The semicolon, a punctuation mark often seen as understated, holds a surprising story. Added to English grammar in the 1600s by mathematicians Oliver and John Hart, it ushered in a new era of complex sentence structures. Before the semicolon’s arrival, writers relied on periods and commas to separate ideas, resulting in simpler, often choppy sentences. The semicolon, with its ability to connect closely related independent clauses, allowed for more nuanced and flowing prose. This seemingly small change profoundly impacted how we read and write, giving us the tools to express intricate thoughts and ideas with greater precision and elegance.

Prompt:
Name a technological advancement often overlooked yet fundamentally changed how we interact with information. Describe its impact and a surprising historical fact connected to its development.