From Martin Maechler <maechler@stat.math.ethz.ch>  Tue Oct 14 18:49:48 1997
From: Martin Maechler <maechler@stat.math.ethz.ch> (Martin Maechler)
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 19:49:48 +0200
Subject: R-alpha: extraneous ";" gives  syntax error
Message-ID: <199710141749.TAA02756@sophie.ethz.ch>

Here is what I mean

    > ;1
    ;1
    ^
    Error: syntax error
    > 1;;
    [1] 1
    1;;
      ^
    Error: syntax error
    > 1;;;3
    [1] 1
    1;;;3
      ^
    Error: syntax error

----

In S, these give no syntax errors; 
instead, NULL is returned (in some cases).

It's not a big issue,
but I don't see the advantage of  ``punishing empty statements''.

Martin
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R-alpha: extraneous ";" gives syntax error
Martin Maechler