Semi-Colonoscopy
Of late, the Gmail semi-editor has advised correction
by inserting semi-colons where I would use a comma.
Perhaps instructions on the use of a semi-colon are in order
lest I perform gratuitous Semi-Colonoscopies...and nobody wants that.
33 vistas
Sally, not sure if I want to touch that one....especially after the overly descriptive moniker you attached to it.
I have a decidedly unscientific approach. I read my writing out loud. When intonation goes down at the completion of a thought, PERIOD. If I pause, ever so slightly, COMMA. If my intonation goes down but the thought is not yet complete, SEMI-COLON. You see, as a writer and not a linguist or grammarian per se, I have little patience for 'rules' of punctuation. A former professor colleague of mine was insistent on always putting a comma before every and, so, but or because....even if they didn't seem to serve a purpose. I said "[Miss Uppity Pants], why do you need the comma there?" Her response? "Because....because... that's the rule!" I said "Pardon me once again, [Miss U.P.], it's not 1895! You shouldn't be punctuating without knowing why. Following 19th century protocol isn't the ideal method. Just look at a novel from 1850. They put commas after EVERYTHING."
"I think, that I love you." "She knows, you are kind." Why? I don't know. Antiquated rules, I am, you know, guessing; right?