The semicolon has evolved over centuries to become a punctuation mark that connects and divides ideas. It was first used in the 1560s in English printing to separate opposing words and interdependent statements. By the late 18th century, the semicolon had gained widespread acceptance in Europe. The semicolon indicates both connection and division between closely related independent clauses and clauses linked with transitional words or phrases, as well as in lists containing internal punctuation.