Semicolon Followup
Many thanks for all the kind words about the Semicolon Appreciation Society!
Here are some followup links, in case you just can't get enough semicolon in your online diet:
Some letters to the NYT about the original story [Thanks to RLE for the link]
Trevor Butterworth sent me a link his longer article in the Financial Times, back in 2005, in which he outlines a purported American bias against the semicolon. (I believe Americans use fewer semicolons per capita, but more as a nation, in a kind of reverse image of our carbon footprint ...)
The Semicolon's Dream Journal [exactly what it says on the box]
Here are some followup links, in case you just can't get enough semicolon in your online diet:
Some letters to the NYT about the original story [Thanks to RLE for the link]
Trevor Butterworth sent me a link his longer article in the Financial Times, back in 2005, in which he outlines a purported American bias against the semicolon. (I believe Americans use fewer semicolons per capita, but more as a nation, in a kind of reverse image of our carbon footprint ...)
The Semicolon's Dream Journal [exactly what it says on the box]
Labels: linkiness, semicolons
This entry was posted by Erin, on
Tuesday, February 26, 2008.
You can leave your response.
8:06 AM
Erin, darling,
I just HAVE to point out that in your answer to the question about copyrighting word coinages, you used a comma where a semicolon should go: "Real lawyers should feel free to weigh in, that's what blog comments are for."
You've got two independent clauses and no conjunction there. Perfect semicolon territory--otherwise, it's what is called a comma splice.
Your loving fellow lexie,
Wendi
11:13 AM
Wendi should *totally* wear a cape -- she is that much of a grammar superhero, and I mean that!
Admiringly,
Paula
11:25 PM
Thanks for these links;— I had no idea the semicolon was atrophying.
I use lots of semicolons myself. But of even great interest to me is the correct use of the archaic semicolon-mdash and coma-mdash that I find in older literature. I'm not even sure what they are really called. The semicolon-mdash seems to be used as a composite semicolon and colon. There also seems to be a use of the archaic mdash instead of the colon— to set off lists; just like that.
Example of some of this from english translation of Letters of Pliny:
"Oh! you have behaved cruelly, grudging your friend, —had almost said yourself ;—and upon second thoughts I do say so ;—in this way: for how agreeably should we have spent the evening, in laughing, trifling, and literary amusements!"
12:50 PM
Wendi is always right (as usual). Luckily she makes being always right look good. :-)
8:56 PM
I love semicolons. This post makes me extremely happy.
8:58 PM
Or,
I love semicolons; this post makes me extremely happy.
I really am the only person I know who uses them on a regular basis.
10:05 PM
I think semicolons are wonderful, and sinbce I read so much on punctuation, I realize armies have fought over mistaken punctuation.... Thank you for fighting the good fight!
DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work.
(Ambrose Bierce, The Cynic's Word Book)
2:41 PM
Here is the French version : le comité de défense et illustration du point virgule http://www.kozlika.org/kozeries/post/2005/11/15/362-comite-de-defense-et-d-illustration-du-point-virgule
9:16 AM
I'm a convert. I used to disrespect the semicolon. Now I see the error of my ways.