Distinguishing Colons and Semicolons

What is the primary visual difference between a colon and a semicolon?

• A semicolon has two dots, one above the other.

• A colon has two dots, one above the other.

• A colon is a dot above a comma.

• A semicolon is a dot above another dot.

Which of the following is a correct use of a colon?

• Maria didn't know what to think; after the divorce, she had to question everything.

• Maria had had enough; she preferred to be alone.

• Maria only wanted the best from life: a beautiful home, a loving family, and a glittering career.

• Maria had a feeling of melancholy; autumn was coming.

What can follow a colon in a sentence?

• A list

• All of the above

• A single word

• A complete sentence

How does a semicolon function in a sentence?

• It separates unrelated ideas.

• It links two independent but related sentences.

• It introduces a list.

• It ends a sentence.

What happens if you replace a semicolon with a full stop?

• The relationship between the sentences becomes clearer.

• The sentences become a list.

• The sentences become unrelated.

• The sentences become more connected.

Which writer was a great fan of semicolons?

• William James

• William Shakespeare

• Ernest Hemingway

• Mark Twain

According to William James, what does a semicolon help to maintain?

• The clarity of a list

• The start of a new paragraph

• The end of a thought

• The flow of the mind

What is a key characteristic of semicolons in writing?

• They are logical and unpack things.

• They introduce lists.

• They connect ideas that are related but not entirely dependent.

• They end sentences.

What tone does a semicolon introduce in writing?

• Formal and rigid

• Mature and tentative

• Aggressive and direct

• Confusing and unclear

What does the narrator suggest about viewing life through the lens of a semicolon?

• Life's complexities are better understood through connections.

• Life is a series of simple decisions.

• Life decisions are always simple.

• Life should be seen as a series of unrelated events.