研究報告常見一長串複雜的詞彙，有時候光用逗號並無法將其中各個組成單位清楚區分開來。舉例如下：
Incorrect: We had four professors on our committee: Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics, Ronald Pepin, Professor of English, Cynthia Greenblatt, Professor of Education, and Nada Light, Professor of Nursing.
因為文中人名和身分間已使用逗號，所以在區分不同人的時候應改用分號。
Correct: We had four professors on our committee: Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics; Ronald Pepin, Professor of English; Cynthia Greenblatt, Professor of Education; and Nada Light, Professor of Nursing.
以下是另一個例子：
Incorrect: The participants in the first group scored 70 points, the second, 60, and the third, 40.
Correct: The participants in the first group scored 70 points; the second, 60; and the third, 40.
