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[Sirus]

I tend to use the semicolon; it also helps.

[Flying Dice]

I... used to... use... a lot of... ellipses. But then... I realized... that it... sounded... like I was... Shatner.


The general rule of thumb I follow is that ellipses (in fiction) are usually only good for dialogue in which someone is trailing off in mid-sentence.

[Skyrunner]

I tend to use the semicolon; it also helps.

Ah, but take the colon: it is MOAR dramatic than the semicolon; notice the lack of DRAMA in the semicolon.

Ellipses are to be used only when:
  - Trailing off thoughts/speech
  - Omitting words when quoting
  - Probably more situations, but I cannot remember...

[Sirus]

Aha! The double hyphen--

Rather than your train of thought slipping away, the double hyphen implies that you have been cut off--!

[GalenEvil]

Ah, okay. I'd rather not: a) read like I'm imitating Shatner or b)read like my thought train has derailed over and over again. I do enjoy the double hyphen when it's appropriate. I think that it can also be used to signify a semi-segue sorta thing or a continuation of a thought that isn't entirely appropriate within the same sentence?  Semicolon truly are more dramatic than regular colon. Colon make me bored as they generally present a list soon thereafter while the semicolon gives a slightly longer pause (in my in-head reading) than a comma and has a surprise of not being obvious about where the trail will lead.

[Skyrunner]

Another way to use semicolons: sometimes, apples eat apples; pears dine on pears, but do not on pineapples; pineapples eat everything, even jello; and jello eats humans.

In short, when a regular comma list is confusing because of commas in items in the list, semicolons can be commas.

The double hypen, or rather the em dash—usable instead of parentheses—is quite nice, and should be included on standard keyboards. It also can be used as emphasis—but not all the time.

Actually, I can't remember if – or — was the em dash, and/or if the en dash was used for the above...

Colons are misused D: They can do much more than be a list introducer but have a stereotype as such to GalenEvil and undoubtly others.

[Flying Dice]

A humble semicolon by day, at night it becomes Supercomma!

[kaenneth]

Or- you could just make up your own punctuation rules☃

[Kadzar]

Since this thread is here, I just want to say I hate it when people say they like or love something that they quite obviously hate. It's just so annoyingly passive-aggressive.

[lordcooper]

Since this thread is here, I just want to say I hate it when people say they like or love something that they quite obviously hate. It's just so annoyingly passive-aggressive.

like

[Darvi]

Add the word "irregardless" and the like to this. Chances are that people in RL use it too but I don't have to deal with them so the internet is the only place where it can irritate me.

Yes I'm a closet grammar nazi :V

[palsch]

Actually, I can't remember if – or — was the em dash, and/or if the en dash was used for the above...

The en dash is the length of an N and the em dash the length of an M. Except where they aren't. The ratio should be ~1:2 but depends on the font.

The Chicago Manual of Style uses em dashes in the manner you did, with no spaces. This means it's almost certainly wrong. Outside the US en dashes with spaces before and after are more common and frankly easier on a standard keyboard. And - IMO - easier on the eyes.


And another grammar one that I'm as guilty of as anyone; the, goddamned, Shatner comma. As a general rule I strip 90% of commas out of any text I'm proof reading, forcing myself to justify strongly any kept.

[Andal]

I will freely admit, I'm bad about commas. I write sentences like I would say them out loud, and insert commas as natural pauses in speech. This habit lends itself to a grand overabundance of commas. On the other hand, it allows you to read my sentences out loud the way I hear them in my head. I've tried to fix it, but it never seems to stick.

[Telgin]

Also guilty of needless commas.  I've made attempts as of late to be better about it but I never really seem to get it down.  Supposedly nobody gets it right completely.

I also try to write things out as I say them in my head.  That results in me also putting commas in places where I'd take a pause.  It also results in commas in places they don't rightly belong.

I had to remove several commas from this very post as I was writing it.  I probably removed some I shouldn't have in the process. 

[Trapezohedron]

Also guilty of the above. Really hard for me to minimize the commas, because the gramatically correct way of using it looks unnatural to me.