Does Your Relationship With the Semicolon Make You Miserable?

Jul 25

Therapy is not required

Do you love it? Hate it? Avoid it at all costs? Rather not talk about it?

The semicolon is the most anxiety-provoking punctuation mark in the English language. It’s not easy to have a good relationship, but with a little effort, you can have a perfect one. It can be a writer’s BFF.

I am a recovering grammar nerd. This affliction required years of therapy, but now I see the limitations the rules placed on my relationship with writing and why they prevented me from describing the emotions and feelings I wanted to convey. I am. Over. It.

However, I am still obsessed with the semicolon.

It irritates me when the semicolon is misused and disappoints me when I realize a writer is probably avoiding it. Some editors remove it even when it is correctly used. I try to be patient because I know it is anxiety-provoking and controversial. But it is all so needless.

The semicolon is a powerful punctuation mark that adds drama to any writing relationship. Using it correctly indicates the writer has a good grasp of English grammar. Beyond correct basic grammar, understanding the nuances of semicolon usage demonstrates the writer cares deeply about their craft and their relationship with writing.

Let’s talk about proper grammatical usage and then delve deeper into the nuances for those of you who are tempted to be more intrepid in your relationship.

There is no reason to be anxious or intimidated. There are three instances when you use a semicolon.

1. Joining independent but related sentences

Use a semicolon when connecting two independent clauses that are closely related, share a logical connection or contrast with one another. An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and could stand alone as a complete sentence.

For example: Vanilla ice cream is my favourite dessert; chocolate cake is a close second choice.

Both of the clauses in the example could be written as individual sentences.

A conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) could also join the two sentences, but the semicolon replaces the need for the conjunction.

Here is another example: I was heartbroken and started drinking again; that upset me even more.

It is a subjective decision to join two sentences with a semicolon, but when you do, the semicolon provides symmetry, forms a bond between the two parts and can strengthen the point you are conveying.

Do not use a comma to join two independent clauses; that is called a comma splice and is grammatically incorrect. Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon unless the word is a proper noun (Monday) or acronym (BLM).

2. Using semicolons in a complex serial list

The rule is to use a semicolon to divide the items in a list if the items contain punctuation. This is a rule and not a subjective decision because it helps the reader keep track of the different items.

Here are two examples:

The ports of call on our cruise along the Danube River include Munich, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia.

Yesterday, I did the research; today, I finalized the outline; tomorrow, I plan on starting the first draft and finishing by the end of the week.

3. Using semicolons with conjunctive adverbs

You can use a semicolon with connection words called conjunctive adverbs (nevertheless, thus, besides, however, incidentally, etc.).

For example: My husband loves vanilla ice cream for dessert; however, I prefer chocolate cake.

Note there is always a comma after the conjunctive adverb.

Understanding nuances

The three rules for semicolon usage are straightforward. Beyond the rules, when you understand and master the nuances of semicolon usage, you will be a better writer in the grammatical sense. However, this is where the relationship, like most, gets complicated.

Firstly, having the two independent and related clauses similar in length and structure is not imperative. Doing the opposite adds variety to your writing and sentence structure. I found an excellent example of this in a masterful book by Cecelia Watson entitled The Semicolon: The Past, Present and Future of a Misunderstood Mark.

As we learn to contend with the technologies of the present moment and look for space in which to feel we, too, are present, not pitched helplessly into the future or anchored to the past, we might find it good to look more often to a much older technology, the semicolon, notched into our sentences; to toe that line.

Secondly, using a semicolon to join two related independent clauses expressing ideas that are contradictory or opposed provides equality to opposing thoughts.

For example: He was a long-time warrior for adequate social housing in the inner city and had earned his stripes on many battlefields; she had a libertarian streak, and so they argued constantly.

Thirdly, it is not necessary when writing a complex list to adhere strictly to the rule that the individual items have punctuation. Use the semicolon when complex items belong together, to indicate a progression, or to make a connection.

For example: On the long march they walked in single file; the SS guards shot anyone who stepped out of formation; others died of hunger or the bitter cold.

Finally, good writers use semicolons sparingly. They understand and know how to use it to evoke emotions. And it is for this reason I love the semicolon.

My take-home thought

Why is any of this important? Why bother when you have managed to avoid semicolons your entire writing life?

Consider this analogy: you have purchased a good friend a beautiful gift (the idea you wish to write about); you wrap it carefully (the sentences that package your idea); you put a beautiful bow on the package (the careful editing); then, just before giving the wrapped gift to your friend, you snip a rose from your garden and add it to the bow (the semicolon).

The semicolon adds variety, emotion, depth and even elegance to your writing. What other punctuation marks can claim as much?

Alice Goldbloom