The Semicolon in English

History of the Semicolon

Origins: The semicolon was invented by the Italian printer Aldus Manutius in 1494. It was created to provide a middle ground between the full stop (period) and the comma, serving as a stronger pause than a comma but weaker than a full stop.
Development: The semicolon gained popularity in the 16th century, particularly in academic and legal texts, where it helped to clarify complex sentences. By the 18th century, it had become a staple for constructing complex sentence structures.
Modern Usage: Today, the semicolon is recognised as a punctuation mark that connects closely related independent clauses and is used to separate items in complex lists.

Connecting Independent Clauses: A semicolon is used to link two closely related independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or). Example: I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
Complex Lists: Semicolons are used to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas. Example: The conference had attendees from Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy.
Balancing Clauses: Semicolons can be used to balance clauses that are parallel in structure or content, providing a rhythmic balance within a sentence. Example: To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Do not use a semicolon to connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. Example: Incorrect: Although it was raining; we went out for a walk. Use a comma instead: Correct: Although it was raining, we went out for a walk.
Avoid using a semicolon where a full stop (period) would be more appropriate, such as between unrelated independent clauses. Example: Incorrect: She loves chocolate; the sky is blue. Use a full stop: Correct: She loves chocolate. The sky is blue.
Do not overuse semicolons; excessive use can make your writing appear overly formal or complex. It's important to use them sparingly to maintain clarity and readability.

Using a Semicolon with Conjunctions: Semicolons should not be used before conjunctions like "and" or "but". Example: Incorrect: I wanted to go out; but it was raining. Use a comma: Correct: I wanted to go out, but it was raining.
Confusing Semicolons with Colons: A semicolon links related ideas; a colon introduces a list or explanation. Example: Incorrect: I have three favourite colours; red, blue, and green. Use a colon: Correct: I have three favourite colours: red, blue, and green.

Decline in Informal Writing: In informal writing, particularly in digital communication, semicolons are often omitted in favour of simpler punctuation marks like the comma or full stop.
Use in Literary and Formal Writing: Semicolons remain popular in literary and formal writing, where they help to convey complex ideas and subtle relationships between clauses.

European Languages: Semicolons are used similarly in many European languages, though spacing rules may differ. For example, French requires a space before and after the semicolon.
Greek: Interestingly, in Greek, the semicolon functions as a question mark, making it a unique usage of this punctuation mark in comparison to other languages.

Programming: In many programming languages, semicolons are used to terminate statements. Example: int x = 10;
Winking Emoticons: The semicolon is often used in digital communication to create winking emoticons. Example: Wink: ;)
Literary Symbolism: The semicolon is sometimes used symbolically in literature and art to represent continuity or a pause between life and death, particularly in contexts related to mental health awareness.