I seem to have developed a very unhealthy obsession with semi-colons as of late.There's just something so alluring about connecting two thoughts together without having to make a definite stop between the two. It's the perfect compromise between a comma and a period. And really, have you ever seen a better-looking piece of punctuation? It's like it's winking at you while keeping your thoughts in line.
Perhaps I'm blinded by love but I really don't care. Semi-colon, I adore you.
What's your favourite piece of punctuation? And have I completely lost my mind?
Yes, you have lost your mind,lol. But we all have. I think my favorite is the almighty -->!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the semi-colon; it's the most endearing punctuation mark with so much potential in one's writing;
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no, no, no!
ReplyDeleteOkay... so don't read my blog post against semi-colons. I agree that they're necessary, but for me, of all the punctuation, the semi-colon is an ugly little creature. (;) It's as if it's mocking me. It whispers in my ear, "so you thought I would stop now but NO, ha ha ha, I'm going to add another clause!" (Then the evil laugh follows)
I prefer the shy little comma or the unobtrusive period ('full stop' - depending where you're from) They don't bother my eyes. But when they get ideas and team up to become the semi-colon. Ah, I've got to hide.
Great post.
CD
I know what you mean! I have an unhealthy obsession with the '!'. I'm trying my best not to put it after every sentence but sometimes it's just too hard. I *heart* the '!'.
ReplyDeleteSemi-colons rule :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on semi-colons. They are both beautiful and fun to use. I also like parentheses, but only because it's such a good word.
ReplyDeleteI love commas but sometimes semi-colon just has to have his way and steps all over poor comma.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ellie and I love semi-colons; there, I've gone and said it. I do love using them; too much; I think.
ReplyDeleteLong live the ; !
Oh yes, the semi-colon! I love it too, it's so much better than a full stop or a comma, but my unhealthy obsession is for inverted commas, so much so, I now hate them!!
ReplyDeleteAh the semi-colon :) I'm partial to the semi-colon too, and the comma.
ReplyDeleteMine is the long dash. Like Emily Dickenson - my work is full of them. I think it is because I'm sort of dopey about commas though. I need an editor. Hmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteRight with you on semi-colons... But I dig a good full-stop even more!
ReplyDeleteI remain wary of commas at all times: I always forget a ton of them in my first draft. I suspect they sneak off and have little comma pool-parties in my inkwell.
I must admit, I also am very fond of the semi-colon. To me it's such a polite and gentle little creature; not as abrupt as a full stop but more satisfying than the slight pause of a comma.
ReplyDeleteNo, in fact I haven't had my coffee yet this morning; why do you ask?
bru
Hi Talli,
ReplyDeleteI love the semi-colon; so flexible and so friendly. I think they went out of fashion for a while as many people didn't know how to use them.
Punctuation is poorly taught in schools, I regret to say, and there's a whole generation that is semi-colon-deprived. *sobs*
Well, I'm very glad to see I am not alone in my love for the semi-colon, although I do indeed seem to have lost my mind!
ReplyDeleteExcept for CLARISSA! Clarissa, gasp! How can you call a semi-colon ugly!?
So funny! I wrote about semi-colons once, too. Check it out: http://sueguineyblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/much-maligned-semicolon.html
ReplyDeleteI also love the semi-colon, and I like seeing it used, as long as it's being used properly (which isn't often enough). I'm also quite fond of dashes.
ReplyDeleteThank God am in good company because i do love my semi-colon but what i love even more is (...) and pause.
ReplyDeleteWonderful love story and this will be a great topic to discuss when we're having some wine about our loves :)
I love the ellipsis . . . it's a gorgeous piece of work . . . all those little words I can omit . . . jumping from one thought to another . . . I try not to use them too often, but. . . .
ReplyDeleteI also love semi-colons! I wrote an ode to them on my blog a while back too. They're just so handy.
ReplyDeleteI love commas for including description and I love the word 'as'. Like:
ReplyDeleteHe bla bla bla'ed as the ble ble ble ble'ed over the horizon (comma) the sky turning various colors of orange and red. (I know I should use a semi colon in most of these cases but what can I say?)
;) Yes, I do love me a good winky semi colon too!
The elipsis and the em dash...love 'em, use them too much, and am constantly removing them to replace with the practical--yet boring--period.
