Got Punctuation Addictions?

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I'm beginning to realize that I have a problem...with semicolons! DX I use them so much, sometimes I accidentally put them in in place of commas!

I learned that you use a semicolon when you have two complete thoughts that are part of the same sentence, like 'I'm going to the store; you want anything?' But in my natural speech I string thoughts together like that all the time, and all the transliteration has caused me to form a habit, it seems.
I need them so bad, I even use them in texts...but then, I'm the kind of person who texts exactly the same way as I write. Sometimes I leave off the period, though, just to look hip for the kiddies~

Another issue I have is with...uh, these: ~
I use them to denote enthusiasm, like so~. And I'm 97% certain that's not what they are for, but now my writing just looks empty without them. Like, it doesn't look like...'me'. I have to resist the urge to put them in my lab reports...

I'm beginning to see that I also have a problem with ellipses...aw frick...

[Zaboem]

~ is called a tilda. Network admins like to use them in computer passwords because they are so infrequently seen elsewhere. At least, that is where I most often see tildas. I like to use a tilda in front of a quote attribution like this: "Last night I shot an elephant in mu pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know." ~Grocho Marx

Using a tilda in front of a name like that allows me to do it even on pages where dashes and hyphens are considered code. What was the original purpose of a tilda? I don't know. If I find my copy of Strange Characters, I will look it up and let everybody know.

[punkarsenic]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i feel you. i went through a phase of LOVING to use the semicolon; its just such a fun piece of grammar. now i use waaay too many of these bad boys: -. im really naughty abt repeating the same sentence structure again and again - mainly in semi-formal writing, less so in creative writing.

also my teacher always calls me out for my over-use of commas

that said, in social media / this informal, conversational writing you get online, i dont think these quirks are problems per se. theyre how you talk. if you use a lot of tildes or japanese emoticons or ellipsis esp really long ellipses................................................ it gives u... a Voice

[qwerty]

Wow I've been waiting so long for this topic without even knowing it XD

I agree with punkarsenic that it's not a problem in informal writing, which is good because I use quotes and parens a lot. And also most of the other punctuations, which I just see as a tool to express oneself more accurately.

For example - occasionally I'll use a tilda in place of a hyphen or even period just because it has a softer feeling to it ~

I use quotes to express something like "caution" or "skepticism" regarding a term's actual meaning, like "don't take this word too literally; look between the lines a little to see what I'm really trying to say".

I used to use semicolons all the time, often I just use commas now though since they sorta feel a little more casual / less "pedantic".

Overall, in informal writing I care more about whether I'm getting the right subtle feelings and connotations across than whether it's gramatically correct. And who knows, maybe many years from now it will become gramatically correct - grammar is a convention that changes over time, after all

[DasIstWunderblyat]

@Zaboem People named Matilda are so lucky
Ma~

In more serious note, I spam semicolons too. Some other writers also known to spam the "---" mark (I don't know what it's called), I rarely used it because the hassle and I just don't think it's look nice.

I use ellipsis a lot when chatting online and to give impression of hanging/floating/doubtful/nervous characters voice.

[Zaboem]

The long -- is called a dash.
A short - is called a hyphen by Americans or a short dash or half dash (I think) by the British.
Both have multiple uses, but each has a single primary use. A hyphen is used to connect words like and thus make them easier to recognize as a single unit by the reader. Hmm, I am not thinking of any good examples right now, but I use the term "and-or" to express that all options are available. Hyphenated words have been passing out of fashion lately.
A dash does the opposite job of separating words. William Zinser wrote (I am working from memory here), "More than any other form of punctuation, the dash accomplishes what it means to do by its very shape. It makes a reader pause."

With all of these punctuation forms, how much you use depends on what effect you are trying to make. Think about how you want your page of text to look. A page with minimalist punctuation looks clean, neat, and efficient. A thought bubble with a lot of dashes and simicolons looks messy and well simulates a hectic string of conscious thoughts. When I want a narrator to come off as pretentious, I use colons and square-sided brackets.

