Semicolons Are Cool; I Use Them Whenever it Makes Sense.

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Some writers avoid semicolons; they feel they're confusing.?

And truth be told, they're often a matter of style and not a grammatical necessity. Often a period or conjunction works fine instead. But I contend that this period-comma combo has its place.

A semicolon (;) connects two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning but could be separate sentences. For example:

- I have a big meeting tomorrow; I need to prepare my presentation. (connecting two related independent clauses)

- She loves to read; her favorite genre is historical fiction. (again, joining two related independent clauses)

Still, in the first example, couldn't you have used a comma and "so" to replace the semicolon? Yes, but if you read the two options aloud, you'll find they have a different pace. Using the semicolon has a faster feel, which helps the reader understand the urgency of preparing the presentation.?

The difference is subtle, but for writers, tiny differences can add up to much better storytelling.?

What's your relationship with the semicolon?

Chris Pawar

#semicolon, #grammartips, #writer, #copywriter