Although English in written form has certain rules, it seems that it has some leeway when writers write.
What I do know and understand about the semi-colon and to that same extent, the m-dash, is that it is used to allow the writer to provide added extra information to a sentence. This extra information does not alter the sentence in anyway except to provide extra information. But that extra information is conveyed after a semi-colon instead of a period simply because that extra information would not stand on it own.
What I have seen done several times is the use of two semi-colons in one sentence structure. I haven’t necessarily understood this practice, but it seems to me that in this case, the semi-colons act as a pair of parentheses. But in this case, the semi-colons provide extra information in mid sentence, but without isolating the information entirely as the parentheses would do.
I have an english grammar book somewhere that I need to find which would explain all this. But meanwhile, does anyone have any input in this?
7 responses so far ↓
kaet // May 7, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I either use semicolons to separate the elements in a complicated list, or to subtly conjoin two related sentences.
~grace~ // May 7, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The most common way semicolons are used is in place of a conjunction like “but” or “and,” if you think the words flow better that way; or in place of a period or full stop if you want the ideas of two sentences to be more connected. (like that.)
multiple semicolons are used when you are making a list that has a comma in the list items. a “complicated list,” in other words.
like this:
On our trip we stopped in Saint Paul, Minnestoa; Chicago, Illinois; and Dayton, Ohio.
the parentheses thing you’re talking about would be done by an m-dash.
I realize I sound all authoritative. I’m really not.
But I’m good at semicolons.
nymeria87 // May 8, 2008 at 11:04 am
I’m agreeing with Grace. The only time I’d use two semicolons in one sentence would be for complicated lists, otherwise sentences just get too complicated.
I’m personally a lover of the - to insert extra information or even random thoughts
Don // May 8, 2008 at 11:33 am
I like the m-dash myself, but it’s not on the keyboard.
kaet // May 9, 2008 at 5:47 am
Which word-processing software are you using? Some of them automatically convert hyphens to m-dashes if they have spaces around them.
Don // May 9, 2008 at 6:14 am
Really? My two primary applications are Open Office and Google Docs. I know that MSWord used to convert two dashes to an m-dash.
I just played with Open Office and entered an auto-correct entry to convert — to —. I don’t know now, I’ve grown attached to the semi-colon.
Don // May 9, 2008 at 6:16 am
Damn it. WordPress does the same thing. It converts two-dashes to an m-dash. Learn something new everyday.
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