Traditionally, the semicolon has three uses: it can replace a comma in a series that includes interior commas, such as this one; it can replace a comma and a conjunction in a compound sentence, creating a subtle relationship between clauses; and it can be used artfully to suggest hesitations and inflections, a dangerous practice best explored in a graduate seminar on Henry James. Still haven’t subscribed to The New Yorker on YouTube ►► Comma Queen: The Semicolon; or, Mastering the Giant Comma
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