Mike C

My point was, the argument already happened in a couple of dozen other identical threads, and I was acknowledging others' points of view. If people learned to use the search facility we wouldn't keep coming back and repeating the same thing ad nauseum.

Let me put it another way:

I don't care whether anyone uses semi-colons or not, but the simple fact is that probably 75% of newb writers don't understand them, along with probably 75% of readers.

Of the 75% of newb writers some will learn how to use it, 50% probably never will. Either way, it's wasted on 75% of readers. And in compared to the way many writers mangle grammar and word use, whether to use a sc or not is the least of their problems.

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Fixed

semi-colons can in most cases be replaced by a comma or period
depends whether or not you would want to though.

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Dawnstorm

And my point was, if you can't resist repeating your point, why should I resist making mine. I don't really mind the repetition. As far as I know, I kept out of the last (two?) semicolon threads.

However, this thread has served a purpose, if only because of WriteIt's excellent posts, which, IMO, trump anything said in previous threads.

I doubt anyone will stop and admire a well-placed semicolon. But I also doubt it's as hard to read as you seem to claim. A semicolon does make a difference, but it's hard to pin-point how. WriteIt's posts do a good job of approaching the subject matter, so I don't have to try.

And in the end it's less about the semicolon; I'll use that when I want to. It's that I'm getting tired of "don't use them" responses. Something's diffucult? Don't use it.

The semicolon, adverbs, the passive voice... There's a tendency on writer's boards to discourage learning about language, which is odd. Instead of looking at your tools and see what they are doing for you, you're supposed to realise that they're difficult, and you're better off using simpler methods?

For the record, I do subscribe to the line: "A good writer writes around the problem." (Which I read as: "When in doubt, rephrase.") But I don't take that to imply an endorsement of depriving language of valuable elements of grammar, or punctuation.

HarryG

Semi-colons are a personal choice, and I use them, sparingly. I think that excessive use mars the writing, even if used correctly.

Whatever you do, be careful not to follow the Microsoft Word suggested grammar check too closely, it abounds with semi-colons for some reason.