After all the recent discussion of the semicolon (in the NYTimes and other places) I couldn't resist the urge to make Semicolon Appreciation Society T-Shirts. Because, really, if a thing is worth talking about, it's certainly worth wearing.
Here's the back (on the white/light shirts only, no back printing on dark shirts):
I also made some 3×5 stickers, so you can edit signs to add semicolons where they ought to be:
And, of course, a membership card:
Although I'm not happy with the wording of it. Anyone want to suggest new wording that actually, you know, includes a semicolon?
I was thinking that the Semicolon Appreciation Society's bylaws should be like those of humorous WWII servicemen's associations, with riddles and having to forfeit the price of a drink if you can't write a sentence including a semicolon on demand. Suggestions for further bylaws entertained in the comments.
Thanks are due to Garth, who recklessly encouraged me, and India Amos, who suggested the completely wonderful Cooper Poster font as the one that included the platonic ideal of the semicolon form.
Labels: semicolons, shirts
Erin McKean's Other Blog 
I think my semicolon muscles have atrophied; I need to flex them a bit. (Does that work?)In my casual writing, I generally use a dash where a semicolon would probably be more appropriate.
LikeLike
The easiest way to work semicolons in there would be to make one of the list items contain a comma; then you’d have to use a semicolon to separate them. To wit:“. . . is a member in good standing of the Society; charged with performing all the duties and obligations required of members; and entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, where allowable by law.”
LikeLike
I like indiamos’s suggestion, but I would change the wording slightly to make it more “list-like” as shown in the following example:“. . . is a member in good standing of the Society; is charged with performing all the duties and obligations required of members; is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, where allowable by law.”I’ll try to think of something to add to the list.
LikeLike
The semicolon? How about some love for the colon? Oh, wait…
LikeLike
I think the membership card employ a different function of the semicolon. I’m of the opinion that creating a complex sentence without using a conjunction is the most noble use of the semicolon; using it in a list necessitates using a comma and thus implies a subservience or inferiority to a much baser punctuation mark.My suggestion:…is a member is good standing of the Society. Good standing is contingent upon the performance of all duties and obligations required of members; a failure to uphold such duties and obligations shall be considered a repudiation of the Society and degrades one’s standing within the Society. A member in good standing is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto where allowable by law; the Society’s regulations, while just and right in all possible ways, have been deemed illegitimate when in conflict with state, municipal, and national laws.It’s not perfect and uses more commas than semicolons, but I think it’s a decent start.
LikeLike
The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar is proud to extend its embrace to include warm appreciation of the semicolon.
LikeLike
Indiamos’ suggestion doesn’t work because he/she is consistently using the semicolon incorrectly! Commas and semicolons are not interchangeable; a semicolon requires that both sides of the sentence be complete sentences unto themselves. When semicolons are used in a list, they follow a colon.
LikeLike
@L: Where on earth did you get such a notion? Please see CMS 15 6.60 and 6.126.I think “L” must be a Society for the Advancement of Colons member who is attempting to infiltrate our group!
LikeLike
The Semicolon’s Dream Journal mentions the Semicolon Appreciation Society in the Feb. 24 entry:http://oneletterwords.com/weblog/?c=Semicolon
LikeLike
A thorough examination of a semicolon requires a semicolonoscopy.
LikeLike
Delighted to see all this fuss because I am a walking semicolon! I had a third of my colon removed in 2000 after a tumor appeared; thus, I have a special affinity for the semicolon!Keep up the crusade!
LikeLike
Ah! Brilliant. I love the semicolon–but cannot resist inserting a comma here:The semi-colon is not used enough; the comma, too often.
LikeLike
The platonic ideal of the semicolon approximates a vertical representation of 09, zero-nine. Therefore, I think that 2009 should be branded the year of the semicolon as soon as possible.
LikeLike
yeah, I’m gonna need one of those shirts. Details! :)Thanks as always, Erin!
LikeLike
@indiamosAppeal to authority is one of the classic rhetorical devices used to dupe gullible listeners. By what right does the CMS rule? None! Use semicolons however you like;That said, I personally view the use of the semicolon in a list as a base and degrading use of a noble mark; the calling of the semicolon is as a conjunction.
LikeLike
I am a technical writer. There are very few places in my line of work where it would not be better to use two sentences instead of a semicolon.
LikeLike
I’ve always thought of the semicolon as an alternative for the conjunction “and” in a compound sentence; now I wonder, am I wrong?
LikeLike
Another way:“. . . is a member in good standing of the Society; hereby is charged with performing all the duties and obligations required of members; and entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, where allowable by law.”
LikeLike
Like Chris I tend to use the dash – it shows up better when I have a space before and after – you can’t do that with a semi!Anything about the overuse of the explanation point?
LikeLike
For wording of the membership card: [full colon, another orphan]”…is a member in good standing of the Society;[first semicolon] he or she is charged with the duties and obligations of advocating the proper use of the revered semicolon; [second semicolon]of protecting and defending it against the hordes of semiliterate semicolondroppers; [third semicolon]and of explaining, to the benefit of the expectant masses, the utility, beauty, clarity, [series, or Harvard comma] and sensitivity of this most misunderstood of all literary tools.There are NO rights or privileges pertaining herein; [fourth semicolon] defense of the evered semicolon is reward sufficient.
LikeLike
A response for Karin:No!
LikeLike
I use/abuse semicolons on a regular and consistent basis; I also make liberal use of ellipses (…). Punctuation for fun and profit!
LikeLike
Oh, Lord! I am such a geek! Really enjoyed this article!(I am also an admissted exclaimation point abuser!)
LikeLike
Dashes are so violent; they are like little sentence-slashing razor blades. On the other hand, semicolons are a pleasant reminder to the reader to pause for a breath. Thanks for helping me honor this oft-overlooked punctuation mark.
LikeLike
These are most appealing and for a good cause; however, I still don’t think the semi will survive the century. Sadly.Digging your site. If you ever want to stop by, I am debuting “Grammarmama,” a new mini-series on my own blog, Crabmommy. As a former grammar teacher I have an ear and an eye out for egregious grammar-mangling. Grammarmama aims to help moms help their kids (and themselves) speak gooder as they grow.crabmommy.blogspot.com
LikeLike
to crabmommyIt’s “more good.”
LikeLike
I think “better” would be better.
LikeLike
I like semicolons. There’s nothing like a good compound-complex sentence. Unfortunately, I actually have a college teacher who seems against them. Joyous will be the day, next week, when I will leave her class forever. Until then I will hoard my precious punctuation for those who really appreciate it. 😉
LikeLike
…”explanation point?”Please explain Karin.
LikeLike
I challenge my students to sprinkle the semi-c liberally in their writing; it adds a bit of style to otherwise abysmal adolescent prose.
LikeLike
Um, to the commenter who thought I should have used the word “better” in my comment, rather than “gooder.”….Ya think?It was deliberate.A joke, that is. :)No wonder we grammar geeks are accused of being humorless. Apparently quite a few of us are.
LikeLike
I am looking for an English expert (definately not I) to comment on Section 8b and 8c of http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01919F.htm and help me understand whether the semicolons used to separate the list, along with the word “or” create a meaning of 1 or 2 or 3? or a meaning of 1 and 2, or 3? Does this make sense? If this is not the appropriate place for such a discussion someone can just email me privately at mike AT bernoski.net. Thanks so much for your wonderful expertise!!!!
LikeLike
Dudes! How come none of the cooler style Tees are for men?
LikeLike
Tell me what styles you want and I will set them up! It’s no trouble.
LikeLike
For the back of the shirt:Happiness is using semicolonsorHave you used a semicolon latelyorProud member of the Semicolon Appreciation Society
LikeLike
How about; The semicolon, sad (get a life) members, appreciation society.
LikeLike
… is a member in good standing of the society; therefore, the member is charged with performing all the duties and obligations required of such, and entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining therto (where allowable by law). P.S. Maybe I’m partial, but there is a nice parallel between “of such” and “thereto”P.S.S. The easiest people to teach how to use the semi- colon is Spanish speakers who are learning English. No joke. They write in run- ons, so once they learn about the semi, they run with it (really bad pun intended).
LikeLike
Miriam: The semi-colon is not used enough; the comma, too often.I love it!!!
LikeLike
@ Miriam:”The semi-colon is not used enough; the comma, too often.”It’s lovely, but tell me how you feel about writing it this way to make it just a little nicer:”The semi-colon is used not often enough; the comma, too often.”This way the two sentences mirror one another structurally speaking. Just a thought…And @ ormus:”How about; The semicolon, sad (get a life) members, appreciation society.”If you’re going to insult people on a grammar-related thread, it might be a good idea to put some thought into what you want to say before you put it down. I’m hoping you can read this properly, because after reading your attempt at wit I’m not sure you understand the principles of basic sentence structure at all. Keep at it though; maybe you’ll figure out what I mean to tell you here!
LikeLike
…thereunto appertaining?
LikeLike
Another opinion on the T-shirt text, with emphasis…The semi-colon is not used often ENOUGH; the comma, TOO often.
LikeLike
do you know how utterly SAD you people are??? A SEMI-COLON APPRECIATION SOCIETY??? Dont you people have LIVES??? I suppose not. I tested at the top of my whole grade in English but Im not trying to run a semi-colon appreciation society!!! I have a life! So should you! Just spend one second to think about it. Do ANY of the people reading this have boyfriends? Friends that they actually LIKE? Are the people reading this sporty? Are they thin? DO THEY ACTUALLY LIKE THEMSELVES???? the answer is, of course, no. GET A DAMN LIFE PEOPLE!!!!
LikeLike
Have joined the Society, written the blog post AND got the t-shirt; the semicolon is a motif in my life.
LikeLike
Im proud to be a semicolon supporter; I wouldnt have it any other way. In fact, I was inspired to write a poem, entitled An Ode To The Semicolon.Cheers!
LikeLike
How about:The semicolon is a thing of beauty; it almost seems endangered.
LikeLike
Reporting for duty; better late than never.
LikeLike
Shouldn’t there be a semi colon after “Society,” and before “charged.” Also, I like jcw120’s idea.
LikeLike
I agree that the semicolon has languished unappreciated for far too long; I would really appreciate inclusion into this important society!
LikeLike
It’s funny how that little tiny mark (;) sarecs me to death. Correct grammar is important to me and I tend to notice grammar mistakes; therefore I often avoid the semicolon for fear that I will use it incorrectly.(How did I do?) Poor use of words annoys me more than punctuation. Love this post!
LikeLike