/lit/ - Literature

;)

Please explain what you think is wrong with this; a semicolon represents a break from the previous subject, which we can often expect to happen in organic dialogue.

It's a convenience for the reader, so they can figure out the pacing

>>15068164
Your sentence isn't elegant at all when read out loud. Try it yourself, you'd sound like an autist.

>>15068172
Sounds right to me; if anyone's an autist it's you, the guy sperging over grammar

>>15068183
>making a 3 word thread is sperging

>>15068172
>Your sentence isn't elegant at all when read out loud
Organic speech is often inelegant you neo-classical LARPer.

>>15068153
I use semicolons when i talk.

>>15068194
vocaroo?

>>15068189
You're sperging right now; the fact that you even feel the need to defend yourself shows it

The real question of aesthetic syntax is when to use a semicolon, and when to use a hyphen.

>>15068200
suck my cock

>>15068164
>written word = spoken word

>>15068217
And now you continue to sperg, losing yourself control; take a step away from the keyboard and take deep breaths anon.

>>15068207
This is a good point. For me, periods separate sentences. Real sentences, and they have a hard ending to them. Semicolons have a bit of a pause, but it's like a long and quiet sort of pause. Ellipses are a pause but they involve dragging out the preceding word. Hyphens--or rather, em-dashes--are for quick intermissions, they break the flow of the sentence but are fast.

>>15068153
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

>no apostrophes in dialogue

>>15068153
The only correct way to punctuate a semicolon during speech is by doing a click with your tongue akin to some african languages.

>>15068308
My brain is hardwired to for apostrophe's so it always just autocorrects when I read shit like that

>>15068153
>he doesnt voice his ;

>>15068153
>using the virgin semicolon instead of the Chad dash

>>15068584
Calling a hyphen a dash is surely a mark of niggerdom - only a nigger would use syntax like Le-a.

>>15068593
it's an emdash you goofy fuck, not an emhyphen

>>15068593

>>15068602
Now THIS is autism

>>15068605
is this how you cope with being wrong?

>>15068172
the only autist here is you.

Thanks for making me aware that punctuation and grammar exist again, assholes.

>using punctuation in dialogue

>>15069957
>>using punctuation

>>15068164

In my opinion this sentence isn't a good example because it would be improved if the semi-colon were replaced by a period. A semi-colon is only required when the two thoughts are so closely linked that a period sounds abrupt and brutal.

>>15068218
retard

>>15068153
Admittedly, I never was able to figure out what semicolons are for or how to properly use them. I just cram one in every now and then because they make me feel smart.

>he can't hear and speak semicolons

>>15070170
Is English your first language?

>>15068189
Yeah because you can't articulate your point (because it isn't sensible) so you just sperg on this imageboard.

But for those who take the time to learn its quirks, the semicolon is a punctuation mark unparalleled in versatility; properly employed, it can make your prose sound more professional (if slightly pontificating).

>>15068183
>>15068200
>>15068227
kafkatrapping at its finest bravo anon

>>15071630
How can I learn all the gimmicks of the semi-colon? Any books explaining it in detail?

the only thing thats a real problem is fucking parantheses in dialogue

>>15073321
I add parenthetical comments in (or in relation to) my speech all the time.

>>15073356
would an em-dash do the same job as the parentheses here?
>add parenthetical comments in—or in relation to—my speech all the time.

i dont even know when to use commas in english. my language has pretty strict rules about it but with english it just seems whatever bro

>>15073054
Learn by example. Example means any conventionally well-regarded writer you happen to be reading, not internet posts (>>15068164 is a poor use of a semicolon); conventionally well-regarded means classic authors, who either wrote properly or were edited into shape in the editions you'll find because you couldn't have them looking like idiots; classics naturally excludes anything written after 1920, unless you're, uh, black or something I GUESS

>>15073491
No. Commas would work there though.

>>15073923
Hm, okay. Thanks!

>>15073491
When in doubt, commas. Everything is an appositive if you try hard enough.