In Support of the Semicolon

Making the most of the guideposts of writing.

- RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE

The semicolon often lives in the shadows, misunderstood and underappreciated. Some see it as intimidating—a punctuation mark for the grammatically elite. Others avoid it entirely, worried it might come off as pretentious. But when used with intention, the semicolon can bring sophistication and elegance to your writing. It connects ideas, untangles complexity, and elevates your prose.

MORE THAN A FANCY PERIOD

At its core, the semicolon is a hinge, linking two closely related ideas in a single, fluid sentence. It’s stronger than a comma but less final than a period, offering a middle ground that creates balance and nuance. Consider this example:

• The storm was fierce; thunder shook the windows.

The semicolon connects the thoughts, showing that they're independent but linked. A period would separate them too abruptly. A comma? It'd muddy the relationship.

CONNECTING COMPLEX THOUGHTS