How to type ; on Windows
The semicolon symbol has no short Alt code. The quickest option is to copy it from the top of this page and paste it with Ctrl+V.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "semicolon". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ;, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ; on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ; on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "semicolon" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ; on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ;, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ; in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;semicolon in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ; anywhere.
How to type ; on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ; as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ; in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 003B where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ;.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 003B in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(59) returns the symbol.
How to type ; in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "semicolon" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(59).
; in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ; |
| HTML decimal | ; |
| HTML hex | ; |
CSS content | "\003B" |
| JavaScript | "\u003B" |
| Python | "\u003B" |
| URL encoded | %3B |
Because ; is a standard Unicode character (U+003B), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the semicolon symbol is used
Writers use it to join two related sentences without a conjunction, as in "I have a test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight." It also separates list items already containing commas, like "Paris, France; Tokyo, Japan; Cairo, Egypt." It's sometimes confused with the colon, which introduces rather than connects.
Frequently asked questions
When should you use a semicolon instead of a comma? +
Use a semicolon to join two complete, related sentences without a conjunction. A comma alone can't connect two independent clauses without also adding a word like "and" or "but".
Does a semicolon mean the same thing as a colon? +
No. A colon introduces a list, explanation, or example, while a semicolon connects two related but separate statements of equal weight.
What is the Alt code for the semicolon symbol? +
The semicolon symbol has no short Alt code. Copy it from this page, or in Word type 003B and press Alt + X.
How do I type ; on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ;. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "semicolon", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the semicolon symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ; by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ;? +
Use ; in HTML. The numeric form ; works too. In CSS use content: "\003B" and in JavaScript use "\u003B".