{ ; }

[delga]

Oh, people, come on. Let us celebrate the beauty that is the semi-colon. Seriously. learn how to use it. Love it. Embrace it into your world.

;

See? Isn't that a thing of beauty? Stop using it as a fucking apostrophe and stop replacing it with commas. Commas are like mice; they breed extraordinarily quickly.

Comments

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Commas separate clauses that don't end the sentence. That's basically the rule. When you're younger, you're taught to insert a comma wherever there is a natural pause. This is a basic rule of thumb that works well enough (because the natural pause tends to reflect where a clause ends anyway). It's not a brilliant method, though, and that's the reason why I always have to catch my commas.

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

Sounds... interesting. Yeah, I remember being told something like: "Whenever you would use a comma in Finnish, in English? Don't." And: "Only use a comma if you absolutely must." I've always found it a bit odd (and that would probably explain why I'm fond of the infamous Oxford comma *g*), but for a long time, it caused me to be extremely cautious with my commas, up to the point where I wouldn't use any at all no matter how my fingers itched to add one.

But then I read books written by native English speakers, and boy, was I shocked or what? It was all comma here, comma there, commas everywhere omgwtfaaaaaaargh!

...

...umm. What was that, Dad? Dinner time? Alright then! *runs off*

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Yeh. It's like venereal disease. Seriously.


Uh, probably not the best thought to send you on your way to food, huh?

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

... I am deeply disturbed by that comparison. (Luckily, I only read it after eating.)

*backs away slowly*

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Except I'm right! I am!

...

Please come back! Please?

[(Anonymous)]

Heh. I'm not even quite sure what that comparison means. That the commas, they spread if you don't use proper protection? "A comma condom! A kingdom for a comma condom!"

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

Um, the above comment was by me. I have no idea why it says 'anonymous'. *stabs LJ*

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

They spread quickly because of abuse, misuse and lack of sense, the latter being the (oh god, I love this phrase) "comma condom".

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

I think we must start some form of sex ed, except, you know, about commas.

...erm, what? I just mean that it should be our mission to educate the masses that obviously aren't listening at school. Or something.

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Yes. The "just say no" campaign obviously isn't working.

[ You and I have just corrupted grammar forever. ]

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

Obviously.

[Well, you know how it is: if you add sex or at least hints at sex to it, people will pay attention, no matter what the subject. And yes, we have. Oh, I'm so proud of us.]

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

*waves mini flags*

[ I think it might just be us. I mean, we were talking about YSI in terms of cheating on people. I think we are crazy.

Woo!

I'm proud too. Now I want a T-shirt that reads "Practise Safe Syntax: Use A Comma Condom". ]

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

Oh, I assure you, it is everyone. But, yes, we might still be a bit... more than everyone, you know.

Oh, no you didn't. You did not just say that. Because now I have to urge to do said T-shirt and use it in public. Damn you. :)

(Must dash now to dry my hair. Talk to you later!)