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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 treesUsing 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 FurnasLondon 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.
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’BrienHighbridge, 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 StevensonHolywell, Northumberland Brent Furnas
Won’t get fooled again (The Who fire drummer Zak Starkey for second time in a month, 19 May).Pete DoreyBath
Re the photo on page 17 of the print edition on 21 May, you should perhaps point out that laburnum is poisonous.Steve LuptonPrestwich, Greater Manchester 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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