Semicolons
My alarm clock failed to go off this morning I was late for homeroom.
My alarm clock failed to go off this morning; I was late for homeroom.
Rule: Connecting two closely related independent clauses
The test results were fantastic everyone passed with flying colors.
The test results were fantastic— everyone passed with flying colors.
My dog completely ignored the new squeaky toy he only cares about belly rubs.
My dog completely ignored the new squeaky toy—he only cares about belly rubs.
The concert was amazing we bought tickets for the next show immediately.
The concert was amazing; we bought tickets for the next show immediately.
Rule: Connecting two closely related independent clauses
My favorite dessert a rich chocolate cake is surprisingly easy to make.
*2 Dashes*
My favorite dessert—a rich chocolate cake—is surprisingly easy to make.
The secret ingredient in Grandma's cookies is a pinch of cayenne pepper don't tell anyone.
The secret ingredient in Grandma's cookies is a pinch of cayenne pepper—don't tell anyone.
It is important to study every night however you should also make time for fun.
It is important to study every night; however, you should also make time for fun.
Rule: Connecting two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb
She packed everything a tent, sleeping bag, and stove for the weekend camping trip.
*2 Dashes*
She packed everything—a tent, sleeping bag, and stove—for the weekend camping trip.
The superhero's weakness a crippling fear of cats was finally revealed to the audience.
*2 Dashes*
The superhero's weakness—a crippling fear of cats—was finally revealed to the audience.
The student council election results were: John Smith, President Maria Sanchez, Vice President and David Lee, Treasurer.
The student council election results were: John Smith, President; Maria Sanchez, Vice President; and David Lee, Treasurer.
Rule: Separating items in a series that already contain commas
The meteorologist predicted heavy snow which means school will definitely be canceled.
The meteorologist predicted heavy snow—which means school will definitely be canceled.
We need three things for movie night popcorn soda and enough blankets for everyone so let's get shopping.
*2 Dashes*
We need three things—popcorn, soda, and enough blankets for everyone—so let's get shopping.
Luci Tapahonso is the inaugural poet laureate of the Navajo Nation. Her book Sáanii Dahataal/The Women Are Singing—a combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and ______ serves as a testament to her versatility as a writer.
A. prose;
C. prose,
B. prose
D. prose—
D “A combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is nonessential, so it needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks.
The first assignment a persuasive essay is due Friday the second a research paper is not due until next month.
The first assignment, a persuasive essay, is due Friday; the second, a research paper, is not due until next month.
Rule: Separating two independent clauses that both contain internal commas
After months of practicing the difficult concerto the violinist finally achieved her goal a standing ovation.
After months of practicing the difficult concerto the violinist finally achieved her goal—a standing ovation.
I tried to pull an all-nighter but after three hours I fell asleep in my history book a true academic disaster.
I tried to pull an all-nighter, but after three hours I fell asleep in my history book—a true academic disaster.
Eli Eisenberg, a genetics expert at Tel Aviv University in Israel, recently discovered that ______ have a special genetic ability called RNA editing that confers evolutionary advantages.
A. cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish
B. cephalopods—ocean dwellers—that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish,
C. cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include: the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish,
D. cephalopods—ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish—
D. This supplementary element functions to explain what cephalopods are, and the pair of dashes indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.