Three reasons the misunderstood semicolon is under threat
Research shows that more than half of British students don't know or understand how to use a semicolon, with many admitting to rarely or never using it.
The decline is attributed to a lack of proper grammar education, the rise of smartphones and emojis, and the increasing use of AI writing tools.
While some writers criticise the semicolon as pretentious, its proponents argue it adds a touch of class and connects ideas seamlessly.
The most common misuse is putting a semicolon instead of a comma. It's not a pause, but a tool to separate two independent clauses that are linked.
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The Sun
a minute ago
- The Sun
Thousands more pupils awarded highest A-level grades but fewer are taking exams – as UK's most popular subject revealed
THOUSANDS more teenagers have bagged the highest A-level grades this year — but slightly fewer sat the exams. Fresh figures show 83,334 papers were awarded the coveted A* - a rise of 0.1 percentage points on last summer — even though total entries dipped by 0.5 per cent to 882,509 4 4 4 4 The proportion of A*–A grades climbed to 28.3 per cent, meaning almost one in three results hit the top band, defying predictions of little change. UCAS data also reveals more school-leavers have secured places at university, with 439,180 acceptances so far — up 3.1 per cent on last year. For the first time in seven years, boys have outperformed girls at the very top, with 9.9 per cent of male entries earning an A* compared to 9.1 per cent of female entries — a gap of 0.8 percentage points. Girls still matched them overall when A* and A grades were combined, but the shift marks a return to the pre-pandemic pattern before teacher-assessed grades flipped the tables. Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator of Ofqual, England's exams regulator, said the standard of work required to achieve grades has 'held constant' since 2023. He said any changes were because a 'smaller, smarter cohort' of students had sat their A-level exams this year compared to previous years. Sir Ian said: 'Students this year have got the grades they deserve, and their grade will hold its value over time because it represents a stable standard of achievement.' Maths held firm as the nation's favourite subject with 112,138 entries - up 4. 4 per cent in a year and more than 21 per cent higher than a decade ago. But there is a clear gender divide, with boys significantly more likely to choose the subject than girls. Psychology remained in second place with 75,943 entries, while biology stayed third on 71,400, though both saw small drops. Physics has surged in popularity, jumping from ninth to sixth after attracting an extra 1,843 students. Economics saw the fastest growth among the top ten subjects, up 5.5 per cent, while chemistry and business studies also gained ground. By contrast, French and German continued their long decline, with French entries down 9.1 per cent and German down 8.5 per cent, while English literature fell 4.4 per cent. London led the regional league table with 32.1 per cent of entries at A*–A, compared to just 22.9 per cent the North East. Jill Duffy, chairwoman of JCQ board of directors and chief executive of the OCR exam board, said: 'Regional inequalities are getting worse, not better. 'The gap at top grades (A*-A) has grown again. " London is once again the top performing region and is now 9.2 percentage points ahead of the North East.' She added: 'These regional inequalities need more attention.' Alongside A-levels, more than 250,000 vocational and technical qualifications were awarded, with business management the top choice. T Levels, the Government's flagship technical qualification, had a record 11,909 students receive results, up 61.4 per cent in a year, with over nine in ten passing or better. Exam chiefs hailed the 'hard work and determination' of students, many of whom began their GCSE years during the pandemic. The grades will now send tens of thousands of teenagers into universities, apprenticeships, or straight into the workforce — the next big step after years of study. By MARTINA BET, Political Correspondent THIS year's A-level results confirm a trend that has been building for several years but is now gathering pace. Teenagers are turning away from traditional arts and languages and flocking to STEM and business-based subjects, as the cost-of-living crisis and jobs market realities bear down on their choices. Maths has been the UK's most popular A-level for over a decade, but its growth is accelerating, with entries now topping 112,000. Physics has leapt from ninth to sixth place in just twelve months, while economics — the fastest-growing of the top ten — has jumped 5.5 per cent in a year. These subjects feed directly into higher-paying careers in engineering, finance, and technology, all areas the Government is desperate to bolster to close skills gaps and boost productivity. By contrast, French and German have been in long-term decline, but this year's 9.1 per cent and 8.5 per cent drops are among their sharpest falls yet. English literature, down 4.4 per cent, continues a steady slide that has been evident since before the pandemic. Ministers may talk of levelling up opportunity, but the subject data shows a narrowing of the curriculum as students and their families make harder-edged, pragmatic decisions about their futures. And regional divides are widening too. London's top-grade rate is more than nine percentage points higher than the North East's — a gap that has grown year on year. Without targeted intervention, those disparities risk hardening into entrenched economic and social divides.
