How do you feel about semicolons?
| That super cute card is available from Fishcakes by Voz on Etsy. Oh, the stuff. |
There’s a movement to oust them from polite fiction society. But whether or not you’re a fan, Grammar-me says correct usage is important.
I’ve met some semicolon-haters; I’ve met adoring believers.
Some writers use them sparingly; some overuse them.
A disappointing number of published writers use them incorrectly. (This is why editors earn their keep). *wink*
Today, my plan is to:
- explain the balancing act, the role of a semicolon
- give you other options with the “degrees of separation“
- mention one other way semicolons can be used in fiction and
- hear back from you
The Balancing Act
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| The playground’s most dangerous game. |
Degrees of Separation (not the Kevin Bacon game)
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| I love that this is red! |
The endmark. The em-dash. The semicolon. The C/C combo.
What matters is how strongly you need to separate your words and concepts. The hierarchy is below. Think about what you’re saying, and choose the punctuation that meets your needs best.
The endmark
(for clauses who keep to themselves)
Waylon spent the night alone. Nobody could draw him out of this deep, unrelenting funk.
The em-dash
(for clauses, phrases—even words—who like to stand out in a crowd)
How could he go out and look normal people in the eye after Jazz—that lowlife—had so thoroughly slandered his reputation?
The semicolon
(for clauses who have a definite relationship but aren’t in a hand-holding mood)
The comma / conjunction combo
(for clauses who like to hold hands)
He’d simply learned the hard way that a man could keep his head down and work hard, but people would draw their own conclusions.
The exception
Semicolons can be used one other way. They play the role of a comma in a list or series when other commas are necessary. You don’t want a list to be convoluted and confusing.
They’re not whimsical, slapdash decorations; highfalutin, pretentious spacers; or the sweet, little eyes of a winky emoticon.
Semicolons serve a purpose. You may use them well; you may shun them. But don’t–I repeat–don’t use them simply to come across as more academic.
It doesn’t work.
Now, tell me. When you’re absorbed in an incredible story, does a semicolon rock you to your core? Or do you not care about them? Who uses them well?
Answer: This guy.
Thanks to David Goehring, Harmishhk, Memphis CVB, and Unaesthetic Total_K for the nifty pics.
I tried to send a congratulations earlier. Don’t know if it got lost or not. So congratulations , Bethany! Rob told me of the books n drawls.
I love to be involved w characters, fiction of otherwise!
Thanks, Mrs. Janet. You’re super sweet.