tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post5694118432270963557..comments2024-03-29T02:24:47.712-07:00Comments on Author Donya Lynne: The Dastardly Semicolon - Take Two - #WritingTipDonya Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00229964689354498931noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-61395708180967582922012-09-26T09:02:15.162-07:002012-09-26T09:02:15.162-07:00Hi, Victoria. Thank you for taking the time to sto...Hi, Victoria. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and contribute to the discussion. :) See my above reply to msspencerauthor. There really is a place for the semicolon, but I think it's better suited to more formal writing than in fiction. The good news is that "figuring out how to go around it" helps make you a stronger writer, so it's like you're getting a free writing lesson. :) Good luck on your writing journey and stop back by sometime.Donya Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00229964689354498931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-60921173200327313832012-09-26T08:58:54.919-07:002012-09-26T08:58:54.919-07:00You're welcome, and thank you for stopping by ...You're welcome, and thank you for stopping by and commenting. In the past, I have been a technical and professional writer (as in, my writing was geared toward business and my job as an executive assistant and document preparation specialist). In an business environment such as that, semicolons are okay, because the writing is more technical and formal in nature. But when it comes to fiction writing, which is more informal, a different mindset is required and semicolons just aren't friendly enough, in my opinion, and from what I've been taught about the two styles of writing (formal vs. informal). And it's interesting that you've seen kickback from your editors about them, so that goes in line with what I've heard, as well: Editors, in general, urge writers to remove them. Thanks again for commenting.Donya Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00229964689354498931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-77784556917827897342012-09-26T07:30:00.945-07:002012-09-26T07:30:00.945-07:00Thank for this informative post. I've been tol...Thank for this informative post. I've been told - by many - not to use the semi colon and so have had to figure out how to go around it.<br /><br />I see not problem using it. It just seems some people don't like it. Poor little thing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859109777005545304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-18926682715353155132012-09-26T07:12:24.841-07:002012-09-26T07:12:24.841-07:00Excellent discussion Donya. I've always been p...Excellent discussion Donya. I've always been partial to semi-colons, but your points are well taken. I don't use them in my fiction writing, mainly because my editors ask me to delete them anyway and I hate seeing yellow highlight blocks all over my precious prose. Punctuation is supposed to help the reader understand the meaning of the sentence--your first example (semi-colons to separate several commas) should be required therefore. Otherwise, I agree--it's better to rewrite the sentence. Thanks for a thought-provoking essay! MeredithM. S. Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700879115612868488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-51293369855073083152012-09-25T14:40:20.942-07:002012-09-25T14:40:20.942-07:00I just removed the word verification. Hopefully th...I just removed the word verification. Hopefully that will help.Donya Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00229964689354498931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-72883170055638717412012-09-25T14:39:03.352-07:002012-09-25T14:39:03.352-07:00Well, thank you. I didn't realize my comments ...Well, thank you. I didn't realize my comments asked for a captcha. I'll go check my settings.<br />Donya Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00229964689354498931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734404180567424295.post-32808659205461892242012-09-25T13:23:23.260-07:002012-09-25T13:23:23.260-07:00I'm marking this so I can come back and read i...I'm marking this so I can come back and read it earlier in the day while my brain is still working. Very nice examples. Thanks. <br /><br />And if you aren't getting comments. it could be the google box where you have to enter their strange word. I've now tried 7 times and it hasn't worked. Brit Blaisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02715123723770842970noreply@blogger.com