EnglishAges 13-15

Colons, semicolons & hyphens

Use colons, semicolons, em dashes and hyphens accurately in complex sentences and modifiers. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Colons, semicolons & hyphens

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Choose the correct punctuation before “consequently” between two main clauses: “The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined” or “The reef bleached during the heatwave, consequently fish diversity declined”?
“consequently” · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
2. Which mark separates a book’s main title from its subtitle, as in “Ocean Frontiers____ Mapping the Deep Sea”: a colon (:) or an exclamation mark (!)?
Which mark separates a boo… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
3. Choose the punctuation mark that links these two contrasting independent clauses: “Some planets have rocky surfaces____ others are giant spheres of gas” (Semicolon ; or Apostrophe ’).
Choose the punctuation mar… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
4. Which punctuation pair can set off a dramatic parenthetical aside in the middle of a sentence: “The coral reef—home to hundreds of fish species—protects the shoreline” (em dashes — or colons :)?
Which punctuation pair can… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
5. Which sentence uses the colon correctly: “Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.” or “Remember: to measure twice and cut once.”?
Which sentence uses the co… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
6. Why is the sentence “The bell rang, the students filed into the hall” a punctuation error: it is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma, or it is missing a question mark?
Why is the sentence “The b… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
7. Which punctuation mark is used between hours and minutes in digital time (such as 09____30) and in mathematical ratios (such as 3____1): a colon (:) or a semicolon (;)?
09 · 30 · 3 · 1 · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
8. What punctuation mark indicates a trailing-off thought or omitted words in a quotation (. . .): an ellipsis or a colon?
What punctuation mark indi… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
9. In “twenty-three”, what punctuation mark joins the tens word and the ones word: a hyphen (-) or an apostrophe (’)?
“twenty-three” · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
10. Which punctuation mark correctly introduces a list after a complete main clause: “Please pack the following three items____ a compass, a notebook and a water bottle” (a colon : or a semicolon ;)?
Which punctuation mark cor… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
11. Which prefix almost always requires a hyphen when attached to a noun, as in “self-confidence” and “self-reliant”: self- or un-?
“self-confidence” · “self-reli · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
12. Is a colon correct directly after a verb in “The three primary colours of light are: red, green and blue” (Yes or No)?
Is a colon correct directl… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Colons, semicolons & hyphens

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Choose the correct punctuation before “consequently” between two main clauses: “The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined” or “The reef bleached during the heatwave, consequently fish diversity declined”?
The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined
“Consequently” is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon before it and a comma after it when joining main clauses.
2. Which mark separates a book’s main title from its subtitle, as in “Ocean Frontiers____ Mapping the Deep Sea”: a colon (:) or an exclamation mark (!)?
Colon (:)
A colon is the standard mark between a main title and a subtitle.
3. Choose the punctuation mark that links these two contrasting independent clauses: “Some planets have rocky surfaces____ others are giant spheres of gas” (Semicolon ; or Apostrophe ’).
Semicolon (;)
A semicolon balances two parallel or contrasting independent clauses.
4. Which punctuation pair can set off a dramatic parenthetical aside in the middle of a sentence: “The coral reef—home to hundreds of fish species—protects the shoreline” (em dashes — or colons :)?
Em dashes (—)
Paired dashes set off an explanatory or emphatic parenthetical phrase inside a sentence.
5. Which sentence uses the colon correctly: “Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.” or “Remember: to measure twice and cut once.”?
Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.
“Remember the carpenter’s rule” is a complete clause that sets up the appositive rule after the colon.
6. Why is the sentence “The bell rang, the students filed into the hall” a punctuation error: it is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma, or it is missing a question mark?
It is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma
Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a bare comma; use a semicolon, a full stop, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
7. Which punctuation mark is used between hours and minutes in digital time (such as 09____30) and in mathematical ratios (such as 3____1): a colon (:) or a semicolon (;)?
Colon (:)
Standard notation uses a colon in digital clock times (09:30) and ratios (3:1).
8. What punctuation mark indicates a trailing-off thought or omitted words in a quotation (. . .): an ellipsis or a colon?
Ellipsis
An ellipsis (...) shows an omission in quoted text or a pause/trailing thought.
9. In “twenty-three”, what punctuation mark joins the tens word and the ones word: a hyphen (-) or an apostrophe (’)?
Hyphen (-)
A hyphen connects compound numerals from 21 to 99.
10. Which punctuation mark correctly introduces a list after a complete main clause: “Please pack the following three items____ a compass, a notebook and a water bottle” (a colon : or a semicolon ;)?
Colon (:)
A colon follows a complete independent clause to introduce a list or explanation.
11. Which prefix almost always requires a hyphen when attached to a noun, as in “self-confidence” and “self-reliant”: self- or un-?
self-
Compounds formed with the prefix “self-” are hyphenated in standard English.
12. Is a colon correct directly after a verb in “The three primary colours of light are: red, green and blue” (Yes or No)?
No
Do not place a colon directly between a verb or preposition and its objects; a colon should follow a complete clause.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Colons, semicolons & hyphens

