comma, semicolon or period (c. splice): It’s not that..., I simply

[Gavril]

Of the three sentences below, I think that only the first two have strictly “correct” punctuation. However, the punctuation seen in the third sentence is very widely used (even by people with otherwise flawless spelling/punctuation).


1) It’s not that I hate instability; I simply like a little stability.

2) It’s not that I hate instability. I simply like a little stability.

3) It’s not that I hate instability, I simply like a little stability.


Would you say that only the first two are correctly punctuated? Or, are all three acceptable? (Perhaps the first two have a slightly different meaning than the last?)

 

[Copyright]

I think your first paragraph pretty much covers it for me.

 

[Scholiast]

Good day.

I agree with Copyright, as far as written English is concerned. But in the context of narrative fiction, say, it is hardly improper for slightly slacker punctuation to be used in direct speech, to reflect the mood and pace of the words spoken and the connexion and flow of thought; and some copy-editors might prefer an em-dash.

 

[Copyright]

I agree with Scholiast completely. I'm easy today -- and I'm also a dash man quite often.

 

[Gavril]

Good day.

I agree with Copyright, as far as written English is concerned. But in the context of narrative fiction, say, it is hardly improper for slightly slacker punctuation to be used in direct speech, to reflect the mood and pace of the words spoken and the connexion and flow of thought; and some copy-editors might prefer an em-dash.

I'd forgotten about em-dash as another option: It's not that I hate instability -- I just like a little stability.

To me, an em-dash sounds less "stiff" than a semicolon in this context.

 

[Copyright]

I'd forgotten about em-dash as another option: It's not that I hate instability -- I just like a little stability.

To me, an em-dash sounds less "stiff" than a semicolon in this context.

Perhaps it's the shape – it seems to lead you forward smoothly rather than stopping you momentarily. I use about four semicolons a year.

 

[luo.mai]

Perhaps it's the shape – it seems to lead you forward smoothly rather than stopping you momentarily. I use about four semicolons a year.

I use both semicolons and dashes all the time. In this particular example, I agree that a dash works beautifully.

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