Learn English – Does sentence(s) with semicolon count for one sentence

grammarpunctuation

I am just wondering if I merge two sentences using a semicolon, then are they become one sentence or they are still two sentences but more closely connected?

For example, is the following sentence(s) count for one sentence?

He knows how important attending lectures is; however, he still missed today's lecture.

Edit

As some comments pointed out, the question seems kind of pointless without any context.

I am doing my logic course homework, which requires me to translate English into logical expression. We usually count each sentence as one premise or conclusion. I encountered one problem containing a semicolon so I am not sure whether I should divide them into two premises or just leave it as one.

I guess it's better to ask my professor.

Best Answer

In a comment, John Lawler wrote:

Semicolons are a full stop mark. They have the same intonation curve as the period, and they go after a complete clause. Or sentence. Certainly that's common in writing, as Lewis Thomas points out, "The period tells you that that is that; if you didn't get all the meaning you wanted or expected, anyway you got all the writer intended to parcel out and now you have to move along. But with a semicolon there you get a pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come; to read on; it will get clearer."

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