Mastering Punctuation: Hyphens, Colons, Semi-colon

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a hyphen?

• The well known author will be speaking at the event.

• The well-known author will be speaking at the event.

• The well known-author will be speaking at the event.

• The well-known-author will be speaking at the event.

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a colon.

• She brought: apples, oranges, and bananas.

• She brought apples: oranges, and bananas.

• She brought apples, oranges, and bananas:.

• She brought the following: apples, oranges, and bananas.

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Which sentence correctly uses a semi-colon?

• I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow, I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow; and I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow: I can't go out tonight.

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a hyphen.

• The twenty-one-year-old student won the award.

• The twenty one year old student won the award.

• The twenty-one year old student won the award.

• The twenty one-year-old student won the award.

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?

• For the picnic, we need: sandwiches, drinks, and chips.

• For the picnic, we need sandwiches, drinks, and chips:.

• For the picnic, we need: sandwiches, drinks, and chips.

• For the picnic, we need the following items: sandwiches, drinks, and chips.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Identify the sentence that correctly uses a semi-colon to connect two independent clauses.

• She loves reading; she goes to the library every week.

• She loves reading, she goes to the library every week.

• She loves reading; and she goes to the library every week.

• She loves reading: she goes to the library every week.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a hyphen to form a compound adjective?

• The fast-moving car sped down the highway.

• The fast moving-car sped down the highway.

• The fast-moving-car sped down the highway.

• The fast moving car sped down the highway.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon to introduce an explanation.

• He was late: because he missed the bus.

• He was late because: he missed the bus.

• He was late: he missed the bus.

• He was late; he missed the bus.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Which sentence correctly uses a semi-colon to separate items in a complex list?

• On our trip, we visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany.

• On our trip, we visited Paris; France, Rome; Italy, and Berlin; Germany.

• On our trip, we visited Paris, France, Rome, Italy, and Berlin, Germany.

• On our trip, we visited Paris; France, Rome; Italy, and Berlin; Germany.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Analyze the following sentence and determine if the punctuation is correct: "She had three goals for the year: improve her grades; join a club; and volunteer more."

• The punctuation is correct.

• The punctuation is incorrect; a colon should be used instead of the semi-colons.

• The punctuation is incorrect; commas should be used instead of the semi-colons.

• The punctuation is incorrect; a semi-colon should be used after "year".

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking