Comma vs. Semicolon — What's the Difference?

The comma , is a punctuation mark that appears in several variants in different languages. It has the same shape as an apostrophe or single closing quotation mark (’) in many typefaces, but it differs from them in being placed on the baseline of the text.

The semicolon or semi-colon ; is a symbol commonly used as orthographic punctuation. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.

(Grammar) A punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a separation of ideas or of elements within the structure of a sentence.

A mark of punctuation ( ; ) used to connect independent clauses and indicating a closer relationship between the clauses than a period does.

A pause or separation; a caesura.

The punctuation mark ;.

Any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Polygonia having wings with irregularly notched edges and a small comma-shaped marking on the underside of the hind wing.

The punctuation mark [;] indicating a separation between parts or members of a sentence more distinct than that marked by a comma.

(typography) The punctuation mark ⟨,⟩ used to indicate a set of parts of a sentence or between elements of a list.

A punctuation mark (`;') used to connect independent clauses; indicates a closer relation than does a period

A similar-looking subscript diacritical mark.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Polygonia, having a comma-shaped white mark on the underwings, especially Polygonia c-album and Polygonia c-aureum of North Africa, Europe, and Asia.

(music) A difference in the calculation of nearly identical intervals by different ways.

(genetics) A delimiting marker between items in a genetic sequence.

(rhetoric) In Ancient Greek rhetoric, a short clause, something less than a colon, originally denoted by comma marks. In antiquity it was defined as a combination of words having no more than eight syllables in all. It was later applied to longer phrases, e.g. the Johannine comma.

(figurative) A brief interval.

A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a sentence, written or printed.

A small interval (the difference between a major and minor half step), seldom used except by tuners.

A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence

Anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing