The semicolon is dead;long live the comma splice.

[cakeorwine]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/18/marked-decline-semicolon-use-english-books-study-suggests

Apparently fewer people are using semicolons nowadays, they prefer using commas in their sentences.

The comma splice is really annoying. Either use a full stop or a semicolon but don't use a comma when you don't need to.

Sign me up; I’m in your tribe.

I'm quite pleased; I just scored 9/10.

I got 8 out of 10, it was the lists that got me
Sorry - I have spent a lot time with some people going through reports with a lot of comma splices in!!

Me too.

Love a semicolon. In the right place, obviously.

I scored 9/10.

I love semi-colons.

10/10. 😇

Thanks, OP. I got 10/10. I'm over the moon!

I got 10. That's my ego boost for the day.

The semicolon is necessary, and that is a hill I will die on. Not just die on; die on grammatically dramatically.

I got the Berlin, Barcelona question incorrect. I couldn't make it make sense any way round until I re read it just now.

Shall we launch a protest?

Semicolons in all the placard slogans, obviously.

Ooh I don't know, I can and do use semi colons but I think the comma splice does not read quite the same way.

To me statements spliced by a comma read like a train of thought with pauses; the semi colon by contrast gives the statements more authority.

I wonder if the rise of the comma splice correlates with the rise of rising inflection and the fear of being too definitive?

(I also got 10. I know how to use a SC even if I don't always choose it).

I got 10/10. I know how to use semi-colons correctly, I just never bother with them.

Can we, possibly, maybe, even potentially, ban, what is, the absolute infestation, of SODDING COMMAS, everywhere?

Imo the comma splice indicates a lack of understanding of statement sentences. The semi colon, however, suggests a closer relationship between ideas than those expressed in two separate sentences.

Yes, @NeverDropYourMooncup, especially when ,for some reason ,people put spaces ,in the ,wrong ,places

10/10.

Long live the semicolon.

I got 10/10. I love a semi-colon.

I got 10/10; I am both a grammar pedant nerd and a semi-colon addict.

I just looked at the thread title then googled 'the King is dead; long live the King' to find that everywhere uses a comma.

OP I'm with you.

My first 10 in more than 10 years 😂; obviously, I'm a semicolon fan.

When you have had as many cameras up your colon as I have; a semi-colon sounds like a blessed relief. 😳

I got 9/10 but I’m not a native English speaker, so I’m very pleased 😀.

10/10 thankfully. What even is a comma slice?

"The king is dead, long live the king."
"The king is dead; long live the king."
"The king is dead. Long live the king."
The king is dead - long live the king."

As much of a fan of semicolons as I am, I'm not sure I'd use one in that sentence. I'd probably go for a hyphen but I do tend to overuse those. A comma seems all kinds of wrong.