Semicolons and Colons

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

• I have one goal: to win the race.

• I have one goal; to win the race.

• I have one goal. To win the race.

What are the semicolons doing in this sentence?

”John likes all kinds of sandwiches: bacon, lettuce and tomato; peanut butter and jelly; ham, cheese, and turkey; and plenty more.”

• They are uniting two closely connected clauses.

• They are separating items in a complex list.

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

• The artwork has her favorite colors; blue, purple, and green.

• The artwork has her favorite colors: blue, purple, and green.

• The artwork has her favorite colors. Blue, purple, and green.

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

• John F. Kennedy said it best. “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

• John F. Kennedy said it best; “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

• John F. Kennedy said it best: “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

• My group presentation is tomorrow; I can’t stay up late tonight.

• My group presentation is tomorrow: I can’t stay up late tonight.

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

• I did not finish reading Frankenstein: I watched my favorite TV show instead.

• I did not finish reading Frankenstein; I watched my favorite TV show instead.

• I did not finish reading Frankenstein, I watched my favorite TV show instead.

A semicolon functions differently than a period because it _______________.

• separates the subject and the verb

• joins two closely related sentences

• introduces a quote

TRUE or FALSE:

A colon can be used to indicate time.

• True

• False

TRUE or FALSE:

A semicolon can be used to introduce a quote.

• True

• False

TRUE or FALSE:

A semicolon and a colon share the same exact functions.

• True

• False