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Long list and using semi-colon, please read this passage and comment

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Latest post Tue, Mar 6 2007 2:22 AM by Grammar Geek. 2 replies.
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Anonymous  +  336009 Mon, 05 Mar 07 06:08 PM
I am editing something for an internship and would like to know if this passage is acceptable as written:

SMS (short message service): This is often referred to as "text" or "text messaging." It's the ability to send text-based messages person to person (P2P); from person to application, such as a voting application (P2A); or application to person, as with an acknowledgement or information (A2P).

Is it ok to use the semi-colons there? It seems that only commas would be necessary (and maybe parenthesis could be used where the commas are used to delineate). Could an expert comment on the gramatically correct way this could be formatted?

Thanks so much!
Anonymous
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Philip  +  336153 Tue, 06 Mar 07 01:47 AM

 Anonymous wrote:
I am editing something for an internship and would like to know if this passage is acceptable as written:

SMS (short message service): This is often referred to as "text" or "text messaging." It's the ability to send text-based messages person to person (P2P); from person to application, such as a voting application (P2A); or application to person, as with an acknowledgement or information (A2P).

Is it ok to use the semi-colons there? It seems that only commas would be necessary (and maybe parenthesis could be used where the commas are used to delineate). Could an expert comment on the gramatically correct way this could be formatted?

Thanks so much!
 SMS (short message service, often ........

   It's the ability to send text-based messages: person-to-person; ........

I think I wouldn't use "2" instead of "to" in a document of this sort, unless that's the accepted standard. 

 The only other problem is the very beginning, which leaves you with an incomplete sentence.  This may or may not be something you need to tend to.

 
Philip
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
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At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
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Grammar Geek  +  336159 Tue, 06 Mar 07 02:22 AM

Yes, when you have items in a list that contain commas within them, you can (and even should) use semi-colons to separate the items in the list, the way you would use commas for a simple list.

Note that you say "person to person" and "application to person" but "FROM person to application." You should be consistent in whether you include the FROM or not.

Grammar Geek
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Veteran Member 19,660
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