The Use of Semicolons and Colon?

Why are people afraid of semicolons and colons? Many writers avoid their use like the plague. Still these punctuations are used constantly in daily oral communication. A semicolon provides a pause in that is longer than a comma but shorter than a period. "If you bathed more often, you would have more friends; just some constructive criticism." Two separate sentences could have been used. Using the longer pause of the period in this case could result in a black eye. So nearly every time you get catty and decide to bail out; that is semicolon time.

Semicolons can be used to join two complete sentences. "You are an idiot; you are a prime example of a world class, blithering idiot!" Semicolons can even join complete sentences and sentence fragments. "It doesn't matter where I get my appetite; long as I come home to eat!" Notice that conjunctions are not used with the semicolon. Do not be dismayed. You can still correctly use the conjunctive adverbs with the semicolon if you want to be wordy.

The semicolon is great for all the dead wood you use daily in conversation. "You are a slob and your mother dresses you funny; otherwise, you are fine." "Yes, that dress makes you look fat; however, the color brings out your eyes." Now you can use all those useless words correctly and drive your high school English teacher to drink.

Colons are also common in speech, but avoided in writing. "Only the D-list came to my party: Peter the pervert; his wife, Lisa the loudmouth lush; Betty the Botox queen and my ex!" "I asked you to pick up at the store: Scotch, rum, Irish whiskey and club soda; where's the Scotch?" In the second example, nearly ever writer would use the colon list first, then the question as a separate sentence. Most serious Scotch drinkers prefer the semicolon in this case.

So to sum it all up: Semicolons connect sentences to independent clauses without the use of conjunctions; complete sentences without the use of conjunctions and complete sentences/independent clauses with conjunctive adverbs. If the writer wishes to express a pause longer than a comma and shorter than a period; you will see a semicolon. Colons are list builders similar to equals signs. Both punctuation tools have their proper place in oral and written communication.

Will your audience get the drift of your exotic punctuation? Most likely, your audience will understand the sentence timing. Where your audience is unfamiliar with the semicolon; the shock of seeing one increases the pause. Should your audience be familiar with the proper usages, they will get a kick out of seeing the semicolon and colon in print. Your editor may pass a brick or two, but what the heck.