# One leading semicolon or two

**URL:** <https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556>\
**Category:** Emacs\
**Tags:** emacs-lisp, lisp\
**Created:** [April 15, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556 "2025-04-15T17:32:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![radlyeel](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/radlyeel/32/681_2.png) [@radlyeel](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/radlyeel)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556/1 "2025-04-15T17:32:57Z")

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When I first joined this forum, I sorta scoffed at Emacs. Now I’m yielding to my inner adult and trying again to really learn both Scheme and Emacs, following my new hero David. Today’s question is about leading semicolons in init.el (and probably any Lisp-y file). When I type a line with one leading semicolon, at the Return key the line pops to the right about half a line. I discovered accidentally (like almost everything that I discover) that a double semicolon inhibits that behaviour. That raises two questions: A. Why that behavior? B. Is there a style guide somewhere that I should be familiar with?

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**Author:** ![cow\_2001](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/cow_2001/32/598_2.png) [@cow\_2001](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/cow_2001)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556/2 "2025-04-15T21:21:33Z")

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The relevant page is on:

> **[Comment Tips (GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual)](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Comment-Tips.html)**
>
> Comment Tips (GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual)

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**Author:** ![radlyeel](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/radlyeel/32/681_2.png) [@radlyeel](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/radlyeel)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556/3 "2025-04-16T15:16:52Z")

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Thank you! That document is now bookmarked

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**Author:** ![tusharhero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@tusharhero](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/tusharhero)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/one-leading-semicolon-or-two/1556/4 "2025-04-17T02:30:17Z")

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BTW you can access these manuals from within Emacs, run C-h i.