[llamavore]

I 100% agree. I hear a lot of pushback from em dash lovers on the semicolon; if you can learn to love an em dash, you can learn to use and love a semicolon.

Remember, meaning is based on common usage, so now em dash is slop-nonymous, semicolons can take on a more casual vibe.

For example: I love pizza — it's my comfort food.

Can just become: I love pizza; it's my comfort food.

For asides: I love pizza — especially pepperoni.

Can just become: I love pizza (especially pepperoni).

[the_af]

Wow. Am I the only one who reads all those sentences differently? Either the length of the pause or the intonation is different to me. But I wouldn't be able to explain it...

[fsckboy]

I also love pizza, it's my comfort food. You see a problem here?

[llamavore]

Not at all! Pizza for everyone.

[fsckboy]

just for the record, i meant "do you see any problem with my use of the humble comma to avoid weird things like em-dash or semicolon" :)