My friend sent this semicolon article to me today because last week we were discussing a confusing teaching about semicolon use in the homeschooling materials I use to teach my son 8th grade. I do not profess to do a great job a punctuating, but I am somewhat intelligent. The teaching on semicolon use is very vague at best and is a hard thing to teach when you don't seem to be able to grasp it yourself. Agreeing with the article, it is not common to see the use of semicolons in our contemporary writings. I suggest that we find a better way to apply punctuation that is useful for an educated society, while at the same time not confusing the average reader. I do not suggest we lower educational standards. In fact, my son uses an advanced curriculum. However, I do suggest that we make language and punctuation a bit more "user friendly". I believe that by doing this, we would find that people in general would not be as frightened about writing. (Believe it or not, I am a published author.) I noticed in this article that the writer inappropriately used punctuation. In fact, in our advanced homeschool curriculum, this article goes against the rules of proper punctuation use. I found the article difficult to read because of this.

I've learned it this way:

There are times when you want to put together two sentences because they are so closely linked and supportive of one another. By separating them into two distinct sentences they would lose the impact you're going after.

But never simply put two complete sentences together with a comma, known as a "comma splice," which is grammatically incorrect.

Here's an example:

Bob did not want to go into the woods. He was afraid of bears.

There is nothing wrong with the above at all. But using a semi-colon to join them may be a bit more supportive:

Bob did not want to go into the woods; he was afraid of bears.

With the semi-colon Bob's fear of bears is immediately linked to his not wanting to go into the woods.

You could also use a full colon after "woods," but it might be a bit more dramatic than you are going for, thusly:

Bob did not want to go into the woods: he was afraid of bears.

You can also use the semi-colon to string together a number of phrases as in a list, like this:

The Forest Service works to prevent forest fires; patrols campgrounds to keep campers safe; keeps an eye on the weather and; manages soil erosion.

Again, you could use a comma where the semi-colon is being used in the above sentence, but the semi-colon aides the reader in breaking them up into more distinct phrases

Here's the above sentence using commas:

The Forest Service works to prevent forest fires, patrols campgrounds to keep campers safe, keeps an eye on the weather and manages soil erosion.

As a reader I prefer the use of semi-colons.

Excellent explanation above. And clearer than anything I was presented when I got my college degree in English! (Which by itself probably explains a lot regarding the death of the semicolon.)

Thank you, Sundown.

The other reason to use a semicolon in a series/list is when one or more of the items contains a comma already.

"The Royal Family Meeting involved Elizabeth, the Queen of England; Charles, the Prince of Wales; and the young Prince William."

Yes! That's a very important point.

In the U.S. at least,"semicolon" does not take a hyphen. But you've got the preferred approach (and explanation) down pat.

Just as the last comma can be omitted in a list:

milk, juice, toast and eggs

So the last semi-colon can be "downgraded" to a comma:

Kirk, capatin of the Enterprise; Adams, captain of the C-57D; Aubrey, capatin of the Surprise, and Hornblower, captain of the Lydia.

To avoid confusion, look it up.

In your series of phrases, the semicolon should appear before and. AP Stylebook.

Great explanation. Another time to use semicolons is in a list in which some items require information set off by commas, such as: Bill; my friend Jane; and Michael, who is Jane's brother.

You're right. You'll notice also that in my grammar lesson I started out a sentence with "and," a conjunction. Hah!

You're right about that.

Hot DAMN! Thank You!! I've never understood how to deal with that and have invariably relied on stacked commas; which make for tough parsing.

Thank you!

I never liked stacked commas, unless the thought was a simple one. I find the semicolon very helpful with long related thoughts. But then I read legal documents all day, anything to break up those paragraph-long sentences is a relief.

As for the conjunction to start a sentence, even "Elements of Style" allows it when it makes sense. Ultimately, the purpose of writing is to be understood; at least it is supposed to be the purpose of writing. Anything that makes your intention more clear should be applauded. Down with the tyranny of small minds and their pernicious rules!

Best of luck to you all.

"Ultimately, the purpose of writing is to be understood; at least it is supposed to be the purpose of writing. Anything that makes your intention more clear should be applauded. Down with the tyranny of small minds and their pernicious rules!"

Amen to that!