Semicolon: meaning, definitions and examples
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semicolon
[ ˈsɛmɪˌkoʊlən ]
punctuation mark
A semicolon is a punctuation mark that separates major sentence elements. It is often used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. The semicolon indicates a pause that is longer than a comma but shorter than a full stop.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
- She loves reading; her favorite genre is science fiction.
- He was planning to go for a run; however, it started raining.
- You need to complete the assignment by Friday; otherwise, you will not pass.
Translations
Translations of the word "semicolon" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ponto e vírgula
🇮🇳 अर्धविराम
🇩🇪 Semikolon
🇮🇩 titik koma
🇺🇦 крапка з комою
🇵🇱 średnik
🇯🇵 セミコロン
🇫🇷 point-virgule
🇪🇸 punto y coma
🇹🇷 noktalı virgül
🇰🇷 세미콜론
🇸🇦 فاصلة منقوطة
🇨🇿 středník
🇸🇰 stredník
🇨🇳 分号
🇸🇮 podpičje
🇮🇸 semíkolon
🇰🇿 нүктелі үтір
🇬🇪 მულტიპლიკატორი
🇦🇿 nöqtə-vergül
🇲🇽 punto y coma
Etymology
The term 'semicolon' comes from the Greek word 'semikolon', which is a combination of 'semi-', meaning 'half', and 'kolon', meaning 'a part' or 'a clause'. The semicolon as a punctuation mark originated in the late 15th century when it was introduced by the Italian printer Aldus Manutius as a way to clarify the structure of sentences. It was intended to indicate a pause that was longer than a comma but shorter than a period, effectively linking closely related ideas while still allowing for a separation. Over time, the semicolon has been embraced in various writing styles, particularly in formal writing, as an elegant means to convey complex thoughts clearly. Its usage has evolved, allowing for a stylistic choice among writers, which showcases the author’s understanding of sentence structure and pacing.