SemiColons and Colons

Does this sentence use a Colon correctly or incorrectly?

The chef revealed his secret ingredient for the award-winning dish: a blend of spices, vegetables, and cheese.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2B

Does this question use a colon correctly or incorrectly?

Fruits for the picnic: apples, oranges, and grapes

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

REMEMBER:

If there is NOT an independent clause (subject, verb and can stand alone as a sentence) BEFORE the colon, you SHOULD NOT have a colon there.

Here's the sentence again so you can see it: Fruits for the picnic: apples, oranges, and grapes.

See how "Fruits for the picnic" is not an independent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2B

Is this sentence punctuated correctly or incorrectly?

The detective solved cases in Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

Again there is not an independent clause before the list, so we do not need a colon!

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Are there commas needed in this sentence, if so where?

My best friend who just returned from a semester abroad brought me a beautiful souvenir.

• No commas are needed

• After "my best friend"

• after "semester"

• after "friend" and after "abroad"

Answer explanation

Commas are needed in this sentence to set off the non-essential clause.

Here is the sentence in its correct form: My best friend, who just returned from a semester abroad, brought me a beautiful souvenir.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Are there commas needed in this sentence, if so where?

The person who found my lost wallet returned it to the lost and found office.

• No Commas Necessary

• after "person"

• After "wallet"

• after "person" and after "wallet"

Answer explanation

This sentence has only essential clauses in it.

Here is the sentence again:

The person who found my lost wallet returned it to the lost and found office.

It does not need commas because "who found my lost wallet" is essential to the sentence. If we didn't have it, we would have no idea what person found the wallet. If we read the sentence without it: The person returned it to the lost and found office.

We are left with all sort of questions like "What person?" "Who is the person?" "Where did the person come from?"

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Does this sentence need a colon?

The seminar covered various topics: time management, effective communication, and problem-solving techniques.

• No, the colon should not be there.

• Yes the colon is correct where it is.

• Yes but the colon should be in a different spot in the sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2B

Should the colon be in this sentence?

1. Items on the shopping list: milk, bread, and eggs.

• No the colon should not be there.

• Yes the colon is good where it is.

• Yes but the colon should be somewhere else in the sentence.

Answer explanation

1. Items on the shopping list: milk, bread, and eggs.

There is not an independent clause before the colon!!!! "Items on the shopping list" cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2B

Are the commas in the correct place OR should they not be there?

The new employee, hired last week, is already making a positive impact on the team.

• They are in the correct place.

• They should not be there.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Are the commas in the correct place or should they not be there?

The novel, that inspired the movie, is a bestseller.

• They are in the correct place.

• They should not be there

Answer explanation

Here is the sentences again : The novel that inspired the movie is a bestseller.

If we just had "The novel is a bestseller"

Again we would have tons of questions right? What novel?

What kind of novel?

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A