So you’re saying I can use the semicolon in a different context other than ending an instruction in my Java code ?
What about Applesoft BASIC? Because I was pretty good at that on my Apple II, but I don’t think there were semicolons.
Also, I don’t know how to code, so I don’t know what semicolons are for in code.
BASIC statements end on new lines. The language does use a semicolon at the end of PRINT statements in order to omit printing a newline character at the end, but I believe that’s the only use. (It’s been about 20 years since I’ve done anything in BASIC.)
The meaning of a semicolon depends completely on the language. C and C-like languages (like Java and Rust) tend to use them to delimit the end of a statement.
You can also use them to split lists where the items have commas in them. Like if you’re saying you’re holding a party and you invited A, whom you dislike but would feel bad to exclude; B, who you’ve not seen in years and really want to catch up with; and C, who is also going to be there.
I shit myself; I guess I’m changing my pants.
My 2c is that if the majority of people are confused about the purpose of a punctuation mark or language feature in general, then that feature is not actually fulfilling a useful function. If it was actually useful then people wouldn’t be confused, they would just be using it. People would learn it organically and not need it to be explained.
That example sentence would function exactly the same if it was separated by a period, nothing is gained by using a semicolon. No new information is added, you are just going to make people wonder why there is a semicolon there making the sentence less comprehensible.
Its sorta related to the prescriptivism vs descriptivism distinction.
That example sentence would function exactly the same if it was separated by a period; nothing is gained by using a semicolon. No new information is added; you are just going to make people wonder why there is a semicolon there making the sentence less comprehensible.
FTFY. You aren’t supposed to separate two independent clauses with a comma.
I fully agree with you. However, I like semicolons. They feel very chaotic because nobody knows what they do exactly.
So you also use a semicolon if you are separating a list and the list includes phrases separated by commas. For example:
My favorite things are lions, tigers, and bears; sugar, spice, and everything nice; and the ol’ red, white, and blue.
I came up with that in thirty seconds so admittedly it’s a bit nonsensical, but there are valid reasons to structure a sentence this way and a semicolon is the only thing helping those independent phrases stay separate and thus help the sentence make sense.
That said, I love semicolons in general; I use them for fun and for variety. They are useful for slightly adjusting the pacing of written communication, since the reader won’t treat them exactly the same as a full stop.
If it was actually useful… People would learn it organically and not need it to be explained.
People don’t learn how to read and write “organically;” you need instruction. Learning how to use punctuation is a part of that instruction. You learned how to use a comma or a period way back in elementary school, you just don’t remember specifically learning it. And a semicolon is a perfectly useful piece of punctuation.
“Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.”
Kurt Vonnegut
That’s an oddly transphobic/intersexphobic way to express a criticism of semicolons…
“If you want to take my guns away from me, and you’re all for murdering fetuses, and love it when homosexuals marry each other … you’re a liberal. If you are against those perversions and for the rich, you’re a conservative. What could be simpler?”
-Kurt Vonnegut
Yeah it looks like the dude had some issues to say the least…
That’s not his views… that’s from an essay where he’s parodying the mainstream ultrasimplification of political alignment.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/cold-turkey
You left out some language that I think clears up his ironic tone:
If you want to take my guns away from me, and you’re all for murdering fetuses, and love it when homosexuals marry each other, and want to give them kitchen appliances at their showers, and you’re for the poor, you’re a liberal.
If you are against those perversions and for the rich, you’re a conservative.
What could be simpler?
Totally changes it, doesn’t it?
what it’s* for
