meaning,,,,,,,,,,,,

I don’t like forwarded Internet humor either, and I fail to see why that news should offend anyone, but some people seem to think that if they make any sort of demand on your attention, you are obliged to meet it. We can’t do anything at all about those folks, I’m afraid. We can only use the opportunity to practice not letting it get to us.

@Jeruba My aunt is a 60 something woman in CA, ha ha. That’s funny that you said the thing about adding in all the extra commas, mine does that too.

Is it because neither one of them knows how to use a semi-colon? ;-)

It is the dread disease that forces one to use excess punctuation as decoration or design tools.

I simply adore semicolons; they are what make literature great. Like tildes~.

I get annoyed by the misuse of ellipsis. Instead of ellipsis (hope that’s how it’s spelled), some people go with a long string of periods…....in between sentences. I think a lot of people use this string of periods to indicate a lengthy pause. I guess the longer the string of periods the longer the pause. I dunno. It just annoys me to see these all over the place in a letter or an email.

@Link What is an ellipsis?

@kardomom. It is three dots…that indicate an omission of unnecessary words or a word that is superfluous. Their or its removal does not change the sense.

@gailcalled Oh, thank you. I’ve seen it and had no idea what it was called. Here I was thinking it had to do with the shape called an elipse.

Is there a term (besides ignorance) for when people get similar sounding words like elipse and ellipsis mixed up and use them incorrectly? My aunt always says she is mortified when she means that she is horrified. I’m too mortified to explain the difference to her and to horrified to imagine what her response would be if she found out the truth. LOL

@Kardamom

Malapropism—oh yahhh. I wanted to have a reason to say that word.

@Tropical_Willie Thank You! That is a great word.