Semicolon. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

[abu nuwas]

I have just noticed a flaw in this: it is a heap of cock.

The informatics dept at Sussex- in the form of one Larry Trask - asserts glibly that a semi-colon may only be used to join sentences. That is depressing on a personal level, as my grand-daughter wants to go to Sussex. Evidently, it is not what it was in the days of Prof Eysenck.

First, there is no reason to exclude it from joining phrases, thus:

You never knew with him: shucking peas; jumpin' around; swimmin' in the lake; buildin' a tree-house; readin' books. Oh I knew he'd go to the dogs.

It may join words. When he was grown, he was a good son, but he was forever a-killing;torturing;maiming and I don't know what.

It is used when enumerating items , thus:
Upon hearing the Applicant the Court now ORDERS

I) The property known as 'Billy's Castle' be sequestered; and

II) The Official Receiver in Bankruptcy DO SEIZE all those chattels listed in Appendix A; and

III) The proper authorities be notified that the said Billy is now deemed to be an outlaw



I can think of a few dozen other uses. Perhaps Larry would spend his time more profitably teaching 11 year olds about 'informatics', whatever the fuck that is.

I hope these comments are of help.

[milo]

I have just noticed a flaw in this: it is a heap of cock

well, that certainly sounds like a flaw.

[serge gurkski]

I am marginally obsessive, if that is possible, about punctuation. Many of us habitually read our own work out loud in order to get the required or intended emotion into the written word. The technique is valuable...but you then must try to transmit the result to your reader. To do this, punctuate.
Do not misinterpret what I am trying, badly, to say. Not every aspiring poet is interested in passing on such information as punctuation can provide. They will argue for preferring instead to let the readers make up their own minds where the pauses and nuances of speech should be. Fine. This is not for them.
The full stop, colon, semicolon and comma are the basic dictators (and I mean to use that word) of control in the written word. The use of these squiggly marks is universally accepted. They are there to be used.
Of the four, the semicolon is the the most hated, misused, maligned and misunderstood.
Each of the four introduces a pause. I only use punctuation in the way that I was taught many years ago, by an excellent tutor. I am aware that language changes but its most rudimentary, there is a necessity to breathe... don't forget, I am still talking about the advantages of reading your work out loud.
The count 1 comma, count 2 semicolon, count 4(some argue 3) colon and "pause to suit the dramatic effect" (some argue 4)full stop, is my yardstick. A count is a foot or half-foot depending upon the rhythm of the piece. Now, that is a simplification.
The semicolon is different from the rest. Its use is, admittedly, limited but it HAS a use.
When two sentences, and this is of the essence, need to be conjoined without the use of a repeated or redundant conjunction, use the semicolon.
Many shy away from the semicolon because it is also the most feared of all punctuation marks.
I love it; perhaps I love it to excess.
The most important rule is also the simplest. Semicolons should ONLY be used to join TWO complete SENTENCES when a conjunction would be problematic. The full stop is the only mark of the four that requires a capital letter following its use. That is all.
If anyone wants a fight over this, I'll meet them behind billy's bike shed after the pubs close.
Discuss.
tectak

References. The Art of Writing. John Whale ISBN 0-460-04582-2
For the neophyte. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon.
For the academic.
http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/depa...ode17.html
For me. Geoff Farrington. Senior Tutor (English Language) GGS. 1959-(?)

You're mainly obsessive. I ll read ya later. but that's a thing to love you for.

there is so NO an idea of speech pausing behind the insertion of semi-colons. But wtf. ;-)
The semi colon was not invented for pauses. read linguistic. Goddamn.

Oh, the mushrooms!

---

This is so not!* what it is all about. But, you win of course. Rejoice!
------------
* a break for rhetorical reasons. Sigh! ;-)))

---

You just cannot break it down. Ok with me. Keep the word flood coming and consider me majorly impressed.

[Strottenburg]

Sometimes I like to add punctuation to a poem, but most of time, I would like the reader to make their own inflections. I do this because I don't want a poem to have just one tone. For me, it's better if the reader creates their own meaning entirely, so that my words are merely inspiration for their thoughts.

[billy]

Sometimes I like to add punctuation to a poem, but most of time, I would like the reader to make their own inflections. I do this because I don't want a poem to have just one tone. For me, it's better if the reader creates their own meaning entirely, so that my words are merely inspiration for their thoughts.

I read. I spewed a bit. I punched a cat. I might not have punched a cat. I don't know. I can only use full stops. Other punctuation is pointless. I like ambiguity. Bananas.

is that how you mean when we dont use punctuation we do so in a way that the reader can still make sense of whats being said we use enjambment and white space not to do so invites the reader to fuck off before they make their own inflections because it's a fucking ball ache trying to work out how a poem should should be read is hard on most given days but i know lets make it really hard for the fuckers to understand my intent oh thats right i dont have any intent its a fucking puzzle im writing

---

I have just noticed a flaw in this: it is a heap of cock.

The informatics dept at Sussex- in the form of one Larry Trask - asserts glibly that a semi-colon may only be used to join sentences. That is depressing on a personal level, as my grand-daughter wants to go to Sussex. Evidently, it is not what it was in the days of Prof Eysenck.

First, there is no reason to exclude it from joining phrases, thus:

You never knew with him: shucking peas; jumpin' around; swimmin' in the lake; buildin' a tree-house; readin' books. Oh I knew he'd go to the dogs.

It may join words. When he was grown, he was a good son, but he was forever a-killing;torturing;maiming and I don't know what.

It is used when enumerating items , thus:
Upon hearing the Applicant the Court now ORDERS

I) The property known as 'Billy's Castle' be sequestered; and

II) The Official Receiver in Bankruptcy DO SEIZE all those chattels listed in Appendix A; and

III) The proper authorities be notified that the said Billy is now deemed to be an outlaw



I can think of a few dozen other uses. Perhaps Larry would spend his time more profitably teaching 11 year olds about 'informatics', whatever the fuck that is.

I hope these comments are of help.

why did you bring my castle into it; you bastard

i put it (the semi colon not the castle) where i think it should be and move it when i'm told too. great post abu

[Todd]

Sometimes I like to add punctuation to a poem, but most of time, I would like the reader to make their own inflections. I do this because I don't want a poem to have just one tone. For me, it's better if the reader creates their own meaning entirely, so that my words are merely inspiration for their thoughts.

A little too postmodern for my tastes. I think the experience of a poem shouldn't be so free flowing.

[ellajam]

The link in the OP didn't work for me but this one will.

for the neophyte