"Do not worry, be happy."

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Odessa Dawn

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Do not worry, be happy.

Do not worry; be happy.
Do not worry: be happy.

Would either the punctuation mark(s?) (the semicolon or/and colon) replace the comma?
 

Rover_KE

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A semicolon or a colon should replace the comma.
 

MikeNewYork

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I would not use a colon there.
 

MikeNewYork

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Yes, it could, but a semicolon solves the problem.
 

probus

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But isn't this the most important point for a learner: It can never be natural to say "Do not worry (whatever punctuation), be happy." It must invariably be "Don't worry ..." in order to be natural?
 

MikeNewYork

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I don't agree. User's choice.
 

MikeNewYork

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Based on the contrast between the two clauses, I don't think "and" would work well there.
 
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