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I'd switch to semicolons, but I need to re-read this book to be sure I'm using them correctly:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats,_Shoots_%26_Leaves

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).

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

Not at all! Pizza for everyone.

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" :)

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...

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