Semi-colons

Glux · 08-26-2009, 05:58 PM

If you pay attention enough to my typing, you;ll (EDIT: Prime example) notice that where I'm supposed to put an apostrophe there ends up a semi-colon.

This button annoys me so. I keep switching the semi-colon button with the apostrophe button. No one even uses the semi-colon!It needs to vanish from my keyboard!

***Ace Mercury*** · 08-26-2009, 06:04 PM

I use the semi-colon pretty often. Not just when terminating my code statements, either.

Zharen · 08-26-2009, 06:22 PM

Young Confucius say it better to have colon than semi-colon.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-26-2009, 06:48 PM

I don't think I use it much but it doesn't really need to vanish.

Luigiman7 · 08-26-2009, 06:51 PM

Semi-colon is kind of useful. At times.

**Crazyswordsman** · 08-26-2009, 09:01 PM

I love semicolons; they let me write longer sentences. -CSM

Glux · 08-26-2009, 09:16 PM

Does anyone but a Grammar-Nazi know how to use them??

Luigiman7 · 08-26-2009, 09:19 PM

They haven't unlocked the power of the semicolon within them.

***Ace Mercury*** · 08-26-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoJanglz

Does anyone but a Grammar-Nazi know how to use them??

Yes. It isn't exactly rocket surgery. Is it really that imposing to expect the average person to know how to use punctuation when expressing their thoughts? Or is that an American standard that I'm unaware of?

Glux · 08-26-2009, 09:34 PM

^ I know I've learned how and where to use it. I just never remember, and neither does anyone else I know...except for you and CSM of course.

***Ace Mercury*** · 08-26-2009, 09:36 PM

Well, I guess it's not important to you then. Life's too short to get upset over errant punctuation.

Glux · 08-26-2009, 09:37 PM

^ I just want the keys to at least switch places.

**Valigarmander** · 08-26-2009, 09:40 PM

I knew a guy who had to have part of his lower intestine surgically removed.

Now he has a semi-colon.

Glux · 08-26-2009, 09:41 PM

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 08-26-2009, 10:11 PM

Have a little appreciation for your language, and then yes, the semi-colon becomes vastly more important.

I'm an author. The semi-colon is a significant punctuation mark. I think you're being lazy if you don't know (or remember) how to use it.

Also, typos are a normal, every-day thing, and it's really not the keyboard's layout that's the problem if you can't help hitting the semi-colon. Just practice typing, and proof-read when you're done to pick up on errors (and after a while, you'll just touchtype and see the typos as they are made).

***CaptHayfever*** · 08-26-2009, 11:06 PM

Everyone has a colon, but only girls have periods. [/old joke of mine]

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-26-2009, 11:40 PM

I can't remember when to use most marks, dashes and what not. Like right there. Shouldn't I place a comma after "dashes"?

Oh well.

Metal Man · 08-26-2009, 11:57 PM

But then I wouldn't be able to talk like this; and it's my favorite way, you know. With semicolons I can link things which are connected; this is much better than using periods, which do not always do the job.

Perhaps you should just map that key to all colons and be done with it; it might help you more than ranting about it.

LinkManDX · 08-27-2009, 12:17 AM

You think your typoism is bad? I often confuse my left control with the windows key, making for some frustrating Starcraft.

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-27-2009, 12:29 AM

The semi-colon is contextually appropriate to use in the place of a colon or a comma to join incomplete sentence fragments. Phrases that would otherwise become confusing pieces of a sentence join to form a whole sentence.

The problem is that you don't fully comprehend the relevance of its purpose, and would likely use a colon, hyphen, or comma in its place(assuming you bother with punctuation at all).

Simply put, your comprehension is flawed, the semi-colon is still relevant.

Have you considered trying some typing exercises? I've never really had that problem. Honestly, when you move your fingers to press the punctuation keys, your entire hand should be moving to the right so you can depress the shift key with your pinky. I get the feeling you aren't using all of your fingers as often as you should.

