Punctuation Practice (: / ; / ,)

For each sentence, determine the best way to correct the punctuation.

• GOT IT

• X

If don't decrease your spending you'll be broke in no time.

• decrease,

• spending,

• broke,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

It's a flipped sentence, so you need a comma--the original sentence would have been:

You'll be broke in no time if you don't curtail your spending.

Brea and Lisa are having a dispute over what station to play at work, they just can't agree.

• dispute,

• work;

• work

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

There are two complete sentences, so there needs to be a semi-colon to join them.

(Partial credit for removing the comma)

Use this medicated lotion; it will stop the infection's spread and help sooth the itch.

• lotion,

• lotion

• spread,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

The semi-colon is necessary because you are joining two sentences together.

You do NOT need the comma before and because "help sooth the itch" is not a complete sentence.

The foxes have broken into the chickens coop again; we really need to build them a better home.

• foxes'

• chickens'

• again,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

There are 2 complete sentences, so you need the semi-colon. Nothing belongs to the foxes, so you don’t need an apostrophe. The coop does belong to ALL the chickens, you need an apostrophe there.

Fortunately the dizzy spell was transient; the goalie was able to continue playing within minutes.

• Fortunately,

• transient,

• transient

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

Fortunately is an interrupter, so it needs a comma.

You keep the semi-colon because there are two complete sentences.

Because of the unfortunate accident on the highway we're going to have yet another delay in today's schedule.

• unfortunate,

• highway,

• have,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

This is a flipped sentence, so there needs to be a comma. The original sentence would have been:

We're going to have yet another delay in today's schedule because of the unfortunate accident on the highway.

The crowd is beginning to disperse it looks like everyone is going home.

• disperse;

• disperse,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

You are joining two complete sentences, so a semi-colon is needed to join them together

We're coming up on the deadline so we've been asked to expedite the paperwork and send it using priority mail.

• deadline;

• deadline,

• paperwork,

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

You are joining two complete sentences with SO, so (ha!) you need a comma.

That news story is not well written; however, it does make a good point.

• written

• written,

• however

• no change is necessary

Answer explanation

You are joining to complete sentences, so the semi-colon is needed. "However" is an interrupter, so the the comma is necessary.