Semi-colons and readability of sentences

[Kristen James Eberlein <kris@eberleinconsulting.com>]

Gersgon, you mentioned that you thought that the use of semi-colons made a sentence harder for a ESL reader. Can I ask why you think that? And do other TC members have thoughts and/or experience here?

I'm working a comment in the most recent DITAweb review, where you requested a change:

Original text
The <figgroup> element can nest; it also can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords.

Requested change
The <figgroup>element can nest and can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords

To me, the original text is easier to read and parse ... If I were to change it, I'd tend to rework it as follows: "The <figgroup> element can nest. It also can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords

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Best,
Kris