Connect the Thoughts
This punctuation mark can connect two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
What is a semicolon?
These punctuation marks enclose exact spoken words in a sentence.
What are quotation marks?
Add the comma:
“After lunch we went for a walk.”
After lunch, we went for a walk.
“I like sunny days, they make me happy.”
Add a semicolon OR a period: “I like sunny days; they make me happy.”
This punctuation mark can show a sudden break, interruption, or dramatic pause.
What is a dash?
Fix the sentence:
“I have one main goal I want to succeed.”
“I have one main goal: I want to succeed.”
Fix the sentence:
He asked “can you help me”.
He asked, “Can you help me?”
Commas separate items in this type of construction.
What is a series/list?
Fix it:
“Bring the following items a pen a notebook and a ruler.”
Add a colon before the list.
Insert the dash:
“He opened the envelope and stopped.”
“He opened the envelope and—stopped.”
Insert the correct punctuation:
“She studied hard however she still felt nervous.”
Semicolon before however: “She studied hard; however, she still felt nervous.”
In American English, commas and periods go (inside/outside) quotation marks.
What is inside?
Fix the sentence:
“My brother likes running hiking biking and swimming.”
Add commas between items in the list.
Fix the dialogue punctuation:
“Stop talking” the teacher said “and start working.”
“Stop talking,” the teacher said, “and start working.”
Dashes can replace parentheses when the writer wants to create this effect.
What is emphasis?
This punctuation mark is used to introduce a list, explanation, or example—but only after a complete sentence.
What is a colon?
Add correct punctuation:
“Don’t move” she whispered.
“Don’t move,” she whispered.
Add commas to separate a nonessential (unnecessary) clause:
“Our teacher who loves grammar gave us a challenge.”
“Our teacher, who loves grammar, gave us a challenge.”
Fix the punctuation:
“My sister who is 10 is very creative she paints everyday.”
“My sister, who is 10, is very creative; she paints every day.”
Fix the incorrect punctuation:
“She gave me one answer no.”
“She gave me one answer — no.”
Rewrite correctly using semicolons:
“We visited Paris, France, Rome, Italy, and Bern, Switzerland.”
“We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Bern, Switzerland.”
Correct this entire sentence:
She said “I’m coming with you”, and then she added “but only if you hurry”.
“I’m coming with you,” she said, and then she added, “But only if you hurry.”
Identify the error:
“She was tired, but still finished the race.”
No comma needed—but still finished the race is not an independent clause.
Fix everything:
“Surprisingly the results were clear they were wrong – very wrong”.
“Surprisingly, the results were clear: they were wrong — very wrong.”
Rewrite using dashes for emphasis:
“The plan (which was not very good) failed immediately.”
“The plan — which was not very good — failed immediately.”