Powerful punctuation Batman, what's this?

For the start of this New Year we want to encourage thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves and what, I ask, is more ignored and diminished than the long suffering semicolon?

This diminutive, subtle, yet powerful grammatical signpost is to good writing what a shaft of sunshine is to a dull afternoon: a bit of a boost. 

More emphatic than the humble comma but not as final as a full stop, the semicolon allows us to expand on ideas without abrupt interruption (not favoured by our press friends whose short, pokey sentences seem only to dumb down our reading experience). Where two sentences are strongly related but there is no suitable connecting word, the semicolon offers a way to keep your reader hooked into an idea or emotion; keeping them involved with a flow of thought, retaining enthusiasm and engagement without losing pace.

With a pedigree hailing from medieval times it may be old but it sure ain’t fusty, withstanding the test of time because it’s so damn useful. Used to precede hefty connecting words including however, thus and consequently is correct, as is its use in helping readers negotiate complex lists. 

Used sparingly it can’t be beat – start your 2010 with one today.

Stop, start – ho, hum, drum…

A semicolon; ah yes!

… illumination.          

Thank you for your indulgence.