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The semicolon: a short pause that no one understands | The semicolon: a short pause that no one understands |
(about 1 month later) | |
Using semicolons | Describing Biden | Fish pie topping | The Who | Laburnum trees | Using semicolons | Describing Biden | Fish pie topping | The Who | Laburnum trees |
One of the advantages of the semicolon is that almost nobody understands it (Marked decline in semicolons in English books, study suggests, 18 May). When I taught preparation classes for the TOEFL and IELTS English exams, I used to tell students that if they couldn’t decide between a full stop and a comma while writing essays, they should use a semicolon because the person grading their essay probably wouldn’t know if it was right either. | |
Brent Furnas | |
London | |
Much of the description “an elderly, egotistical president cocooned from reality seeking re-election in 2024 despite significant concerns about his declining health and cognitive abilities” could apply to the other candidate (Original Sin: book on Biden’s health decline reopens Democratic party’s wounds, 18 May). I’d have gone with the one who wasn’t a venal megalomaniac. | |
Richard O’Brien | |
Highbridge, Somerset | |
Jennifer Henley’s flatmate missed a trick (Letters, 18 May). Crushed crisps mixed with breadcrumbs and grated cheese is the best topping for fish in a cheesy sauce. Include some prawns and hard-boiled eggs with the fish and you have the perfect fish pie. | |
Pat Stevenson | |
Holywell, Northumberland | |
Won’t get fooled again (The Who fire drummer Zak Starkey for second time in a month, 19 May). | |
Pete Dorey | |
Bath | |
Re the photo on page 17 of the print edition on 21 May, you should perhaps point out that laburnum is poisonous. | |
Steve Lupton | |
Prestwich, Greater Manchester | |
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