Are You Clueless About Semicolons? The Once-Popular Punctuation Mark Facing Extinction!

The time-honoured semicolon is becoming obsolete as research reveals that many Brits either never use or hardly ever employ this punctuation mark, according to a study.

During the 19th century, in English literature, it occurred once every 205 words, whereas nowadays it has dropped to once per 390 words.

The survey revealed that 67 percent of British students either never or seldom employed a semicolon, with just 11 percent of participants identifying themselves as regular users.

Although over half of those surveyed were unaware or didn’t comprehend how to properly utilize the punctuation mark.

A semicolons use is to connect two parts of a sentence where a conjunction is omitted, such as 'The cat sat on the mat; the mice watched from behind the sofa'.

This tool ought to be employed when connecting two principal clauses that either complement one another or oppose each other, yet remain so interconnected they shouldn’t be split into distinct sentences.

The MailOnline style guide advises it is mainly used in lists (eg 'The band's unusual backstage requests included: only green M&Ms waitresses dressed as Stormtroopers; and a retired astronaut'). The last item is preceded by a semicolon and has the word 'and' at the beginning.

Lisa McLendon both researched and penned an entire book focused on the semicolon titled: Semicolon: How a Misunderstood Punctuation Mark Can Enhance Your Writing, Deepen Your Comprehension of Texts, and Potentially Transform Your Existence.

She stated: "The semicolon serves as a focal point for our worries and ambitions regarding language, social standing, and educational background."

'This minor marking encapsulates grand concepts condensed into mere flashes of ink.'

Famed twentieth-century feminist writer Virginia Woolf notably began her seminal work "Mrs Dalloway" with an abundance of semicolons.

Although American writer Kurt Vonnegut advocates for eliminating this punctuation symbol: 'Should you genuinely wish to upset your folks, and lack the courage to come out as gay, at the very minimum pursue a career in the arts. However, avoid using semicolons.'

'They are transvestite hermaphrodites, standing for absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.'

The semicolon originated in Venice in 1494, invented by the printer and publisher Aldus Manutius.

This innovative symbol was created to merge features of a comma and a colon, intended for pauses longer than a comma but shorter than a colon.

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