When you see a writing passage with commas, does it always mean a full stop was used? Not necessarily. In fact, there are times where I have read passages with no commas at all, and they are written with complete words. In those cases, I still did not see a semicolon, and I worked with the writer to see whether he or she intended the passage to mean that. (I work with many writers, so I can sometimes be pretty confident in what I am reading.)
In the same vein, I have also read many passages where the commas are omitted entirely, even though commas are required in some contexts. So, when I see a writing passage with no commas, I do not automatically assume that the author intended for it to mean “one.” Sometimes the absence of commas is simply the stylistic implications of the writer. It could mean that she preferred to have the semicolon, or it could be that she felt the need to italicize the word to emphasize its importance.
As I said before, I often write writing passages in the first person. Occasionally I may even have trouble knowing how to format a piece so that it makes sense to read from left to right, even if my right hand is too busy to read the left-hand copy! That is where I get into trouble. I know how to format my work to make it read from left to right, but the writing gets difficult for me to read when I do not have my eyes directly above the text. This is why I prefer to use commas as a format device.
It seems like it should be a simple decision. Just use a semi colon and keep your readers informed about what is going on. In many cases, however, the use of a semicolon in your writing is confusing. The reader may think that you are stating something important and then leave your piece to look up information that they will not find on a home page or index page. Here are some guidelines about how to use a semicolon in your writing:
– When your topic includes an action, such as a title or an explanation, use a semicolon. It makes it easy for the reader to picture the action that you describe. Do not use a full stop when there is only one sentence that follows the semicolon. Do not use two semicolons either. Use a full stop only when you want to emphasis the idea that the next sentence tells us more.
– If you cannot fit an entire paragraph in a four-liner statement, do not use a semicolon. The condensed version of your message is more concise and does not sound as though you are giving the entire meaning of your work in a single expression. If you have to make a distinction or a point, use a full stop or a semicolon. This technique helps you avoid repeating yourself and helps your reader to focus on your main point.
– If your text is too long, split it into several short paragraphs. If it can fit in one paragraph, put a semicolon before the title and the introduction. If it can fit only two sentences, it will sound much shorter and clearer. Your readers will understand that you are making a specific point, but they might forget what the point actually is if they read your piece too quickly. If you cannot fit your points into a two-sentence piece, you should shorten it. Do not use a full stop unless you want to emphasize or summarize what you are trying to say.
– How to know when to use a full stop or a semicolon depends on whether your message is brief or elaborate. In a lengthy piece that details many different ideas, you do not need to use both a semicolon and a full stop every time you make a point. The space between words does not have to be that significant. You can indicate that you think the idea is well-suited for being written down with a question mark (filled) or an exclamation mark (open) instead. In a blog, you may decide that you want to include a space so that readers will have a visual (visually interesting) idea about what you are writing. If you cannot fit all your ideas into a single paragraph, you can condense it by using a semicolon.