ReplyDeleteI love semi-colons, too! It's a fairly new love affair, but I'm really quite taken with them. :) I also like ellipsis and dashes, they're fun too.
ReplyDeleteOH, gosh! I feel like the semi-colon is after me now, I can see it hiding behind my door ready to pounce.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to call anyone or anything ugly, including you, Mr. Semi-colon, however, your little wink is giving me the creeps...
Where is Mr. Question Mark and his sheltering umbrella when I need him?
CD
Semi-Colons tend to take over if you let them, so watch out or this will turn into a love-hate relationship.
ReplyDeleteHa! Perhaps you are an academic at heart. The scholarly journal I edit is chock full of semicolons. I tend to think of it as a writerly tic that is handed out with one's PhD hood. :-)
ReplyDeleteMe? I'm addicted to em dashes. They sometimes function in the same way as semis, but don't look quite as academic, which is important when writing for the 13-18-yo set.
Put me down as a semi-colon lover. What a piece of genius!
ReplyDelete...funny girl:)
ReplyDeleteSemi-colons are okay if not used in abundance...but then some of the greats break the rules like the speed limit, so what of it...use 'em!
I can't say that semi-colons have ever had that much allure for me. But I most definitely DO love the ! He's just so perky and happy and excited and wants to let everyone in on the happiness! How do you tell him no?!
ReplyDeleteHe just pops up EVERYWHERE! <---see
Cute post. First, thanks for following me on my Em-Musing blog. Hmmm? My favorite punctuation is the ellipsis. I use it on almost every line in my blog. But I figure, it' my blog, and I can break rules there. And also it's how I talk...
ReplyDeletehalf sentences... incomplete...;)
ellipses. i love them.
ReplyDeletealso i used a LOT of semi-colons in my most recent WIP.
A. Lot.
I have a love hate relationship with the comma, I love it when I'm writing, hate it when I'm revising!
ReplyDeleteSemi-colon rules!
ReplyDeleteI love these:
ReplyDelete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They rock!!! and beat semi-colons any day!! LOL!!!
Take care
x
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe semi-colon is my favorite, too! It's the most romantic punctuation mark; it joins together two sentences like they're holding hands!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Talli.
ReplyDeleteLurve the little blighters.
Dislike the ! but only because they suck us in until we can only !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's wrong. So wrong. But I'm a victim of the ! so I shall remain one, I fear.
Totally love Ms , She makes me smile with her slightly aloof charms.
Ms , is as lovely as Mr ; in my eyes.
And shame on Clarissa!!!!!!!!!
(See?)
I always feel so sad when I edit out my semi-colons.
ReplyDeleteNot in my ms, but in my posts I love the !!! :)
For me it has to be the exclamation mark! I love the little rascal.Inkpots n' Quills
ReplyDeleteI simply love proper punctuation. Even in poetry.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have the same addiction. So do a couple of my CPs. We're basically a support group for semicolon rehab. (actually, a couple of them don't use them ever. The rest of us make up for it)
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lola and I am here at Semicolons-abusers Anon aka SA because I need help.
Talli, I agree with the chickens.
ReplyDeleteLOL! This is funny because it's true. I hate commas but I like semicolons. Your post reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when Elaine breaks up with her boyfriend because he didn't write an exclamation point in the phone message he jotted down. How crazy is that? I read a book where the author used exclamation points haphazardly. As happy as this mark is, it's just a big no, no to abuse its power. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteClaudia
www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com
I love semi colons, too, but you'd think I was in love with commas--I use them way too much. I always have to go back and cut.
ReplyDeleteYou have lost your mind, but we still love you anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to go with an exclamation point!
Semi-colons are sweet. Also I love square brackets. Nothing like brackets inside brackets, I say. I do not love exclamation points. They make me angry.
ReplyDeletei love exclamation marks, possibly a bit too much lol
ReplyDeleteSemi-colons will always be my first love - but I am currently having a torrid affair with the - dash.
ReplyDeleteHahaha... I think I agree with you about semi-colons; they are the most attractive punctuation marks!! You're hilarious!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the semi colon is great! I think I have an unhealthy obsession with exclamations, ellipses, and colons. I love all punctuation, apparently!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that many of you are fello semi-colon lovers! Yay for semi-colons!
ReplyDeleteI love the em-dash, too. Almost at the same point of the semi-colin but not *quite*.
