Are semicolons necessary? Options

[mipadi]

Kurt Vonnegut wrote, "Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college." But I happen to like semicolons; I have been to college and I know how to use them properly. So who's right, Kurt Vonnegut or me?

[mipadi]

Semicolons, like music, are just things you have to feel.

[Gigi]

Semicolons, like music, are just things you have to feel.

LOL you know, I actually don't disagree with that, because I've known how to use semicolons before someone officially taught me how to use them (which was probably 9th grade or so). They're not too difficult...if you feel it hahahaha.

In all seriousness, a semicolon is immensely useful to throw in the mix to vary sentence structure a bit, and English teachers LOVE that. In an academic setting, it's completely appropriate. But using it while IM-ing with your friends would be pretentious, of course.

[brooklyneast05]

In all seriousness, a semicolon is immensely useful to throw in the mix to vary sentence structure a bit, and English teachers LOVE that. In an academic setting, it's completely appropriate. But using it while IM-ing with your friends would be pretentious, of course.

this makes me laugh. my mom is an english teacher. whenever we're on gmail talking on google chat she always uses all this complicated punctuation. it really annoys me. it is pretentious.