1. With a comma:
* Frances called in sick, but she'll be back tomorrow. (This is the most common and natural way to punctuate this sentence.)
2. With a semicolon:
* Frances called in sick; she'll be back tomorrow. (This emphasizes the contrast between being sick and returning to work.)
3. With a colon:
* Frances called in sick: she'll be back tomorrow. (This emphasizes the explanation following the first part of the sentence.)
4. With a dash:
* Frances called in sick—she'll be back tomorrow. (This creates a dramatic pause, emphasizing the return to work.)
The best choice depends on the emphasis you want to make and the overall tone of your writing.