H.P. Lovecraft used a very nifty trick in his short story, "Nyarlathotep." The narrator is watching a stage magician create sparks and swirling lights above the stage. As these pyrotechnics form into visions, Lovecraft fills the page with commas and semi-colons wherever he can squeeze one in. The effect is that the page looks like swirly sparks (at least to me).

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Thank you for the thorough explanation!

Oh, that is why I rarely see hyphen and sometimes confused that some hyphenated two words, while others don't do it on same words (are there rules, though?). In my language hyphen is commonly used, to make plural word we repeat same word with hyphen.

I never use the dash, only when a speech is cut abruptly. I never feel to get it right using it in sentence, that's why I stayed with semicolons.

I completely agree with the impression part although it will gives effect vary on each person. Like some people think a longer sentence without any comma is like talking without taking a breath at all. Also that's an interesting example!

[ar-ninetysix]

I abuse the hell out of the tilda and "lol" tbh

I don't like using emojis or emoticons all that much with friends unless I feel like being snarky! But the thing is, I don't wanna seem boring, hostile, or upset, so I overuse these two at the end of sentences to replace harsh periods and seem more gentle and light-hearted lol~

[ForLackOfStars]

I love semicolons, and DEFINITELY am guilty of using them in texts. I know they're bad when overused, but I will fight anyone who says that they are unnecessary.

[SleepingPoppy]

Another issue I have is with...uh, these: ~

My understanding was that the tilda denoted singing, or saying something in a sing-song voice. Using it to denote enthusiasm or a positive feeling doesn't seem far off. I don't know if I'm correct in my use of it, though! I picked it up from some reading when I was younger..

[Kura]

...
...
...
...

^That. The character dialogue in my first drafts are almost always filled with them, especially in scenes that would have a lot of pauses due to the character feeling awkward, uncertain, or just sad. I don't know why, I think it's because in my head while I'm writing I imagine the voice becoming weaker in tone and my brain just goes with "..." to symbolize that.

I always have to go back and edit them out.

[unknown_user]

I'm beginning to realize that I have a problem...with semicolons! DX I use them so much, sometimes I accidentally put them in in place of commas!

It it cute, because it reminded me of one old friend of mine, who do the same!

[lartianmartian1]

(Parentheses)

(I abuse the heck out of them)

(I should stop)

(But I never ever will )

... And ellipses and emoticons. Of course.

[storytimebiondi]

The long -- is called a dash.

More specifically, it's an em — done by holding alt+shift and then hitting -. There's also an en dash – which is between a hyphen and an em dash. Not sure how to type an en dash or even what it's really used for... but, there it is!

As for my own quirks. I also use parentheses a lot to put fun interjections (such as this) into my sentences without using dashes or commas.

[joannekwan]

En dashes are for numbers! Like dates 6–12–18 (made by holding option/alt + -)

[echoeotto]

But in my natural speech I string thoughts together like that all the time, and all the transliteration has caused me to form a habit, it seems.

Same Semicolons and em dashes (—) are both handy for threading thoughts together, but I use so many I always have to edit some out. Semicolons seem less distracting than em dashes, but they also seem to confuse some people.

Another issue I have is with...uh, these: ~I use them to denote enthusiasm, like so~

Ohmygosh I used to do that too when texting! The tildes confused people even more than the semicolons, so I thought it was just me

[echoeotto]

(made by holding option/alt + -)

Only on Mac This is one of the few features I miss when using Windows.

[Lyrienn]

If this topic, might be the best place to ask I hope... Using both ? and ! at the end of the sentence, is it weird in english? Like when making a really angry question:
"You did what?!"

[echoeotto]

It's called an interrobang. It's considered informal, but I've seen people use it.

[Lyrienn]

Hmm... okay thanks. Sometimes I get the feeling to use the "wierder" puntuations like this one, or the semicolon, which are totally okay in my original language... than I usually decide against it I don't know how will I decide about this particular part yet though, still I think you helped @echoeotto Thanks ^^