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
ADHD medication reduces risk of suicide and criminal behaviour, study finds
Medication prescribed to people with ADHD not only helps them focus but it also reduces the risk of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, a study has found. It's estimated 2.6 million people in the UK live with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects around 5 per cent of children and 2.5 per cent of adults worldwide. But in the UK, just over half are prescribed medication for it. Researchers compared the impacts of medicating ADHD on those who have been recently diagnosed. Using data from Swedish national registers between 2007 and 2020 researchers at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, were able to examine the effects of ADHD drug treatment in 148,581 individuals aged between six and 64-years-old over two years. Just over half (57 per cent) of participants had started drug treatment for ADHD, with methylphenidate – a type of stimulant – being the most commonly prescribed (88.4 per cent). However, the other people who were also newly diagnosed did not receive medication. The study, published by the BMJ, assessed how often those with ADHD had suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, accidental injuries, transport accidents, and criminality, over two years after their diagnosis. After accounting for factors including age, sex, education level, psychiatric diagnoses and medical history, ADHD medication was associated with a 17 per cent reduction for suicidal behaviour, 15 per cent for substance misuse, 12 per cent for transport accidents, and 13 per cent for criminality. However, the reduction was not statistically significant for a first-time accidental injury. But amongst people with recurrent events, the rate reductions associated with ADHD medication were seen for all five outcomes: a 15 per cent reduction for suicidal attempts, 25 per cent for substance misuse, 4 per cent for accidental injuries, 16 per cent for transport accidents, and 25 per cent for criminality. Samuele Cortese Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and study author, highlighted that people need to be educated on the long-term risks of ADHD. 'Commonly people think ADHD is over diagnosed but there are still many people who have ADHD that are not diagnosed, and many are exposed to these risks,' he said. 'Side effects of medication can include reduced appetite and difficulty falling asleep, but they usually get better over time or they can be managed.' Struggling to pay attention, having high energy levels and being impulsive are common symptoms of ADHD. Stimulants can work by increasing activity in the brain, particularly in areas that help control attention and behaviour, according to the NHS. Study authors say that by reducing impulsivity, it may also lower criminality by curbing aggressive behaviour, and enhance attention, which might decrease the risk of transport accidents by minimising distractions. 'These results provide evidence on the effects of ADHD drug treatment on important health related and social outcomes that should inform clinical practice and the debate on the drug treatment of ADHD,' study authors conclude.
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Where you can get in with Cs and earn thousands more than a Cambridge graduate
Almost half of UK adults think today's exams are easier than they were when they were sitting them. The assumption is understandable: last year the proportion of top A-level results hit a record high outside the pandemic's disruption. But this year grade inflation is widely expected to have been curbed. Oxford, Cambridge and the other 22 members of the Russell Group are incredibly selective, with academic requirements usually a slew of straight As. Yet that doesn't imply their graduates are always the most successful. A number of far more accessible degrees have average future earnings that are sometimes thousands of pounds greater, according to the latest data from the Department for Education (DfE). Never mind the exam, the choice of university could be far more important. Here are some of the institutions whose graduates make more money after five years than those who went to more selective universities. Biosciences at Brunel University London The Oxbridge premium – the extra pay gained from studying at Oxford or Cambridge relative to the national average – tends to be around £15,000. Across 12 of 35 broad subject areas – just over a third of the total – Oxbridge offered unbeatable financial prospects. But they can be beaten – even by non-Russell Group universities. Among the biggest instances of this is Brunel's Biomedical Sciences (BSc) course. Those studying biosciences at the university earn a median of £40,000 five years after graduation in the 2022-23 tax year. They took home an average of £1,300 more than their Oxford counterparts. While Brunel currently stipulates minimum A-level grades of BBB to be considered, the barrier to Oxford's equivalent course is A*AA – plus the passing of a 90-minute admissions test. According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), just 12pc of students who apply to Oxford are typically offered a place. Just 35 miles away in Uxbridge, the acceptance rate shoots up to 93pc. 'This outstanding result reflects the university's commitment to designing courses that address real-world challenges and develop the skills employers value most,' said Dr Gudrun Stenbeck, head of Biosciences at Brunel. 'By combining excellent subject knowledge with hands-on, practical experience, our graduates can step into high-responsibility roles from day one.' Architecture at the University of Reading Typically making £51,100 five years after graduation, those who studied architecture, building and planning from the University of Reading are the best-paid alumni from a general university in the field. Only the specialist University of the Built Environment – formerly housed on the Reading campus – offers higher potential earnings. The equivalent figure for those studying the same course at Cambridge is £37,200, which is almost £14,000 lower. The lowest A-level grades held by accepted students at Reading's Architecture (BSc) course were CCC between 2022 and 2024. In Cambridge the bottom of the pack got AAA. English at the University of Buckingham Far below the top shelf of academia – all the way down at 116th out of 130 in the 2026 league table by Complete University Guide – the University of Buckingham puts its English studies graduates in particularly good stead. Its two-year English Literature degree asks for a BBC minimum A-level standard, but also offers flexible entry and says it is 'happy to consider entrants from all backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications' if alternative aptitude can be demonstrated. Those doing this degree typically earn £35,800 five years later. Only those coming out of Durham and Oxford earned more on average at the same point after graduating, at £38,000 and £37,800 respectively. Those who read English at Cambridge, having got at the very least A*AA grades at A-level, meanwhile, had to content themselves with a £33,200 median. Psychology at the University of Leeds Psychology courses soared in popularity during the pandemic, with demand up 13.2pc on 2019-20 to just over 100,000 enrolments in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Outside of Oxbridge, one of the most lucrative places to pursue it is the University of Leeds. With an acceptance rate of 72pc, prospective undergraduates have earned an average £34,300 median earnings within five years of completing their course. Those who studied at Cambridge can expect to earn an average of £33,600 after five years. Around a third of those reading Psychological and Behavioural Sciences achieved at least an A*A*A* at A-level.
