tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5913342627031838497..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Semi-Colon SavvyDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54907977171119974682011-03-26T12:42:20.395-06:002011-03-26T12:42:20.395-06:00I <3 semi-colons. I always feel intellectual w...I <3 semi-colons. I always feel intellectual when I use them - lol.Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56866151126514986782011-03-24T19:17:40.622-06:002011-03-24T19:17:40.622-06:00*Semi colons are elegant; THEY allow your reader t...*Semi colons are elegant; THEY allow your reader to make connections without force.Claire_Mhttps://thewordmuses.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82231309485581585872011-03-24T19:06:55.848-06:002011-03-24T19:06:55.848-06:00Semi colons are elegant; then allow your reader sp...Semi colons are elegant; then allow your reader space to make connections without force.<br /><br />Colons are like the front of an oncoming train: they shunt the rest of the sentence straightways down the track.Claire_Mhttp://thewordmuses.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41642843055861587982011-03-23T22:40:36.306-06:002011-03-23T22:40:36.306-06:00Thanks for all the comments. I'm so glad there...Thanks for all the comments. I'm so glad there are fellow semi-colon enthusiasts out there!<br /><br />Elsa Neal<br />HearWriteNow & Blood-Red PencilElle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59538644137365025462011-03-23T17:48:10.823-06:002011-03-23T17:48:10.823-06:00With one of my stories, I was struggling with a to...With one of my stories, I was struggling with a too-formal feel already, so I specifically tried to avoid all semi-colons. But I had about 5 sentences that didn't flow smoothly with any conjunction, so I left those in. :)Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55003092043486145062011-03-23T15:52:53.319-06:002011-03-23T15:52:53.319-06:00I lurves the semi colon, but I was told by a crit ...I lurves the semi colon, but I was told by a crit partner that I shouldn't use them. So, I'm more sparing with them now.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82072291275393184782011-03-23T14:05:53.615-06:002011-03-23T14:05:53.615-06:00I rarely use semi-colons. I think it was drummed o...I rarely use semi-colons. I think it was drummed out of me! It is a bit more formal and old-fashioned style of writing. But sometimes, it's just the right thing to use! (especially in series with commas in between)<br />Thanks for this post.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74345392802129342112011-03-23T13:13:17.330-06:002011-03-23T13:13:17.330-06:00I learned long ago that a semi-colon was a super c...I learned long ago that a semi-colon was a super comma. Like Maryann, I don't use them in dialogue, but sometimes they work so well in narration.Becky Mushkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11833297935575559624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63057519979941892512011-03-23T12:25:52.495-06:002011-03-23T12:25:52.495-06:00I tend to be a bit trigger happy with semi-colons....I tend to be a bit trigger happy with semi-colons. I like them, but I do have to examine how often I use them.Scooter Carlylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50860265911415609702011-03-23T11:11:10.933-06:002011-03-23T11:11:10.933-06:00What a wonderful tutorial; thanks, Elsa!What a wonderful tutorial; thanks, Elsa!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21859623660849993832011-03-23T11:08:59.985-06:002011-03-23T11:08:59.985-06:00Hurray! You didn't tell me not to use them.Hurray! You didn't tell me not to use them.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35247731455206312982011-03-23T10:40:12.370-06:002011-03-23T10:40:12.370-06:00I've been taught that publishers (at least for...I've been taught that publishers (at least for fiction) hate them and you should only use them if absolutely necessary and even then it would be better just to create two sentences.Terri Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042987080469116348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-47838900347437753102011-03-23T09:30:58.868-06:002011-03-23T09:30:58.868-06:00I heart semicolons!I heart semicolons!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61941081249666236202011-03-23T08:25:12.048-06:002011-03-23T08:25:12.048-06:00I love the semi-colon! Even when I see them used i...I love the semi-colon! Even when I see them used in dialogue, I read it to mean the speaker is briefly pausing. And I'm charmed by the suggestion that it is less bossy than the colon.Kim Pearsonhttp://www.primary-sources.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80871656880397323472011-03-23T08:22:28.550-06:002011-03-23T08:22:28.550-06:00Excellent post! I'm trying to use the semi-col...Excellent post! I'm trying to use the semi-colon a little more frequently (I lean heavily towards commas)so this was a great refresher.<br /><br />Thanks!Paige Kellermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16201061179479380167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63941798369288686622011-03-23T08:22:20.877-06:002011-03-23T08:22:20.877-06:00Maryann, when my comment posted, I saw that we are...Maryann, when my comment posted, I saw that we are of the same mind on semi-colons in fiction, particularly dialogue. (This would also hold true of internal dialogue that often appears in italics in books.) Writers, take note. LOLLinda Lanehttp://www.denvereditor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-27282533408915001292011-03-23T08:13:16.443-06:002011-03-23T08:13:16.443-06:00Ah, Elsa, what a delightful discussion of the semi...Ah, Elsa, what a delightful discussion of the semi-colon! Another use of this rather formal bit of punctuation is in place of the comma separating two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction when one or both of the independent clauses contains internal punctuation. And yet another use is the separation of elements of a series when one or more of those elements contains internal commas. All this sounds so boringly grammatical, BUT knowing and applying the rules enhances our writing because it eliminates the "huh?" moments for our readers.<br /><br />As for using the semi-colon in fiction, I do so sparingly. In dialogue it seems distracting. It works well in narrative, however, if it's not overused and if it serves its vital purpose of creating clarity.<br /><br />Excellent post!Linda Lanehttp://www.denvereditor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46699603434332122532011-03-23T08:02:59.675-06:002011-03-23T08:02:59.675-06:00I have been using the semi-colon for a while now. ...I have been using the semi-colon for a while now. <br /><br />I misused it once as a young writer and I was so embarrassed when I was called up on it that I swore never to make that mistake again.<br /><br />You are right about one thing; once you start using it, it can become addictive.Anthony HJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024525108760229354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56471911171911190352011-03-23T08:01:20.144-06:002011-03-23T08:01:20.144-06:00Good tutorial, Elsa. I use semi-colons a lot in no...Good tutorial, Elsa. I use semi-colons a lot in non-fiction writing, but not so much in fiction, especially not in dialogue. I am always surprised when I see them in novels in the dialogue. We don't speak in perfect sentences with all the proper punctuation. LOLMaryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87119750500677802152011-03-23T07:43:44.927-06:002011-03-23T07:43:44.927-06:00I probably should be using the semi-colon at times...I probably should be using the semi-colon at times when I use a comma instead. Commas seem easier for some reason.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://facebook.com/morgan.mandelMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.com