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The semicolon has a long and contentious history; of late, it seems to be entering endangered species territory.
Writers of all types have varied opinions on the semicolon:
Edward Abbey called it the “most obscene of all punctuation marks.”
Kurt Vonnegut gave this advice to writers, opting to use an ellipsis for syntax while doing so: “Do not use semicolons. . . All they do is show you’ve been to college.” (Wouldn’t it have been deliciously ironic if he had used a semicolon to separate those independent clauses?)
Abraham Lincoln was more of an admirer, using it appropriately in his praise: “I have a great respect for the semi-colon; it’s a useful little chap.”
However you feel about semicolons (you have taken the time to consider them, haven’t you?), they do have a purpose and some guidelines. More on that below.
The Semicolon Origin Story
In the world of punctuation, the semicolon is a relative newcomer.
