The Inside Write Stuff: three techniques of simple coordination

(1) Some severance agreements contain broad non-competes. Many courts refuse to enforce unreasonable limitations on employment.

(2) Some severance agreements contain broad non-competes, but many courts refuse to enforce unreasonable limitations on employment.

(3) Some severance agreements contain broad non-competes; many courts refuse to enforce unreasonable limitations on employment.

(4) Some severance agreements contain broad non-competes. But many courts refuse to enforce unreasonable limitations on employment.

Variation (2) uses a familiar comma and coordinator before what has now become a clause. In (3) the more formal semicolon serves as the coordinator, while (4), more unusual and stylish, commands attention to the second sentence by starting it with a conjunction.