I've decided I love the semicolon; it is my punctuation mark of choice.

There is more to punctuation than meets the eye and there is an apparent resurgence of interest and delight in its correct usage. (A note for punctuation sticklers, please do NOT trawl through this piece with your editor's red pen.)

Romeo smiled. Juliet leant forward.

Romeo smiled: Juliet leant forward.

Romeo smiled; Juliet leant forward.

They mean different things simply because of the punctuation.


1. Two separate events are simply reported. There is no suggestion, more than their consequence, that the two events are related.

2. The reason for Romeo's smile is purely Juliet leaning forward. Whether it is the low cut blouse, her bending to kiss him or that she has been standing on his toe and now taken the pressure off is not shared with us. What we know is that her leaning forward made him smile.

3. There's something going on between Romeo and Juliet. His smile and her leaning forward are interconnected, we don't know which prompted the other but they are definitely; excitingly; tantalisingly and elusively connected.

The semicolon adds passion and verve to a description that is otherwise simply factual with amazingly little effort but rewardingly great result. I'd like the semicolon to be emblematic of my life. Isolated facts are connected, their meaning may not be immediately apparent but becomes the subject of intrigue and even discussion. Life should be more than just a list of facts and events.

Who wouldn't want a little semicolon in their life?