A plea on behalf of the semicolon.

[Hex]

See, I've seen people use semi-colons to introduce lists and I always thought it was a mistake, but recently I was reading something more old-fashioned (North and South, probably) and I saw one used before a list there. Much confusion.

I am renouncing the semi-colon (and the colon) and all its works.

@HB -- I'm shocked. In a sedate discussion about punctuation you, sir, had to go and lower the tone.

 

[HareBrain]

Yeah, I don't want to have much to do with the "works" of the colon either.

(I prefer to say "classic" joke rather than "old")

 

[Vertigo]

I just recently came across this rather nice quote on semicolons:

I have grown fond of semicolons in recent years. . . . It is almost always a greater pleasure to come across a semicolon than a period. The period tells you that that is that; if you didn't get all the meaning you wanted or expected, anyway you got all the writer intended to parcel out and now you have to move along. But with a semicolon there you get a pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come; read on; it will get clearer.
__ Lewis Thomas

 

[HareBrain]

Excellent, Vertigo.

I like the way they "trip" you into the next part of the sentence, like stumbling on a stone in a path might trip you into a run. Surely no one could think those ones would be better replaced with full stops?

 

[Vertigo]

Yes I thought that and he's right they do lead you in with a feeling of expectancy!

 

[RJM Corbet]

Unless you're introducing a list or an explanation/definition, I don't think there are many instances where you should use a colon rather than a semi. I use semi-colons a lot; I think I picked it up from Lord of the Rings as a child.

Oh, I really like that 24k gold ring; wonder if it works? (not the one in my skimlink, the one in HB's skimlink).

 

[Ursa major]

...they do lead you in with a feeling of expectancy!

Does that mean the pause associated with this punctiation mark is a pregnant one...?

 

[Vertigo]

I came across this today:

Rule 5:
Use the semicolon between two sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction when one or more commas appear in the first sentence.
Examples:
When I finish here, I will be glad to help you; and that is a promise I will keep.
If she can, she will attempt that feat; and if her husband is able, he will be there to see her.

I have to say this is a use of the semicolon that I was unaware of and I don't think I've seen it used. I think I would have noticed.

 

[Kaldaur]

Just saw that today as well. I just look at this revelation as further proof of the semicolon's dormant but wonderful talents.

 

[Vertigo]

Yeah I'm still not convinced by that one. I would have just used a comma in their examples (maybe not the first one but I might have used a period there).