16 votes

The birth of the semicolon

7 comments

  1. [6]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    I don't know... These days, with text communication proliferating due to the internet, I think a rhetorical question mark would be handy.

    This isn’t too surprising: does anyone really need a special punctuation mark to know when a question is rhetorical?

    I don't know... These days, with text communication proliferating due to the internet, I think a rhetorical question mark would be handy.

    7 votes
    1. [4]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        I agree. However, I've repeatedly run into the problem here on Tildes that people are unable to recognise non-literal writing. It would be handy in that context to have a literal sign to...

        I agree. However, I've repeatedly run into the problem here on Tildes that people are unable to recognise non-literal writing. It would be handy in that context to have a literal sign to demonstrate rhetoric.

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Diff
            Link Parent
            I think it'd depend at least a little on how easy it is to create. For example, !? is 3 button presses/taps. I don't even know how to get an interrobang on this phone without copy/pasting. Linux I...

            I think it'd depend at least a little on how easy it is to create. For example, !? is 3 button presses/taps. I don't even know how to get an interrobang on this phone without copy/pasting. Linux I could do Compose+?+! probably but on Windows and macOS, again, not a clue.

            2 votes
      2. mrbig
        Link Parent
        I'll answer by paraphrasing a comment I made before: Ancient Greece: manuscripts will make you lazy 15th century: printing will make you lazy 19th century: film and photograph will make you lazy...

        I think that would just encourage laziness in the usage of rhetorical questions. Imo they should be made obvious enough by proper structuring and phrasing.

        I'll answer by paraphrasing a comment I made before:

        • Ancient Greece: manuscripts will make you lazy
        • 15th century: printing will make you lazy
        • 19th century: film and photograph will make you lazy
        • 20th century: television will make you lazy
        • Later 20th century: computers will make you lazy
        • 21st century: cellphones will make you lazy
        2 votes
    2. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        Whatever that symbol is, it's not rendering in my browser.

        Whatever that symbol is, it's not rendering in my browser.

        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Diff
            Link Parent
            Maybe English could repurpose Spanish's upside down question mark. That's probably more widely supported anyway. ¿

            Maybe English could repurpose Spanish's upside down question mark. That's probably more widely supported anyway.

            ¿

  2. pseudochron
    Link
    “Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.” ― Kurt...

    “Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.”

    ― Kurt Vonnegut

    5 votes