SEMICOLON

When a sentence contains two complete statements which are related in
meaning and are not joined by the words and, or, but, yet, nor, for, use a
semicolon to separate the statements.

        On our staff three girls do the typing;
        two girls take the coffee breaks.

Use a semicolon to separate two complete statements joined by and, but, or, nor, for, and yet when one or more commas are necessary in either statement.

If we expect to finish this job in two weeks, we will have to work ten hours a day;
but Carol has volunteered to work full time until it is done.

SEMICOLON/COMMA TEAM

Use a comma to replace a missing word or group of words.

        Ruth is a collector of stamps; Carole, of magazines.

Notice that the comma takes the place of is a collector. The semicolon separates the two statements.