5. Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.
Look at this sentence: For Jill’s birthday she received wine from Napa, California, lobster from Bangor, Maine, Praline cookies from New Orleans, Louisiana, and cheese from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now read it properly punctuated with the semicolon: For Jill’s birthday, she received wine from Napa, California; lobster from Bangor, Maine; Praline cookies from New Orleans, Louisiana; and cheese from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The sentence is just cleaner with the semicolon separating the items.
6. Use a semicolon between sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Commas are used when two clauses are joined by a conjunction. Coordinating Conjunctions are and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. You use a comma to say: Mother burned the roast, so we had a vegetarian meal instead. Use a semicolon when saying Mother burned the roast; we had a vegetarian meal instead, and skip the conjunction.
