Comment by orthogonal_cube
1 month ago
> Isn't this what parenthesizes are meant for?
Parentheses add emphasis to a sentence or statement. Normally the use of it allows the sentence to be complete with or without it.
Em dashes may also add or increase emphasis but are normally treated as an aside. Think of it as a comment by the author to inject themselves, sometimes in ways which do not form a complete sentence.
For example: When you read this sentence (in your mind) it should feel complete and correct. Perhaps you read in your own voice — something I don’t normally do — or without one at all.
> I don't understand what the issue even is here, and the RFC also doesn't clearly outline it.
The issue is written there but may not make sense unless you know someone who stylistically writes with high-than-average em dash usage. I, for example, get inquiries and comments at work from employees who ask what LLM model I used for “generating these reports” because of the presence of em dashes. They do not believe me when I say not a single word was written by LLMs because, “there’s an em dash. Only LLMs use em dashes!” This is categorically untrue and erodes the authenticity of work from people because of the correlation.
Their aim is to implement a new Unicode character which programs like text editors could inject when a person types an em dash. It attributes to a human being behind the document, typing characters out individually. Actions like copy-pasting text in bulk wouldn’t replace em dashes since it can’t attribute a human as writing it out.
> Em dashes may also add or increase emphasis but are normally treated as an aside. Think of it as a comment by the author to inject themselves, sometimes in ways which do not form a complete sentence.
A semicolon is better for this purpose. Good writing doesn't have mad tangents anyway, there should be a flow and natural transition.
> Good writing doesn't have mad tangents anyway, there should be a flow and natural transition.
In general, yes. Technical documents, research reports, news articles, and other formal publications should follow this.
Anything else which allows a bit more freedom in expression? I’d say it’s a matter of taste.
I had freewritten, generally free expression type documents in mind when I wrote my statement, e.g. blog articles or opinion pieces. The problem is 'a matter of taste' can be used to excuse/justify anything.
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Semicolons start a new thought, they don't mark an aside that lets you return to the original line of thought. Like in their example:
> For example: When you read this sentence (in your mind) it should feel complete and correct. Perhaps you read in your own voice — something I don’t normally do — or without one at all.
I would have used parentheses in both places, and semicolons don't work in either one:
> For example: When you read this sentence (in your mind) it should feel complete and correct. Perhaps you read in your own voice (something I don’t normally do) or without one at all.
> Semicolons start a new thought, they don't mark an aside that lets you return to the original line of thought.
Sure they do. They're perfect for a related tangent without abounding the greater scope topic being discussed.
> I would have used parentheses in both places, and semicolons don't work in either one:
Parentheses work no question and I would argue are far more appropriate in that example since it's a minor elaboration/clarification and not a tangent, indeed, semicolons would not be appropriate for that.
You and Kurt Vonnegut seem to disagree here. He made liberal use of em dashes and hated semicolons.
And he was a giant of literature.
The problem with your definition of "good writing" is that it's entirely subjective. Just like Vonnegut's.
> You and Kurt Vonnegut seem to disagree here. He made liberal use of em dashes and hated semicolons.
Got some samples you would care to share? I'm skeptical we disagree, honestly. One can have preferences for different writing styles, and write in a way that works with preferred punctuation rather than against it.
> The problem with your definition of "good writing" is that it's entirely subjective.
I disagree. Subjectivity is only true to a point. Someone might like Independence Day 2 more than Citizen Kane, but the latter is objectively a better film.
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A semicolon is for separating list items that follow a colon
Semicolons have more than one use.
"In regular prose, a semicolon is most commonly used between two independent clauses not joined by a conjunction to signal a closer connection between them than a period would." Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, 407.
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