Rule & Punctuation
To separate items in a list of three or more.
What is a comma?
In five minutes the building will be closed.
Comma
Last night I watched a horror movie with my mom.
Last night, I watched a horror movie with my mom.
I lost, my car keys.
I lost my car keys.
When repeating someone’s exact words.
What is quotation marks?
Johann set the alarm clock for 6 00.
Colon
The president was very popular he easily won the election.
The president was very popular; he easily won the election.
Everyday I follow the same routine: I wash my hair brush my teeth; and go to work.
Everyday, I follow the same routine: I wash my hair, brush my teeth, and go to work.
To introduce the effect, or logical consequence of an action.
What is a colon?
I got an A on my test said Ko.
Quotation marks, comma
On the trip, we drove through Kelowna, British Columbia Lethbridge, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
On the trip, we drove through Kelowna, British Columbia; Lethbridge, Alberta; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
We forgot to feed: the cat; he must hate us.
We forgot to feed the cat; he must hate us.
To separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an independent clause (complete thought).
What is a comma?
The group was composed of three young people: Mary, who was 32 years old Javier, who was 28 years old and Ming, who was 17 years old.
Semi-colons
Jim said I feel sleepy
Jim said, “I feel sleepy.”
I cannot "buy" a new car, I do not have much money.
I cannot buy a new car; I do not have much money.
To separate complete sentences (independent clauses) that are joined by a conjunctive adverb.
What is a semi-colon?
My father ended every conversation the same way “Don’t give up.”
Colon
Yesterday I drove my car which is baby blue to my friend's house.
Yesterday, I drove my car, which is baby blue, to my friend's house.
“I feel sleepy Jim said" “But I don’t want to go to bed!”
“I feel sleepy,” Jim said. “But I don’t want to go to bed!”