Thanks, all, for chiming in!
Talli, how spooky - I've eben using them much more of late, but I'm still not entirely sure I'm using them in the right place... now I daredn't put one in here even! I used to have a terrible predilection for parenthesis and ellipses but I'm getting therapy for them now...(bugger)...
ReplyDeleteI have an unhealthy love affair with incomplete sentences. Semicolons not as much though.
ReplyDeleteYour post was so funny!
I'm glad it wasn't about you and your colon. That would have been an ENTIRELY different kind of post.
hahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean about semi-colons; they're very snazzy. But I'd have to say my favorite piece of punctuation are quotations, for two reasons:
ReplyDelete1.) "I hate it when dialogue does not have quotation marks; it just irritates me."
2.) They float!
I discovered semi-colons late in life...When I was younger I tried to avoid them. I notice a reduction in my "choppiness" since I started using them...
ReplyDeleteMy writing still sucks, but it's different now...
haha if you lost our mind than this is the coolest kind of insanity! :) I have noticed that, while in English semi-colons are quite often, in Polish language they almost never appear. I wonder why it is like that...For some reason things written in Polish with semi-colons just don't sound/look/appear right...My favourite punctation sign would be good old coma, though.
ReplyDeleteTalli,
ReplyDeleteA very poetic homage to the semi-colon! Wink ;
*laughs*
ReplyDeleteits Semi-colon man the super hero....
*rips off shirt and strikes a pose*
I love semi-colons, too--possibly because it is one of the few 'odd' punctuations I am completely confident with. And what OTHER symbol works as a wink, eh? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI do like semi-colons. They are noticeable so add to your meaning. But they have to be used sparingly or they look like an affectation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments on my exciting news on Helen's blog.
And yes, you are crazy. Join the club!
ReplyDeleteWow to choose, to choose. I think I'm a fan of commas, I can't help myself every time I turn around I've seem to put on in place. It's sort of sad.
ReplyDeleteI'm in serious love with...the ellispse!! (and the exclamation point)
ReplyDeleteWe could form a semicolon fan club. They really are wonderful punctuation marks.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the ellipsis...but I've had to remove lots of them during my revisions.. ;)
ReplyDeleteHA! I love this post. I think the semi-colon is often overlooked. Poor semi-colon...we should give it a party with plenty of champagne and balloons!
ReplyDeleteI've been intimidated by semi-colons but Lynne Truss helped me through some of my issues. Have you read her book? So funny.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't lost your mind- not at all. My favourite punctuation mark is the hyphen, which I love for exactly the same reasons why you love your semi colon.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh - I have a love affair with semi-colons, too! And parenthesis. And dashes!
ReplyDeletehahaha love it talli! by the look of the comments- you have not gone mad! yes i LOVE the semi-colon!
ReplyDeleteI am a semi-colon abuser ;0
ReplyDeleteI like to breathe while I read, so tend to add them to my ms.
I don't have a favourite punctuation mark but I always felt sorry for the apostrophe and the many mis-uses it has been subjected to.
ReplyDeleteI like them too!
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of semi-colons, but not as much as I use the dash - it's terrible!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your recent visits and comments over at News From Italy or LindyLouMacBookReviews. With all our visitors now departed I am catching up on my reading and hope to be posting again soon.
ReplyDeleteI love all punctuation and words and get very upset by the ruination of the English Language by the shortening of words for text messages and it seems Facebook status!!!! Overuse of exclamation marks is also bad.
I love the m-dash myself, though I do have a fondness for the semicolon as well. I overuse basically any punctuation that can substitute for a comma (okay I guess that just leaves m-dashes and semicolons...) because I think commas are tired :-P
ReplyDeleteOh the ellipse! I forgot about it! I don't use it very often (maybe once every one or two chapters) but I love it anyway :)
ReplyDeleteHi Talli .. ellipses or ellipsae (perhaps) - I seem to be hooked on them & I'm sure it's not right .. but seems to give a conversational style of writing & commenting!
ReplyDeleteAlso .. re your Ten for Tuesday .. favourite British words ..
you could add "period"?!
Bye .. Hilary
I'm trying my best not to put it after every sentence but sometimes it's just too hard. They don't bother my eyes. But when they get ideas and team up to become the semi-colon.
ReplyDelete