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Choose the correct punctuation before “consequently” between two main clauses: “The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined” or “The reef bleached during the heatwave, consequently fish diversity declined”?
“consequently” · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
2. Which mark separates a book’s main title from its subtitle, as in “Ocean Frontiers____ Mapping the Deep Sea”: a colon (:) or an exclamation mark (!)?
Which mark separates a boo… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
3. Choose the punctuation mark that links these two contrasting independent clauses: “Some planets have rocky surfaces____ others are giant spheres of gas” (Semicolon ; or Apostrophe ’).
Choose the punctuation mar… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
4. Which punctuation pair can set off a dramatic parenthetical aside in the middle of a sentence: “The coral reef—home to hundreds of fish species—protects the shoreline” (em dashes — or colons :)?
Which punctuation pair can… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
5. Which sentence uses the colon correctly: “Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.” or “Remember: to measure twice and cut once.”?
Which sentence uses the co… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
6. Why is the sentence “The bell rang, the students filed into the hall” a punctuation error: it is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma, or it is missing a question mark?
Why is the sentence “The b… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
7. Which punctuation mark is used between hours and minutes in digital time (such as 09____30) and in mathematical ratios (such as 3____1): a colon (:) or a semicolon (;)?
09 · 30 · 3 · 1 · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
8. What punctuation mark indicates a trailing-off thought or omitted words in a quotation (. . .): an ellipsis or a colon?
What punctuation mark indi… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
9. In “twenty-three”, what punctuation mark joins the tens word and the ones word: a hyphen (-) or an apostrophe (’)?
“twenty-three” · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
10. Which punctuation mark correctly introduces a list after a complete main clause: “Please pack the following three items____ a compass, a notebook and a water bottle” (a colon : or a semicolon ;)?
Which punctuation mark cor… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
11. Which prefix almost always requires a hyphen when attached to a noun, as in “self-confidence” and “self-reliant”: self- or un-?
“self-confidence” · “self-reli · Colons, semicolons & hyphens
12. Is a colon correct directly after a verb in “The three primary colours of light are: red, green and blue” (Yes or No)?
Is a colon correct directl… · Colons, semicolons & hyphens

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Colons, semicolons & hyphens

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Choose the correct punctuation before “consequently” between two main clauses: “The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined” or “The reef bleached during the heatwave, consequently fish diversity declined”?
The reef bleached during the heatwave; consequently, fish diversity declined
“Consequently” is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon before it and a comma after it when joining main clauses.
2. Which mark separates a book’s main title from its subtitle, as in “Ocean Frontiers____ Mapping the Deep Sea”: a colon (:) or an exclamation mark (!)?
Colon (:)
A colon is the standard mark between a main title and a subtitle.
3. Choose the punctuation mark that links these two contrasting independent clauses: “Some planets have rocky surfaces____ others are giant spheres of gas” (Semicolon ; or Apostrophe ’).
Semicolon (;)
A semicolon balances two parallel or contrasting independent clauses.
4. Which punctuation pair can set off a dramatic parenthetical aside in the middle of a sentence: “The coral reef—home to hundreds of fish species—protects the shoreline” (em dashes — or colons :)?
Em dashes (—)
Paired dashes set off an explanatory or emphatic parenthetical phrase inside a sentence.
5. Which sentence uses the colon correctly: “Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.” or “Remember: to measure twice and cut once.”?
Remember the carpenter’s rule: measure twice and cut once.
“Remember the carpenter’s rule” is a complete clause that sets up the appositive rule after the colon.
6. Why is the sentence “The bell rang, the students filed into the hall” a punctuation error: it is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma, or it is missing a question mark?
It is a comma splice joining two independent clauses with only a comma
Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a bare comma; use a semicolon, a full stop, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
7. Which punctuation mark is used between hours and minutes in digital time (such as 09____30) and in mathematical ratios (such as 3____1): a colon (:) or a semicolon (;)?
Colon (:)
Standard notation uses a colon in digital clock times (09:30) and ratios (3:1).
8. What punctuation mark indicates a trailing-off thought or omitted words in a quotation (. . .): an ellipsis or a colon?
Ellipsis
An ellipsis (...) shows an omission in quoted text or a pause/trailing thought.
9. In “twenty-three”, what punctuation mark joins the tens word and the ones word: a hyphen (-) or an apostrophe (’)?
Hyphen (-)
A hyphen connects compound numerals from 21 to 99.
10. Which punctuation mark correctly introduces a list after a complete main clause: “Please pack the following three items____ a compass, a notebook and a water bottle” (a colon : or a semicolon ;)?
Colon (:)
A colon follows a complete independent clause to introduce a list or explanation.
11. Which prefix almost always requires a hyphen when attached to a noun, as in “self-confidence” and “self-reliant”: self- or un-?
self-
Compounds formed with the prefix “self-” are hyphenated in standard English.
12. Is a colon correct directly after a verb in “The three primary colours of light are: red, green and blue” (Yes or No)?
No
Do not place a colon directly between a verb or preposition and its objects; a colon should follow a complete clause.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification