For a considerable time the location of the dot indicated its force.

Placed high ([Symbol: High Dot]) it had the force of a period.
Placed in a middle position (.) it had the force of a comma.

Placed low (.) it had the force of a semicolon.

The rule, however, was not universally observed.

A Latin manuscript of the seventh century has a high dot ([Symbol: High Dot]) equivalent to a comma, a semicolon used as at present, and a dot accompanied by another dot or a dash to indicate the end of a sentence.