08-26-2009, 05:58 PM	#1
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,122 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Semi-colons If you pay attention enough to my typing, you;ll (EDIT: Prime example) notice that where I'm supposed to put an apostrophe there ends up a semi-colon. This button annoys me so. I keep switching the semi-colon button with the apostrophe button. No one even uses the semi-colon!It needs to vanish from my keyboard!

08-26-2009, 06:51 PM	#5
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	Semi-colon is kind of useful. At times. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

08-26-2009, 09:19 PM	#8
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	They haven't unlocked the power of the semicolon within them. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

08-26-2009, 10:11 PM	#15
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,504 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	Have a little appreciation for your language, and then yes, the semi-colon becomes vastly more important. I'm an author. The semi-colon is a significant punctuation mark. I think you're being lazy if you don't know (or remember) how to use it. Also, typos are a normal, every-day thing, and it's really not the keyboard's layout that's the problem if you can't help hitting the semi-colon. Just practice typing, and proof-read when you're done to pick up on errors (and after a while, you'll just touchtype and see the typos as they are made). Last edited by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds; 08-26-2009 at 10:22 PM.

08-26-2009, 06:04 PM	#2
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I use the semi-colon pretty often. Not just when terminating my code statements, either.

08-26-2009, 06:22 PM	#3
Zharen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Modesto, CA U.S. Gender: Posts: 7,085 Thanks: 21 Thanked 71 Times in 35 Posts	Young Confucius say it better to have colon than semi-colon.

08-26-2009, 06:48 PM	#4
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I don't think I use it much but it doesn't really need to vanish.

08-26-2009, 09:01 PM	#6
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	I love semicolons; they let me write longer sentences. -CSM

08-26-2009, 09:16 PM	#7
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,122 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Does anyone but a Grammar-Nazi know how to use them??

08-26-2009, 09:34 PM	#10
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,122 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	^ I know I've learned how and where to use it. I just never remember, and neither does anyone else I know...except for you and CSM of course.

08-26-2009, 09:36 PM	#11
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Well, I guess it's not important to you then. Life's too short to get upset over errant punctuation.

08-26-2009, 09:37 PM	#12
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,122 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	^ I just want the keys to at least switch places.

08-26-2009, 09:40 PM	#13
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I knew a guy who had to have part of his lower intestine surgically removed. Now he has a semi-colon.

08-26-2009, 11:06 PM	#16
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,661 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	Everyone has a colon, but only girls have periods. [/old joke of mine] And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

08-26-2009, 11:40 PM	#17
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I can't remember when to use most marks, dashes and what not. Like right there. Shouldn't I place a comma after "dashes"? Oh well.

08-26-2009, 11:57 PM	#18
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	But then I wouldn't be able to talk like this; and it's my favorite way, you know. With semicolons I can link things which are connected; this is much better than using periods, which do not always do the job. Perhaps you should just map that key to all colons and be done with it; it might help you more than ranting about it.

08-27-2009, 12:17 AM	#19
LinkManDX Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Because political usernames ftw Gender: Posts: 3,582 Thanks: 297 Thanked 266 Times in 156 Posts	You think your typoism is bad? I often confuse my left control with the windows key, making for some frustrating Starcraft.

08-27-2009, 12:29 AM	#20
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,102 Thanks: 2,157 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	The semi-colon is contextually appropriate to use in the place of a colon or a comma to join incomplete sentence fragments. Phrases that would otherwise become confusing pieces of a sentence join to form a whole sentence. The problem is that you don't fully comprehend the relevance of its purpose, and would likely use a colon, hyphen, or comma in its place(assuming you bother with punctuation at all). Simply put, your comprehension is flawed, the semi-colon is still relevant. Have you considered trying some typing exercises? I've never really had that problem. Honestly, when you move your fingers to press the punctuation keys, your entire hand should be moving to the right so you can depress the shift key with your pinky. I get the feeling you aren't using all of your fingers as often as you should.