Pontosvessz

Pontosvessz, commonly written as pontosvessző in Hungarian, refers to the semicolon, a punctuation mark used to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list. In Hungarian usage, its main functions are twofold: linking sentences that could stand as separate statements but benefit from a stronger connection than a comma, and clarifying lists when items themselves contain commas.

The symbol is represented as a semicolon (;). There is no space before the semicolon, and a single space follows it before the next clause. It can also be employed to separate clauses that require a stronger pause than a comma but do not form two distinct sentences. Example: "Ő megkezdte a beszédet; a közönség figyelmesen hallgatta." The semicolon thus helps to express a specific relationship between the linked clauses.

Historically, the semicolon emerged in early modern punctuation and was incorporated into Hungarian typography through standard punctuation reforms in the 18th and 19th centuries. In contemporary Hungarian writing, it is governed by general typographic conventions for punctuation marks, including spacing and sentence flow.

In formal writing, style guides advise using the semicolon to prevent overly long sentences and to enhance clarity when two related ideas are presented together but could stand as separate sentences. See also Hungarian punctuation and general punctuation marks.