The Semicolon Struggle: Punctuation's Silent Warrior in Modern Prose

A recent study has highlighted a significant decline in the use of semicolons in literature over the past two decades. The trend persisted from 1781 to 2000, where semicolon usage dipped from one every 90 words to one every 205. By today, it's merely one semicolon per 390 words.

Further research indicates a disheartening 67% of British students rarely use or even understand semicolons. Despite its dwindling presence, the semicolon once grew in popularity, increasing by 388% in English literature between 1800 to 2006, before seeing a decline.

The debate over the semicolon's relevance remains fervent. While some herald it as a tool of sophistication, others see it as an unnecessary embellishment. Esteemed authors like Virginia Woolf and Salman Rushdie still value its nuanced contribution to prose, advocating for its place in modern writing.

(With inputs from agencies.)