A collection of downloadable worksheets, exercises and activities to teach colon and semicolon, shared by english language teachers. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. How to use the semicolon there are three uses of the semicolon. Depending on the circumstances, one of two different punctuation marks can be used between the independent clauses in a compound sentence. In each sentence, a popup box is placed where punctuation might be needed. Since this is not a complete sentence, it is hard to suggest proper punctuation.
Read through the text titled cultural exchange programs and underline any word. If a plural noun does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s. When to use a comma commas are the most frequently. A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses. Leyland played the viola professionally for many years and he now conducts a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Again, a semicolon can only join independent clauses or complete sentences. Semicolons join independent clauses and items in a series.
Welcome to esl printables, the website where english language teachers exchange resources. For helping me finish this project, i would like to thank my parents, karl marx and god. Using a comma instead of a semicolon in the sentences above would result in a comma splice. Here are the two most common uses of the semicolon. The colon the colon can be used in the following 7 ways. You could take out the namely, though, and replace it with a colon. Looking for information about the correct way to use the colon. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop. Colons and semicolons were initially used to express pauses longer than a comma and shorter than a period.
Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas. Use a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb such as however and therefore that joins two independent clauses. Link two closely related ideas that already have punctuation colon, dash, or comma in them example. The semicolon is a punctuation mark used mostly to indicate separation between grammatically independent parts of a sentence with related ideas. A colon is made up of two dots, one placed above the other. Or perhaps it is because these rarer forms of punctuation are rarely covered in elementary school grammar lessons. Semicolons a semicolon is not quite a comma, not quite a period. When to use a comma commas are the most frequently used and abused punctuation mark in most kinds of writing. In writing, we use colons and semicolons to make connections and introductions. A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma does but less than a period does. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences.
Place semicolons between items in lists if some items the list include commas. Commas or semicolons worksheet 2 heres an awesome 20 problem comma and semicolon worksheet. Combining independent clauses word groups that can stand alone as separate sentences. In all languages, not just english, writers use punctuation marks or punctuation points as they are also called to indicate things like pauses and full stops, to convey or demonstrate emotion, the ask questions or declare statements, and even to separate items in a. Student choose either a semicolon or comma to complete each sentence and then explain their choice. Use commas to separate items in a list if none of the items in the list require commas too. Commas set off parenthetical elements such as an appositive, which is a noun phrase or clause that renames or describes the noun directly beside it, and nonrestrictive relative clauses. Use a semicolon in place of the comma and conjunction to separate the two independent clauses in a compound sentence.
A semicolon may be substituted for a comma between main clauses joined by a conjunction when more emphatic punctuation is desired. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. However, finally, thus, nevertheless, instead, hence, incidentally. Spacing with punctuation periods commas semicolons colons question marks parentheses and brackets apostrophes hyphens dashes ellipses quotation marks exclamation points slashes. Heres an awesome 20 problem comma and semicolon worksheet. Even when the house looks clean, there is usually a bunch of dirt swept under the rug. To avoid precisely that, lets take a look at these 5 rules of colon usage. Click here for stepbystep rules, stories and exercises to practice all english tenses. The washington monument, a massive obelisk, was completed in 1884.
A semicolon isnt the only thing that can link two independent clauses. Do not use a comma before the first or after the last item in a series unless a rule requires it. Use a semicolon in the appropriate place to separate items in a list in the following sentences. The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. As opposed to the comma, the semicolon principally separates related sentences. Use a colonnot a semicolonwhen what follows the punctuation restates what comes before. Commas 1 commas and semicolons these are some basic rules regarding commas and semicolons. Oct 01, 2006 with the exception of business salutations, all of our colon rules apply to complete sentences where what follows the colon explains or illustrates what preceded the colon.
This office cannot accept your complaint, we have brought it before the appropriate. One common use of the colon is to introduce a list. Determine whether to use a comma, a semicolon, or no punctuation at all. When you use a colon to introduce an incomplete sentence, do not capitalize the first word following the colon. The first example should be joined by a comma, not a semicolon. In all languages, not just english, writers use punctuation marks or punctuation points as they are also called to indicate things like pauses and full stops, to convey or demonstrate emotion, the ask questions or declare statements, and even to separate items in a list. The following are the comma, semicolon, and colon rules you need to know when writing in apa style. Introduction of ideas in a twopart sentence if the first part of a sentence introduces an idea which is detailed or exemplified as an independent clause in the second part, then a colon is better that a semicolon. Perhaps this is because these punctuation marks are reserved for stylistic usage the basics of written english require only periods and commas. Separate items in a list when no other internal commas are used. However, there are other instances where commas should be used as well.
Conjunctions thats your ands, buts, and ors can do that too. Use a semicolon to show a close relation between the two clauses. Comma, use a comma after the first independent clause when you link two independent clauses with one of the following coordinating conjunctions. Use a semicolon to separate items in a list if any of the items already contain commas.
Mary, who was 32 years old javier, who was 28 years old and ming, who was 17 years old. The main rule for these punctuation marks is to use them sparingly. The semicolon is a form of punctuation in the english language. Keep the following rules in mind when choosing to use a comma, colon. In this chapter, well go over all the rules you need to know for each punctuation mark and give you examples and exercises that cover the full range of ways they can be tested. Punctuation commas, semicolons, colons, quotation marks. Place semicolons and colons outside quotation marks. While you can also use a semicolon or a period between two independentyetrelated clauses, the colon is a little softer than the period, but a. Its no accident that a semicolon is a period atop a comma.
If you use the word namely, though, you should not use the colon, but a comma instead. The main function of a colon is to introduce what follows it. Find this semicolon worksheet on this page of punctuation worksheets. With the exception of business salutations, all of our colon rules apply to complete sentences where what follows the colon explains or illustrates what preceded the colon. These closely related ideas are linked by a semicolon, and it would be wrong to use a comma to perform the same function.
Use commas to separate indepen dent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction and, but, or, nor. The rules about commas are straightforward and not difficult to learn. Each of the following sentences needs either a comma or a semicolon. Heres a fun, free, and awesome online activity about commas and semicolons. Many writers are confused about when to use a semicolon and when to use a colon.
Comma, semicolon, and colon rules flashcards quizlet. The colon usually comes after words describing the subject of the list or after summary words, such as the following or these things. Follow our five rules of colon usage and youll be a master in no time. There are a few cases in which leaving out the comma can become confusing.
The clauses because i was feeling unwell and if you want to are dependent clauses subordinate clauses. If the sentence flows well with it, you can use the colon. My parents, who met each other in 1962, have been married for 50 years. A semicolon is a form of punctuation that sorts out complex lists or links complete clauses. Punctuation commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and dashes commas the basic rule of thumb for commas use is where there is a natural pause, use a comma. The writing center commas, semicolons, and colons guides.
When not to use highlighted comma shows incorrect usage. A semicolon joins two independent clauses in a compound sentence with no. Commas, semicolons, and colons the chicago school of. Semicolons are most commonly used in one of the following three situations. One thing remained to be cleaned, namely the bathroom. Is the author thanking four peoplehis mother, his father, karl marx, and god. Many companies make sugarfree soft drinks, which are flavored by synthetic chemicals the drinks usually contain only one or two calories per serving. Im providing you only with the information related to some of the most common errors i see in student writing. Semicolons the semicolon has three primary functions. Simply put, the colon is used to provide a pause before introducing related information, while the semicolon is just a break in a sentence that is stronger than a comma but not as final as a full stop. Nones sentials use commas to set off nonessential information in the middle of a sentence and to set off nonessential clauses that begin with which.
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