Semantic implications of multiple tags

Question

When using

lists to associate keys to values, is there a semantic difference between these 2 samples? Which one provides better semantics? What do multiple

Answer 1

The relevant part of the dl definition is:

The values within a group are alternatives; multiple paragraphs forming part of the same value must all be given within the same dd element.

I think a clear example would be a dl describing homonyms, e.g. "bank":

  
bank
  
An institution where one can place and borrow money and take care of financial affairs.
  
An edge of river, lake, or other watercourse.
  
A row or panel of items stored or grouped together.

↑ Here the term "bank" (dt) has three meanings (dd). Using one dd with a ul wouldn’t hold the same semantics:

  
bank
  

    

      
An institution where one can place and borrow money and take care of financial affairs.
      
An edge of river, lake, or other watercourse.
      
A row or panel of items stored or grouped together.
    
  

↑ Here the term "bank" would have only one meaning (and this meaning consists of or is described by a ul).

Coming back to your author example, you’d typically want to use the first variant (as described by BoltClock), because each author really is a "value" (dd) in the group of authors.

However, in the end it depends on your content and, more importantly, on your understanding of that content.