Proper Use of the Semicolon, Part One

The focus of this article is the semicolon, but it is impossible to have an intelligent discussion of this punctuation mark without some understanding of the other punctuations that can be used to separate sentences, or parts of sentences from each other. Therefore, the comma, colon, m dash, period, and even the ellipse must be at least defined and related to the use of the semicolon. The comma has received its own two articles and I recommend that it be read before this one. The other marks will be related to the semicolon during the development of use in following articles.

This article is not for everyone. It is not for those who are secure in their knowledge and use of all punctuation. It is not for those who don't care whether they communicate with their readers or whether they have any. I submit it is for everyone else. And it will not please everyone within that remaining group. It sounds strange to say that use of such things as semicolons is controversial, but among those who care, it is.

There is some trend in modern usage to equate the overuse of the semicolon with pretension. A few writers go further. For example, the online Wikepedia, a surprisingly useful source of information, quotes Kurt Vonnegut, who abjures the semicolon entirely, "...do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites, standing for absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college." Mr. Vonnegut has a far better command of the absurd than he does of style. He has many admirable qualities as a writer and as a human being. Competent command of style is not, however, one of them. He has been appropriately and variously responded to regarding this peculiar pronouncement. The gist of the responses has been that the use of the period only demonstrates that the writer has gone to preschool.

My point is that to convey subtle meaning and help the reader understand what you are saying requires more complex directions than are usually conveyed in a series of simple sentences (Mr. Vonnegut's solution). Punctuation marks, properly used, are those directions to the reader. The semicolon has an important place in the armamentarium of the skilled writer in giving those directions to the reader, particularly the discerning reader..
The semicolon (;) is used in written English to separate two independent clauses from each other when they are not separated by connecting, coordinate, conjunctions (or, for , nor, so, and, but, yet). However, a semicolon can be used to separate independent clauses even when there are separating words if these words are the conjunctive adverbs. So what is the difference between a coordinate conjunction (all of which are given above) and the so-called conjunctive adverb? The answer is that the conjunctive adverb are not true conjunctions. They indicate a type of relationship between the clauses and adverbs could, properly, be used to begin the next sentence, more properly than the coordinating conjunction. Remember your sixth grade teacher who told you not to start a sentence with 'and,' or, for that matter the rest of the seven conjunctions? (You can, of course, but you shouldn't make a habit of it for no good reason, ala Annie Proulx). Well, the conjunctive adverbs may start as many sentences as they like.

Thus, therefore, however, accordingly, consequently, moreover, nevertheless, etc. can all be used to connect independent clauses, and, when it is one complex sentence, they all require a semicolon in front of them and a comma after. This is true because they are not 'true' conjunctions, but adverbs used as conjunctions.* These independent clauses may, or may not be complete sentences. If they are complete sentences, periods could be used for this separation. Moreover, under related constructions with the use of true coordinating conjunctions, commas should be used. So, why isn't Kurt Vonnegut right? What do we need the in between mark, the semicolon, for? Does it add anything to writing? The answer to that is, of course, yes. The choice of one punctuation mark over the other connotes somewhat different meanings; they are different instructions to the reader. Remember the original meaning of the comma? It was an instruction for the person reciting a poem to stop and pause for a specified number of breaths. The semicolon is also an instruction to pause, in fact for somewhat longer than the comma and shorter than the period. But it is more than that, too. Here are a few examples of right and wrong usages. Read the sentences to yourselves, using the punctuation marks to direct pauses of varying lengths, from short pause (,) through longer pause (;) to the full stop of the period. See how they read subtly differently.

She was a poor writer; but she also had nothing to say. Wrong

He was a talented writer, but he wasn't much of a lover. Correct

She had little to say; consequently, she was a poor writer. Correct

He thought he was a great lover, but he was wrong. Correct

He thought he was a great lover, therefore, he made a fool of himself. Wrong

He thought he was a terrible lover; therefore, he never tried to make love. Correct

He thought he was a terrible lover. Therefore, he never tried to make love. Correct.

Is there a difference between the last two sentences in meaning? Yes, but it is subtle. Why would a writer choose one over the other? The answer to this question is the answer to why we need more than just commas and periods and why it is better to have a command of punctuation than not. The answer is a function of style, meaning, and how the writer wants the entire paragraph to be read. There are successful writers who can't write a sentence (or don't). Occasionally they win egregiously misplaced awards, but it is not because their styles are poor; it is in spite of that and it is rare. Breech of the standard 'rules' should create a situation in which the breach itself imparts meaning to the sentence. An advanced writer can identify these situations and, by knowing the rules, also knows when it is effective to break them.

This is part one of the use of the semicolon. It is a crash course and probably not at all clear. Part two should begin to make the rules clearer. It will continue with the semicolon and begin to contrast the meaning of its use with the choices of other ways to punctuate. It will continue with an explication of the rules, their various interpretations, and suggest some guides to choice.

*Actually, it's not that simple. There are numerous instances of such uses of adverbs and a few are exceptions to the rule above, such as 'so' (when it is used to mean because) or 'otherwise.'