The Semicolon use appears
to have been declining in recent years, possibly because fewer and fewer people
are confident about the proper role of this punctuation mark. Here are several
ways to use the semicolon as an effective tool for enhancing clarity and
emphasis in your writing.
1. Use a semicolon as a soft period. By using a semicolon instead of a period between
two sentences, you show that those two sentences have a closer relationship to
each other than they do to the sentences around them. The semicolon, in a
sense, connects the sentences. (If you added a coordinating conjunction and a
comma, you would show less of a connection; and with a period you show only the
connection of proximity.)
2. Use a semicolon to connect main clauses
containing internal punctuation. Think of a comma as a brief pause, a semicolon as a more moderate
pause, and a period as a stop, and you can see the logic of the hierarchy.
·
When
he faints through desire, she comes to his aid; but when he revives, she scorns
him.
·
Whatever
is left in the hands of chance must be subject to vicissitude; and when any
establishment is found to be useful, it ought to be the next care to make it
permanent.
·
The
events we experience are less important than the meaning we give to them; for
life is about meaning, not experience.
I hope that this piece was helpful, Grace. Thank you very much for your email. Do hope to hear from you again.
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