Punctuation appreciation; the semicolon smiles

Only in New York would a rather mundane ad hanging high in a subway car get press because of its use of punctuation. New York City residents outrank us Phoenicians in style, culture, music, nightlife and now grammar. Here's the story; it appears — where else? — in the New York Times. The article illuminates why many writers compose sentences sans semicolons; most never learned how to use one. Son of Sam killer David Berkowitz, the article says, could use semicolons with perfection, but most Americans are unfamiliar with the punctuation.

As a refresher, use one somewhat like a comma; usually a semicolon provides a different kind of pause, though. The AP Guide to Punctuation suggests a semicolon provides a shorter pause than a period, but a longer pause than a comma. It also suggests to use them sparingly, calling the stacked period-comma "too formal" for most readers. "It can subdue a blizzard of commas," the guide goes on.

Going back to the article: it blames the further demise of the semicolon on e-mail and texting. And in this modern age it usually isn't used for anything more than a wink — ;)