When writing along, after a few dozen words, momentum tempts one to keep turning out literary sentences -- especially if one is skilled in writing and has mastered the semicolon. But this is rarely useful for the reader. If you're listing out information, don't put it in a comma- or semicolon-delimited paragraph; put it in a bulleted or numbered list. Make it easy on the reader. A list:

• Highlights each individual member item, rather than letting the items blend into each other
• Lets the reader see how many items are in the list
• Makes the list stand out visually from the surrounding text
• Makes the writer's job easier, since it's usually not desirable to write complete sentences in bullets

(Or, taken another way, a list highlights each individual member item, rather than letting the items blend into each other; lets the reader see how many items are in the list; makes the list stand out visually from the surrounding text; and makes the writer's job easier, since it's usually not desirable to write complete sentences in bullets.

Which do you like better?)