User Comments

1. 

   6/23/08

   washwords

   great article; thanks for sharing! I LOVE the semi-colon; alas researcher-analysts in my Work Place keep taking them out.
   
   yours in semi-colon solidarity,
   washwords

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2. 

   6/23/08

   robertstevenson

   Really an excellent article; guess I can cross semicolon post off my todo list.

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3. 

   6/23/08

   lulubelleb

   You just never know what's going to turn up on Slate.
   
   :^D

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4. 

   6/25/08

   clioandme (guest)

   Oooh. Thank you. I might have to blog about this, if only to call attention to the article.
   
   Personally, I see way too many semi-colons in student papers that only seem to demonstrate that the students know what the things are but serve no other real function in their sentences.

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   1. 

      6/25/08

      lulubelleb

      Perhaps they're trying to impress you with their "sophisticated" punctuation.
   2. 

      6/26/08

      la

      Misuse of the semi-colon is the mark of the pretentious writer. It shouts, "Let the peasants use commas! I'M A WRI-TER!"
   3. 

      6/26/08

      lulubelleb

      Don't like pretense either. "Never use a small word when a diminutive one will do."
5. 

   4/29/09

   Sukee

   I think I overuse the semi-colon.

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6. 

   5/27/09

   lovelustandlife

   Ditto to Sukee.
   
   I love semi-colons. Since I hate run on sentence but have a lot of connected thoughts I use them freely. My husband, and editor/proofreader notices that I use them a lot but assures me that I don't over use them. Since I don't understand how to use colons and commas, I will use my semicolons with pride.

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