episode-header-image

Dec 2019

11m 42s

Understanding semi-colons

LOUISE HARNBY (FICTION EDITOR) AND DENISE COWLE (NON-FICTION EDITOR)

About this episode

Denise and Louise demystify (and stand up for) one of the most misunderstood pieces of punctuation – the semi-colon.

Listen To Find Out More About:

What the semi-colon looks like
Separating two independent clauses
Subjects and predicates
Weighting and parallelism
Comma splices
Separating items in a list
Emojis
Objections to the semi-colon

Resources related to the show

National Centre for Writing’s podcast
Semicolon: How a misunderstood punctuation mark can improve your writing, enrich your reading and even change your life, by Cecilia Watson

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Up next

What are editorial reports, and should you write them?

Learn about editorial reports, and whether you should provide them to clients. Listen to find out more aboutWhat an editorial report isWhy not all clients need editorial reportsWhat to include in an editorial reportHow long editorial reports take to writeWhy editors should create ... Show More

How to find the perfect academic editor or proofreader

Learn how to find a professional academic editor or proofreader who's the ideal fit for you.Listen to find out more aboutDifferent levels of editingSearching editorial societies' directoriesInternet searchesAcademic networksSocial mediaSubject portfoliosSample editsTestimonialsEd ... Show More

Free bonus episode: Editorial websites

Welcome to this sneak peek behind the curtain of our Patreon ‘Second Cup’ tier, where members get exclusive access to bonus episodes of The Editing Podcast.Patreon is the only place you will ever hear these bonus episodes, but we are making this one – and only this one - free to ... Show More

Recommended Episodes

Grammar: a relaxing dive into punctuation, syntax, and why you suddenly care about commas at bedtime. A sleep-friendly look at the rules of language—because nothing says insomnia relief like subjunctive clauses. Want More?Request a topic: https://www.icantsleeppodcast.com/request ... Show More

From game boards to boardrooms. Commas with participial phrases. Gritties.

1018. This week, we look at the meanings of the word "board," including the differences between board games, table games, and table-top games. We also look at the punctuation of participial phrases, helping you understand when to use commas in sentences like "She yelled at me, ma ... Show More

The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.

995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the tone of your writing. Then, we dive into the history of words for describing a big fuss — "kerfuffle," "hullabaloo," "hoopla," and more.The "big fuss" segment was written by S ... Show More

193 | Beginner - Short Story: The Town Without Shadows [English Listening Practice]

Title: The Town Without ShadowsLevel: Beginner (A1) #Story : Liam moves to the strange town of Shadowless, where there are no shadows. He befriends Clara, a local girl who shares his curiosity about the town’s mystery. Together, they uncover the secret of the Tower of Light, wher ... Show More

Commas and Periods

The Talk Like a Leader podcast in a weekly new episode format is coming to an end with this episode, and I'm sharing a thought for you regarding how being clear on commas and periods can help you be a better communicator. Additional Leadership Resources Take our free DISC Assessm ... Show More

142 | Advanced - Short Story: The Watchmaker's Secret Time Loop [English Listening Practice]

Title: The Watchmaker's Secret Time LoopLevel: Advanced (C) #Story : Amelia, a curious journalist, visits an old watchmaker’s shop rumored to hold secrets about time. She discovers that Horace, the enigmatic watchmaker, possesses a backward-moving clock that acts as a portal to t ... Show More

Quack! What's a lame duck? A German punctuation kerfuffle.

1022. This week, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into my favorite kind of hot grammar news: people in Germany are angry about apostrophes! The "election words" segment is by ... Show More

233 | Beginner - Short Story: Helping Friends [English Listening Practice]

Title: Helping FriendsLevel: Intermediate (B) #Story :Sam is an eight-year-old boy who loves school and is always happy to help his friends. Throughout his day, he assists Lucy with math, helps Ben with reading, and gives Emma ideas for her writing assignment. Sam’s kindness and ... Show More

Dana Gioia: Why Poetry Matters | How I Write

Dana Gioia is a poet, former Chairman of the NEA, and one of America's most insightful writers on the craft of poetry and prose. This is the deepest conversation I've ever had about writing. Dana breaks down the writing process from his first drafts to revision, and shares practi ... Show More

18.28: Writing Conversational Dialogue

How do you write dialogue that sounds natural? We have some things to keep in mind when you write conversations between characters. When people converse, they do so with more than just words. Body language, tone of voice, and societal context all play a role in understanding what ... Show More

Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami