Semi-colons and readability of sentences

Gersgon, you mentioned that you thought that the use of semi-colons made a sentence harder for a ESL reader.
Can I ask why you think that?
And do other TC members have thoughts and/or experience here?
I'm working a comment in the most recent DITAweb review, where you requested a change: Original text The <figgroup> element can nest; it also can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords.
Requested change The <figgroup>element can nest and can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords To me, the original text is easier to read and parse ...
If I were to change it, I'd tend to rework it as follows: The <figgroup> element can nest .
It also can contain multiple cross-references, footnotes, and keywords

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Best, Kris