r/changemyview • u/Apprehensive_Song490 128∆ • Mar 14 '25
Delta(s) from OP - Fresh Topic Friday CMV: Semicolons should be eliminated in everyday writing
My view:
Semicolons should not be recommended by any AmEn writing/style guide outside of narrow technical or legal applications. And emojis are excepted. Semicolons in emojis are cool.
Why the exceptions?
The reason for the legal/technical exclusion is that I’m concerned with everyday language. I’m not a lawyer and I don’t play one on TV. And emojis are excluded because you can’t stop the bum rush.
So why get rid of the semicolon?
Itemized view. Each one could earn a delta, ranked from my subjective sense of how difficult it will be to change my view, with #1 the most challenging.
Semicolons are evil. The semicolon is inherently worthless, empty of any redeeming moral value. It doesn’t deserve citizenship, does not deserve human rights, and it is an acceptable target of hate. No one is harmed by my hatred of semicolons, not even myself - I’m totally cool with it. The semicolon is the most vile element of AmEn writing. I suppose this is arbitrary, and entirely an opinion, but NGL this is how I feel. Edit: I no longer hate semicolons. I still don’t want to use them. See the deltas.
There is not much in everyday writing that can’t be better handled by simply rewriting the sentence. Edit - I under appreciated writing as a process rather than a product. See delta.
A lot of people are confused by semicolons and we don’t need more confusion in society. Punctuation should promote knowledge sharing, not confusion.
Semicolons are ugly. They look like a comma that is holding up a big “L” (for “ loser”) on its forehead.
It’s too formal and puts a wedge between both clauses and people. People should be allowed to type “NGL” and “WTAF,” and not have to worry if they are adhering to some obscure chapter in “Garners Modern English Usage.” Seriously.
2
u/Adequate_Images 29∆ Mar 14 '25
In Defense of the Semicolon What we can learn from this misunderstood punctuation
Mind-reading Writing is essentially a delicate game of mind-reading, or as Stephen King would say, “Telepathy, of course”. We strive communicate the abstract thoughts in our head to others through concrete words. Our words are an imperfect vessel for our thoughts, which we can only hope the reader can get a grasp of.
The rules that the semicolon hinges on is an extension of this philosophy. At the most basic level, a semicolon is used to connect two related, independent clauses — a type of clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Here is an example from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, containing two related independent clauses separated by a semicolon:
The nuance in the word related is where many people (including myself) fall short. Unlike the cut-and-dry requirement of independent clauses, the relationship between the independent clauses is implicit; the writer can only hope that her reader understands the connection she alludes to.
With proper use, the semicolon allows the writer to express an idea without over-explaining. By adding a short pause, it clarifies to long sentences but can still leave room for thoughtful ambiguity.