Punctuation: Colons, Semicolons, and Commas

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a colon?

• I have three favorite fruits: apples, bananas, and cherries.

• I have three favorite fruits; apples, bananas, and cherries.

• I have three favorite fruits, apples, bananas, and cherries.

• I have three favorite fruits apples, bananas, and cherries.

Identify the sentence with a comma splice.

• I went to the store, and I bought some milk.

• I went to the store, I bought some milk.

• I went to the store; I bought some milk.

• I went to the store: I bought some milk.

Which sentence correctly uses a semi-colon?

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

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

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

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

Choose the sentence that contains a comma splice.

• The sun set, the sky turned pink.

• The sun set; the sky turned pink.

• The sun set: the sky turned pink.

• The sun set and the sky turned pink.

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a colon?

• There are two choices: stay or leave.

• There are two choices; stay or leave.

• There are two choices, stay or leave.

• There are two choices stay or leave.

Identify the sentence with a correct use of a semi-colon.

• He didn't see the car coming; he was looking at his phone.

• He didn't see the car coming, he was looking at his phone.

• He didn't see the car coming: he was looking at his phone.

• He didn't see the car coming he was looking at his phone.

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

• The cake was delicious, everyone wanted a second piece.

• The cake was delicious; everyone wanted a second piece.

• The cake was delicious: everyone wanted a second piece.

• The cake was delicious and everyone wanted a second piece.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon.

• She had one goal: to win the championship.

• She had one goal; to win the championship.

• She had one goal, to win the championship.

• She had one goal to win the championship.

Identify the sentence with a correct use of a semi-colon.

• The weather was cold; however, we still went hiking.

• The weather was cold, however, we still went hiking.

• The weather was cold: however, we still went hiking.

• The weather was cold however, we still went hiking.

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

• The movie was long, it was also very boring.

• The movie was long; it was also very boring.

• The movie was long: it was also very boring.

• The movie was long and it was also very boring.