Semicolons

What is a Semicolon?

The semicolon is a softer punctuation break than a period and is meant to allow the reader greater pause between two closely related, but separate ideas.

Where Did Semicolons Come From?

The semicolon first appeared in Aldus Manutius’ book “De Aetna” in 1494 as a hybrid of the comma and the colon. The semicolon grew in popularity thanks to the Bembo typeface used to print Manutius’ work.

While the semicolon’s use has exploded over the last several centuries, there are those who feel the semicolon is stifling and should wither out of existence. If you follow Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s advice, “First rule: Do not use semicolons.” Semicolons can be too much of a good thing. Novice writers use the semicolon as a crutch, creating unwieldy sentences with a jumble of information, rather than practicing varying sentence length. In most cases, a period is more effective.

In Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, the semicolon is used a whopping 4000 times. The grandfather of crime writing, Raymond Chandler, also used semicolons with regularity. Current author and semicolon advocate, Cecelia Watson, gives high praise to Melville’s and Chandler’s use of the semicolon, arguing that it provides the reader insight into the character’s minds. In fact, far from being unwieldly, she argues that it is the semicolon that pulls together their narrative voice.

 

How Do You Use a Semicolon?

Some Good Rules to Follow:

  1. When a dependent clause is followed by an independent clause, use a comma, not a semicolon. 

  2. Do not capitalize the word following a semicolon.

  3. Semicolons should be used before the following conjunctive adverbs: namely, however, therefore, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., and for instance.

When to Use Semicolons:

To Join Two Independent Clauses

Semicolons join two closely linked independent clauses. Use a semicolon to replace a connecting word like and, but, or so. Use a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb like also, however, and therefore.

To Clarify a Complex Series

Semicolons clarify the reader’s understanding when many commas are being used or when a connecting word is used such as and, but, or, nor.

To Shoot Your Shot

Impress your romantic interest with some retro texting by using an emoticon instead of an emoji. Use a semicolon with a closing parenthesis or bracket to add a flirty wink to any text.

References

  1. Casagrande, June. “A Word, Please: Writers Who Use Semicolons Aren’t Thinking about the Reader.” Medium. Daily Pilot, July 24, 2015. https://bit.ly/3qTtPUS

  2. Mirza, Shadi. “The Semicolon Is Pointless, and It’s Ruining Your Writing.” Medium. The Writing Cooperative, February 15, 2019. https://writingcooperative.com/the-semicolon-is-pointless-and-its-ruining-your-writing-7cbb5694c98e

  3. Norris, Mary. “Sympathy for the Semicolon” The New Yorker. Medium. Online. Accessed June 15, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/comma-queen/sympathy-for-the-semicolon

  4. “Semicolons.” GrammarBook.com Your #1 Source for Grammar and Punctuation. Medium. Online. Accessed June 15, 2021. https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/semicolons.asp

  5. “The Semicolon.” William & Mary Writing Resources Center, Medium. Online. Accessed March 22, 2022. https://www.wm.edu/as/wrc/newresources/handouts/the-semicolon.pdf

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This page was published March 27, 2022.