In Praise of the Semicolon

There's no need to fear it.

I love semicolons.

Is it normal to love a punctuation mark? Although most people likely give them little to no thought, I know I’m not alone.

If you must know, I’m also partial to the Oxford comma and the em dash. 

Oxford Comma @IAmOxfordComma

Dear world, I am stylish, useful, and in some cases, absolutely necessary. Sincerely, Oxford Comma (HT @alex_macdonald)

But this is not about them; it’s about the small but mighty semicolon.

The semicolon is a powerful workhorse

Do you need a pause that’s stronger than a comma but not as complete a stop as a period? The semicolon is there for you!

It even looks like a combination of a period and a comma. Nothing to hide here!

Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking the semicolon simply provides a longer pause than a comma. It actually plays a specific role and can’t be used willy-nilly.

Most often, a semicolon indicates two closely related clauses; each clause must be able to stand on its own. I repeat, each clause must be able to stand on its own. It must be an independent clause!

The exception is when you use the semicolon to connect a series in which at least one element contains a comma; I don’t love this as much, but I admit it’s useful. It can help you set apart commas, which provide a shorter pause but are more complex than you think; periods, which denote a full stop; and semicolons, which are wonderfully nuanced, versatile, and flexible, and which possess a character all their own.

The semicolon is often feared and rarely understood

The semicolon is not a comma! No, it is not. It is also not an em dash.

But so many people insist on using it like one of those other (also very fine) punctuation marks. Why?

I had a boss who was smart and highly educated but had a terrible habit of egregiously misusing semicolons. I explained their correct use to him at length; I added an explanation with examples to the company style guide; I pointed out his errors when he made them. Still, he showed no progress; the incorrect semicolon use persisted. Needless to say, I left that job. Okay, I didn’t leave over the semicolon — but it came to symbolize all the issues I encountered there.

As annoyed as I was at my former boss for refusing to learn the semicolon’s proper use, must we slavishly follow grammar and punctuation rules? No, not in every circumstance. Do language and its rules evolve? Of course. But knowing the rules helps you more skillfully override them when it makes sense to do so.

Why did that boss refuse to learn to use the semicolon correctly? Maybe he didn’t care. Maybe he didn’t understand. Maybe he just had a hard time breaking old habits. I’ll never know for sure.

It certainly wasn’t because he found the semicolon too formal. He was an oddly formal guy. But some people do take this attitude toward the semicolon.

I’m here to tell you that the semicolon is not formal! It’s not a tux, or even a suit and tie. It’s a punctuation mark that can be your friend — if you let it.

The semicolon is sexy

Yes, I said it! Punctuation can be sexy.

I’ll let my good friend Antonio Scarpitta explain what’s so sexy about the semicolon; he does an excellent job in this 1-minute clip that even succeeds in making the semicolon funny.

His bit goes on to describe the consequences of omitting a semicolon. Imagine you had a fight with your partner and you sent them this message:

I’m sorry I love you.

Now, check out the difference when you add a semicolon:

I’m sorry; I love you.

You know what will happen if you send the second message: You’ll get laid!

(Here’s a full version of Antonio’s bit.)

The semicolon inspires

Why should we use semicolons? Why does it matter how we use them?

Because semicolons can make your writing more clear. They can also give it flexibility and nuance. They add a certain je ne sais quoi to your writing.

Someone wrote a whole book about semicolons! If you want to know more about them and their history, you can read the book or this article about it. “Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark” details how semicolons can act as “sturdy little nails,” create “a reflective silence,” or provide an ambiguity that “can be useful and productive” and “make some room for new ideas.” Semicolons have affected legal cases; according to the book, Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of semicolons even played a role in advancing civil rights. What could be more inspirational?

If you’ve been avoiding semicolons, I hope this post has inspired you to give them another chance. You might be surprised to see what you’ve been missing.

Do you have issues with semicolons? Do you love them? Let me know in the comments!