[BillinghamJ]

I'd say they were quite the opposite!

"Semantics" is about the meaning you're trying to express.

"Syntax" is the way you've chosen to express that meaning in this particular case.

e.g.:

    def blah
      "a"
    end

versus

    function blah() {
      return 'a';
    }

Semantically identical, but unrelated syntax.