The semicolon once stood as a symbol of thoughtful, elegant writing, a punctuation mark beloved by literary greats like Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf. But today, the humble semicolon faces an uncertain future.
New analysis from Babbel uncovers a stark decline: semicolon usage in British English books has fallen by nearly 50% in the past two decades. In fact, historical data shows this decline stretches back centuries. In 1781, British literature featured a semicolon roughly every 90 words; by 2000, it had fallen to one every 205 words. Today, there’s just one semicolon for every 390 words.
And it’s not just in books. New survey data from Babbel reveals over half (54%) of UK students didn’t know when to replace a comma with a semicolon.
Babbel partnered with the London Student Network, a community of 500,000 students, to ask about their attitudes toward the semicolon and whether they actually knew how to use it. The quiz, co-written by Babbel’s linguistic experts and grammarian Lisa McLendon, tested students on real-world semicolon usage.
Key Findings From The April 2025 Semicolon Survey
- Based upon responses to the interactive quiz, 28% of young Britons don’t use the semicolon at all. 39% of students claim to rarely use semicolons; just 11% of respondents described themselves as frequent users of the semicolon.
- Over half (54%) of young Britons don’t know the rules around semicolon usage (4 of the 5 most poorly-answered questions required respondents to identify when to replace a comma with a semicolon). UK students scored 49% on average on the semicolon quiz.
- Although many don’t understand or use it, the Babbel survey revealed that 67% of young Britons still believe the semicolon has value.
- Grammar divides opinion — half of students admit to judging others for poor grammar, while the other half say they don’t — hinting at a cultural divide in how much value is placed on language precision
Why Don’t People Use The Semicolon More?
According to Babbel’s experts, the reason people avoid this punctuation mark less about rejection and more about uncertainty. Many students simply aren’t confident about using it correctly.
Sofia Zambelli, a linguistic and cultural expert at Babbel, comments: “Punctuation makes a huge difference in conveying meaning and structuring discourse, with its rules varying from language to language. The semicolon, in particular, presents a challenge for many English learners. Whilst searching for best use cases to illustrate the practicality and beauty of the semicolon, we found many historical texts but fewer contemporary examples. This inspired Babbel to try and understand just what was going on with the semicolon in modern British English. Our findings reveal that the semicolon is an ‘endangered’ punctuation mark, abandoned by many British writers who might have been expected to showcase its value and often misunderstood by younger generations.
“Hope for the future of the semicolon comes from the majority of British students believing it to still have a value, and we concur. Our data shows that Gen Z is not rejecting the semicolon; rather, they fear using it incorrectly. We consistently witness how, when learning a language, understanding grammar and punctuation — often the less appreciated aspects of language-learning — results in more thoughtful communication, and makes speakers and writers more adept in expressing themselves clearly and accurately.”
Take The Semicolon Test
We’ve turned the same quiz into an interactive experience you can try right now. Whether you’re a grammar genius or just curious, challenge yourself and see how you stack up against the average.
Click here to take the quiz.
If the semicolon feels intimidating, remember: it’s never too late to learn.
The semicolon isn’t dead; it’s just waiting for a comeback!