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Tips for Writers In William Safire’s How Not to Write (Norton & Co., 1990), the late columnist states his rules for writers by breaking them—a bit of humorous instruction he calls a “fumblerule.” Today we turn our attention to Fumblerule #13, “Use the semicolon properly, use it between complete but related thoughts; and not between an independent clause and a mere phrase.” Safire calls the semicolon the “Cleopatra of punctuation marks: she separates and connects at the same time, making hungry where most she satisfies.” A few simple rules govern when it is appropriate or desirable to use a semicolon. They are as follows: 1. A semicolon is most adept at separating two independent clauses joined by what Safire calls the “slanting linkers” such as nevertheless, furthermore, besides, and however—words indicating a clearer relationship between the two clauses than the more basic conjunctions and, but, and or and requiring a comma afterward. Here are some examples: ¨ I had vowed never to see him again; nevertheless, I found myself seated across the table from him on Valentine’s Day, gazing helplessly into his hypnotic eyes. ¨ We can’t go to the party because we already have plans; besides, the venue is too far away. It is also appropriate to use a semi-colon to separate two closely related independent clauses without any conjunction at all. ¨ I was right; you were wrong. But Safire expressly forbids using and, but, or or in that construction (I was right; and you were wrong.). “Never waste a semicolon’s talents on mere coordinating conjunctions,” he says. 2. As the last part of the fumberule suggests, you should not use a semicolon to separate an independent clause from “a mere phrase,” a grammatical construction that is incomplete and therefore unable to stand on its own. Notice the difference between these examples: ¨ WRONG: For breakfast I had three pancakes and two slices of bacon; my favorite cured meat. (The phrase “my favorite cured meat” does not contain a verb and cannot stand alone.) ¨ RIGHT: For breakfast I had three pancakes and two slices of bacon, my favorite cured meat. 3. Semicolons also provide separation and prevent confusion in a list of phrases that contain commas with them. Here is Safire’s example: ¨ Here come our adversary, the dictatorial leader; our champion, the American President; and a horde of aides drawn up in vast, cumbrous array. Note how the semi-colons group together the underlined information, which belongs together, while separating from it that which does not belong.
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