Semicolons
What is a semicolon?
a punctuation mark indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses
What is the colon symbol?
:
Is this the dash symbol
/
No, it's (-)
Which of the following is a correct use of parentheses?
a) Parentheses are used to provide (important main ideas).
b) Parentheses are used to add (additional, often non-essential information).
c) Parentheses are used to separate (sentences completely).
b) Parentheses are used to add (additional, often non-essential information).
When was the semicolon created?
1494
Which sentence is correct?
a. I grew anxious, my car keys were nowhere in sight.
b. I grew anxious; my car keys were nowhere in sight.
Sentence B
Which sentence uses a colon correctly?
a) She had one wish: to see the northern lights.
b) She had one wish: to see. the northern lights.
c) She had: one wish to see the northern lights.
A
What is the primary function of a dash in writing?
To show a pause or interruption in thought
Which sentence correctly uses parentheses?
a) The conference is scheduled for Friday (November 3rd.)
b) The results were surprising. (The study was conducted over ten years.)
c) Several students (who were late to class) missed the lecture.
c) Several students (who were late to class) missed the lecture.
When does this semester end?
12/10
George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant" is about a rampaging elephant; Orwell reluctantly decides to shoot this elephant.
Is the semicolon correct?
The semicolon is correct
Correct this sentence if needed:
"I need to buy groceries milk, bread, eggs, and cheese from the store."
There needs to be a colon before "Milk"
Which of the following is an INCORRECT use of a dash?
a) The teacher handed out the homework—nobody was happy about it.
b) The student scored an impressive 98–100 on the test. C) The essay's title was "A Tale of Two Cities—And Other Stories."
C) The essay's title was "A Tale of Two Cities—And Other Stories."
In which situation would parentheses NOT be appropriate?
a) Adding an explanation.
b) Introducing a citation in academic writing. c) Creating emphasis on a key term.
c) Creating emphasis on a key term.
when was the first Thanksgiving?
October 1621
True or False
A semicolon can replace a period if the two independent clauses are closely related.
True
When should you use a colon in a sentence?
a) To separate a list of items from the rest of the sentence.
b) To introduce a quotation after an independent clause. c) All of the above
C
In which case would you use an em dash?
a) To separate years in a date range
b) To create a dramatic pause in dialogue
c) To hyphenate a compound word
b) To create a dramatic pause in dialogue
True or False: It is acceptable to use parentheses to add personal comments or clarifications in formal writing.
a) True
b) False
What holiday is it today?
National cake day
Rewrite the following using a semicolon:
"The concert was amazing. The opening act was just okay."
"The concert was amazing; the opening act was just okay."
Fill in the blank: A colon can be used after an independent clause to introduce ________.
an example, explanation, or list
What punctuation mark is often confused with a dash?
Hyphen
Rewrite the following sentence to include parentheses:
The Empire State Building, completed in 1931, was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years.
The Empire State Building (completed in 1931) was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years.
Where did Damian graduate high school?
Gaither High School