When a Semi-Colon Doesn’t Fit the Syntax
A writer friend of mine, who’d had four books published by major houses at the time
we were speaking, critiqued something I wrote in which I had used a semi-colon to set
off a series in a section of comedy relief that read something like this: John wanted to
own a farm, but without many common animals; namely, dogs, cats, cows, and horses.
He suggested a colon for this sort of series, so the phrase would read: John wanted to own a farm, but without many common animals: dogs, cats, cows, and horses. (We can argue the comma preceding the last item in both examples some other time). I wasn’t sold on
my friend’s recommendation until I sat alone with the phrase and read it aloud both ways. Once I did this, from the perspective of fluency, it was obvious the colon was the better punctuation choice.
Is a Semi-Colon a Good Fit in Exposition in most Fiction?
Many learned people say semi-colons don’t belong in fiction (especially commercial fiction). The contention is that a semi-colon tends to stop the reader. Yet I recently read,
in a book on contemporary fiction writing by a well-known author/agent, an eloquent if not passionate plea supporting the use of semi-colons. But, to the first point, some feel semi-colons inhibit fluent prose and might even push many writers toward Faulknerian length material; and, for this reason, semi-colons should be eschewed at all costs. Consider the sentence you just read. Does it read better if broken into two sentences? or would the sentence be improved if the semi-colon was converted to a comma and “for this reason” sans any punctuation? Could it be that the original construction is superior to either suggestion? You be the judge.
What About the Use of a Semi-Colon in Dialogue?
Even a short article such as this would be woefully incomplete if the semi-colon and its potential integration into dialogue was not broached. Some astute literary experts would never consider setting a semi-colon in a rift of dialogue. The suggestion would be to “write around” the speaker’s words so the reader shouldn’t be confronted with a semi-colon. However, while people are not parsing what they hear for punctuation, is the reader of printed dialogue so quick to dismiss punctuation necessary to portray properly spoken syntax?
A multitude of semi-colon naysayers would vilify a sentence written in which a character is saying to his friend as they are walking after someone in a crowd, “She looked back; no, I was wrong, she didn’t.” But is this spit of dialogue so horrible? If so, what is the more suitable element of punctuation to express the meter of the speaker’s tongue in his reaction to the moment? Does a period after “back,” and a new sentence beginning with “No,” convey the same degree of angst? And how would using all commas impact the flow? I think most might agree–not well.
What is the Answer?
What is correct–and what is not–in many instances is a matter of style and not grammar. Semi-colons are not evil. To the contrary, they often contribute great value. But, like any specialty punctuation, there can be a problem if overused. However, not utilizing semi-colons may be ignoring a marvelous tool for enabling a narrative to excel, and for providing a writer with a means to display greater proficiency in the art of crafting quality prose.
Robert L. Bacon
robertlbacon@aol.com
Special Offer for Authors
Free Query Letter Review & Analysis, a $57.50 Value
Paste Query to theperfectwrite@aol.com (No Attachments)
For Information on Query Letter Design & Composition
Visit the Form Page on this Site & Follow the Simple Steps
For more information on how The Perfect Write® can craft material to benefit you, please visit us at theperfectwrite.com
Stumble Upon
Del.icio.us
Buzz
You must be logged in to post a comment.