Who hasn’t received a thorough scolding from an English teacher for misuse of punctuation? It is true that punctuations are very essential in English. There is a popular joke among the Grammar Nazis, punctuation can save or break lives. The story goes that a judge wrote a verdict about a convict “To be hanged not to be pardoned.” Since it is quite ambiguous life of the convict is in the hands of the Executioner. If he imagines a comma after not (To be hanged not, to be pardoned) the convict will walk free. Instead, if he imagines a comma after hanged (To be hanged, not to be pardoned) the convict will meet his end. We might not deal with life-and-death situations like that. But it doesn’t hurt anyone to use proper punctuation.
One of the most confusing punctuation signs in English is semicolon. The semicolon is one of the most flexible accentuation marks, but at the same time, it’s one of the most misconstrued. Some people don’t use it at all, while others use it incorrectly, causing readers to be confused and frustrated. So, what exactly is a semicolon and how should you use it in writing? Let’s begin by defining what a semicolon is. A semicolon is a punctuation mark with a period on top that looks like a comma (;). It’s as if the punctuation mark couldn’t decide which one it wanted to be, so it chose an odd hybrid. Even though it looks confusing, it has a specific purpose and can make your writing look more sophisticated and elegant.
One of the most well-known utilisations of the semicolon is to associate two free conditions that are firmly related in significance yet could remain solitary as discrete sentences. In simple English, It’s used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning but could stand alone as separate sentences. For example: “I love to write; it’s my passion.” In this sentence, “I love to write” and “it’s my passion” could each stand alone as separate sentences, but they are closely related in meaning and can be connected by a semicolon.
One more function of the semicolon is to isolate things in a rundown when the actual things contain commas. For instance: The colors green, red, and blue are my favourites; Dogs, cats, and birds are my favorite animals. The semicolon makes it easier for the reader to understand the two lists of items in this sentence by separating them.
Additionally, transitional phrases like “however,” “thus,” or “therefore” can be joined by semicolons to form new clauses. For instance: I enjoy writing; However, I encounter writer’s block frequently. In this sentence, the semicolon interfaces two statements that are connected in significance, and the conjunctive qualifier “in any case” shows a differentiation between the two.
It is essential to keep in mind that semicolons should never be used in place of a comma or a period (fullstop). They should only be used when necessary because they have a specific purpose. In conclusion, you can use the semicolon in a variety of ways to improve your writing because it is a powerful punctuation mark. You can use semicolons confidently and clearly if you know what it does and follow a few easy rules. Along these lines, go forward and semicolon hastily (however, just when fitting)! Before we end here are some jokes on semicolons.
*Why did the semicolon break up with the comma? Because the comma kept pausing for too long.
*What did the semicolon say to the period? “You’re such a full stop.”
*Why did the writer keep using semicolons? She didn’t know how to put a period on her thoughts.
*Semicolons are like ninja punctuation; they sneak in when you least expect it.
*Semicolons: The punctuation mark that separates the strong clauses from the weak.