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The semicolon: a short pause that no one understands | Brief letters

Using semicolons | Describing Biden | Fish pie topping | The Who | Laburnum treesOne 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• 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 Continue reading...

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One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides a flight path for a modern air traffic control system

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One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides a flight path for a modern air traffic control system

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Reimagine FEMA before the next disaster

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Reimagine FEMA before the next disaster

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Nuclear energy policy headed in the right direction

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Nuclear energy policy headed in the right direction

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Trump finishes what Arlen Specter started

washington times

Trump finishes what Arlen Specter started

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The looming health care cliff Washington isn't talking about

washington times

The looming health care cliff Washington isn't talking about

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Government attacks on private property

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Government attacks on private property

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The real reason Joe Biden 'suddenly' has cancer

washington times

The real reason Joe Biden 'suddenly' has cancer

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What was really going on in the Biden White House?

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What was really going on in the Biden White House?

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Letter to the editor: No doubt about who's in charge now

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Letter to the editor: No doubt about who's in charge now

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Letter to the editor: Time to amend 25th Amendment

washington times

Letter to the editor: Time to amend 25th Amendment

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What we learned from President Trump's first official trip abroad

washington times

What we learned from President Trump's first official trip abroad

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Letter to the editor: Stop condoning reverse racism

washington times

Letter to the editor: Stop condoning reverse racism

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For Trump's tariffs to work, consumer behavior needs to change

washington times

For Trump's tariffs to work, consumer behavior needs to change

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Pope Leo's AI warning

washington times

Pope Leo's AI warning

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He knows diddly squat: Why Clarkson’s cracks about Scotland make him a bloody idiot

He knows diddly squat: Why Clarkson’s cracks about Scotland make him a bloody idiot

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It looks like only Reform is ready to fight for Scotland's future

It looks like only Reform is ready to fight for Scotland's future

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Think about it, Mr Swinney: Why should fishermen have a veto over our EU deals?

Think about it, Mr Swinney: Why should fishermen have a veto over our EU deals?

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The Herald cartoon on the hot weather

The Herald cartoon on the hot weather

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We hate to bring up the name of this restaurant…

We hate to bring up the name of this restaurant…

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Is Scotland's future on fire - and how can we stop it?

Is Scotland's future on fire - and how can we stop it?

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Photo essay: The children of Thatcher’s Britain

Photo essay: The children of Thatcher’s Britain

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When David Tennant met Gordon Brown

When David Tennant met Gordon Brown

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JENNI MURRAY: There will be no grandchildren unless we listen to Kate's plan - it could still save Britain

JENNI MURRAY: There will be no grandchildren unless we listen to Kate's plan - it could still save Britain

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Save the tears for 'Saint Gary'. The BBC gave Lineker a leg up and he helped damage their reputation, writes SIMON JORDAN

Save the tears for 'Saint Gary'. The BBC gave Lineker a leg up and he helped damage their reputation, writes SIMON JORDAN

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Medicaid work requirement makes sense and builds character

washington times

Medicaid work requirement makes sense and builds character

about 20 hours ago

Stop being so defensive about our schools and learn lessons from abroad

Stop being so defensive about our schools and learn lessons from abroad

about 23 hours ago

Are we facing the death of Glasgow's reputation for having the best crowds at gigs?

Are we facing the death of Glasgow's reputation for having the best crowds at gigs?

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Best of the Babylon Bee: Karine Jean-Pierre insists Joe Biden is cancer-free

Best of the Babylon Bee: Karine Jean-Pierre insists Joe Biden is cancer-free

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Contributor: L.A. has now laid a real foundation to address homelessness

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This tax-bill fine print could send businesses fleeing from New York — or derail Trump’s agenda

Pop culture has a "bean soup problem."

Pop culture has a "bean soup problem."

Holy smoke! Could Hamilton be doubling as Gotham City?

Holy smoke! Could Hamilton be doubling as Gotham City?

£750 million spent on the ferries fiasco? Yes, and the rest...

£750 million spent on the ferries fiasco? Yes, and the rest...

The islands are not at the need for international aid yet but it’s getting closer

The islands are not at the need for international aid yet but it’s getting closer

DEAR JANE: I tracked my husband's iPhone to a location most women would consider unspeakable... but not me

DEAR JANE: I tracked my husband's iPhone to a location most women would consider unspeakable... but not me

Michael Goodwin: Dems’ cover-up of Biden’s mental, physical decline is a bombshell of bad news – and it’s going from bad to worse

Michael Goodwin: Dems’ cover-up of Biden’s mental, physical decline is a bombshell of bad news – and it’s going from bad to worse

MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Panicked Jill and Joe may have just let slip their despicable secret plot... it raises a question almost too ghastly to contemplate

MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Panicked Jill and Joe may have just let slip their despicable secret plot... it raises a question almost too ghastly to contemplate

Treating these children as guinea pigs and lab rats was unforgivable: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV

Treating these children as guinea pigs and lab rats was unforgivable: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV

British trade deal shows the limits of Trump's tariff strategy

washington times

British trade deal shows the limits of Trump's tariff strategy

Make veterans healthy again

washington times

Make veterans healthy again

We must tackle the medical professional shortage

washington times

We must tackle the medical professional shortage

We must strengthen America's health care workforce

washington times

We must strengthen America's health care workforce

Reforming prior authorization: The next step to helping both sides of the stethoscope

washington times

Reforming prior authorization: The next step to helping both sides of the stethoscope

Congress must ensure health care cost estimates are accurate

washington times

Congress must ensure health care cost estimates are accurate

Supporting loan repayment programs is key to strengthening the primary care workforce

washington times

Supporting loan repayment programs is key to strengthening the primary care workforce

Big pharma puts other countries first and America last. It's time we change that

washington times

Big pharma puts other countries first and America last. It's time we change that

The medical provider shortage threatens Americans' health

washington times

The medical provider shortage threatens Americans' health

Fixing our health care workforce doesn't have to break the bank

washington times

Fixing our health care workforce doesn't have to break the bank

This is our prescription to fix a broken health care system

washington times

This is our prescription to fix a broken health care system

Fighting a deadly illness is brutal. You shouldn't have to fight your insurance too

washington times

Fighting a deadly illness is brutal. You shouldn't have to fight your insurance too

Remembering a childhood of antisemitism and fear in the Soviet Union

Remembering a childhood of antisemitism and fear in the Soviet Union

Ignore Iran’s tough talk — hold the red line on no nuclear enrichment

Ignore Iran’s tough talk — hold the red line on no nuclear enrichment

Progressive Manhattan lawmakers again push ‘rent control for the rich’

Progressive Manhattan lawmakers again push ‘rent control for the rich’

Biden’s cancer diagnosis: Letters to the Editor — May 21, 2025

Biden’s cancer diagnosis: Letters to the Editor — May 21, 2025

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washington times

What does free trade mean in the 21st century?

How media distort judicial rulings against Trump border policies

washington times

How media distort judicial rulings against Trump border policies

Biden forgives student loans and, behold, defaults skyrocket

washington times

Biden forgives student loans and, behold, defaults skyrocket

Performative and predictable: Gavin Newsom's great rightward retreat

washington times

Performative and predictable: Gavin Newsom's great rightward retreat

Five things conservatives should know about AI

washington times

Five things conservatives should know about AI

Wins from the Trump White House keep stacking up

washington times

Wins from the Trump White House keep stacking up