Punctuating coordinating conjunctions

Question

Is using a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction connecting two independent clauses wrong? Like in this example:

Some people write with a word processor, tablet, or even a phone; but
  others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.

Spencer · Answer

There are three cases where you should use a semicolon to separate independent clauses:

When there is no coordinating conjunction between clauses.
When there are three or more clauses.
When there are commas (for any other reason) in any one of the clauses.

The last two rules hold even if there is a coordinating conjunction between the clauses.  You can almost think of the case where you use a comma (two clauses with a conjunction) as an "exception" (but not really since it's the most common case).

Your example fits case #3; so yes, the semicolon is correct.

Punctuating coordinating conjunctions

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