Colons Semicolons and Dashes

Semicolon or colon?

• Life is like a puzzle: half the fun is trying to work it out.

• Life is like a puzzle; half the fun is trying to work it out.

The committee’s recommendation is clear ___ the city should hire more police officers.

• :

• ;

• —

Used between two complete sentences that are related.

• colon

• semicolon

• hypen

• dash

Choose the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.

• Lenny; knocked several times no one came to the door. 

• Lenny knocked several times no one came; to the door.

• Lenny knocked several times; no one came to the door.

Which sentence correctly uses the semicolon?

• I invited Lila and Ben to my; party Cindy and Mike also came.

• I invited Lila and Ben to my party Cindy; and Mike also came.

• I invited Lila and Ben to my party Cindy and; Mike also came.

• I invited Lila and Ben to my party; Cindy and Mike also came.

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

• I need to go to the store: for milk, bananas, and eggs

• I: need milk, bananas, and eggs: at the store.

• I need to get: some milk bananas, and eggs at the store.

• I need these items at the store: milk, bananas, and eggs.

Which punctuation mark is the colon?

• .

• ;

• :

• "

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

• A) She had three goals: to run, to swim, and to cycle.

• B) She had three goals; to run, to swim, and to cycle.

• C) She had three goals - to run, to swim, and to cycle.

• D) She had three goals, to run, to swim, and to cycle.

Choose the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.

• A) The sun is high; put on some sunscreen.

• B) The sun is high: put on some sunscreen.

• C) The sun is high, put on some sunscreen.

• D) The sun is high - put on some sunscreen.

Which sentence correctly uses the dash?

• A) I need to buy groceries - milk, bread, and eggs.

• B) I need to buy groceries: milk, bread, and eggs.

• C) I need to buy groceries; milk, bread, and eggs.

• D) I need to buy groceries, milk, bread, and eggs.