Semicolon Symbol ; Copy and Paste

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;

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Unicode and Technical Details

• Unicode: U+003B
• HTML Entity: &#59;
• UTF-8: 3B
• Name: SEMICOLON

What Does the Semicolon Mean?

The semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that connects two related independent clauses without using a conjunction. It sits between a comma and a period in terms of pause length — longer than a comma, shorter than a period. Think of it as a "super comma" or a "weak period."

Beyond grammar, the semicolon has become a powerful symbol of mental health awareness. The semicolon tattoo and movement represents the idea that your story is not over — just as a semicolon indicates a sentence continues rather than ending with a period.

Grammar Rules for the Semicolon

1. Connecting Related Independent Clauses

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are closely related:

"The sun was setting; the sky turned orange."

Both clauses could stand alone as complete sentences, but the semicolon shows their close relationship.

2. Before Conjunctive Adverbs

When using words like however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, or nevertheless to connect independent clauses:

"It was raining; however, we decided to go hiking anyway."

3. Separating Items in a Complex List

When list items already contain commas, use semicolons to separate them:

"We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany."

Common Mistakes

• Do not use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or). Pick one or the other.
• Do not use a semicolon between a dependent clause and an independent clause — use a comma instead.
• Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list — use a colon instead.

The Semicolon in Programming

In programming, the semicolon is one of the most important characters:

• Statement terminator — in C, C++, Java, JavaScript, and many other languages, semicolons mark the end of a statement
• Python: semicolons can separate multiple statements on one line (though not recommended)
• CSS: every property-value declaration ends with a semicolon
• SQL: semicolons terminate SQL statements
• Rust, Go: semicolons are used but sometimes optional (Go inserts them automatically)

Forgetting a semicolon is one of the most common programming errors in languages that require them.

The Semicolon in Mental Health Awareness

Project Semicolon

In 2013, Project Semicolon was founded as a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and love to those struggling with depression, suicide, addiction, and self-injury. The semicolon was chosen as the symbol because:

• An author uses a semicolon when they could have ended the sentence but chose not to
• A person who struggles with mental health could have ended their story but chose to keep going

The Semicolon Tattoo

The semicolon tattoo has become one of the most recognized mental health symbols worldwide. People get it tattooed on their wrist, behind their ear, or other visible locations as a permanent reminder that their story continues. It serves as both a personal affirmation and a conversation starter about mental health.

How to Type the Semicolon

Windows and Mac

• Press the ; key — it is directly to the right of the L key on a standard QWERTY keyboard
• No special shortcut needed — it is a standard keyboard character

iPhone and Android

• Tap the 123 or ?123 button to access numbers and symbols
• The semicolon is on the symbols keyboard

Semicolon vs Colon vs Comma

• Semicolon (;) — connects two related independent clauses; separates complex list items
• Colon (:) — introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after an independent clause
• Comma (,) — separates items in a simple list; sets off introductory elements; separates dependent from independent clauses

Fun Facts About the Semicolon

• The semicolon was invented by Italian printer Aldus Manutius in 1494
• Kurt Vonnegut famously called semicolons "transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing"
• French writer Marcel Proust used semicolons extensively — some of his sentences span entire paragraphs using them
• The semicolon is the 59th character in the ASCII standard
• In Greek, the semicolon (;) is used as a question mark instead

Related Symbols

Explore more punctuation and special characters in our guides for Colon Symbol Meaning, Tilde Symbol ~, and Ampersand Symbol &.