Clutter Busters

A lesson on commas, colons, and semicolons

Grade 5

Commas, Colons, and Semicolons

Commas are used to separate ideas, to set off special elements, and to set off quotations.

A colon is used to introduce lists of items, after the greeting of a business letter, and to separate hours and minutes in time expressions.

A semicolon is used to join two related sentences, each with balanced meaning.

Commas

Commas are used to separate ideas, to set off special elements, and to set off quotations.

Commas are used to separate ideas.

Incorrect: Kari is bringing candles baskets napkins and plastic plates to the park.
Correct: Kari is bringing candles, baskets, napkins, and plastic plates to the park.

Commas are used to set off special elements.

Incorrect: Yesterday my team won the game.

Correct: Yesterday, my team won the game.

Commas are used to set off quotations.

Incorrect: Clark asked “Where is Lois?”

Correct: Clark asked, “Where is Lois?”

A colon is used to introduce lists of items.

Incorrect:The following items will be required at camp, sleeping bag, tent, hiking shoes, and compass.

Correct: The following items will be required at camp: sleeping bag, tent, hiking shoes, and compass.

A colon is used after the greeting of a business letter.

Incorrect: Dear Sir,

Correct: Dear Sir:

A colon is used to separate hours and minutes in time expressions.

Incorrect: The time is 815.
Correct: The time is 8:15.

A semi-colon is used to join two related sentences, each with balanced meaning.

Incorrect: The field trip to the park should be fun we are all going to bring a game to play.
Correct: The field trip to the park should be fun; we are all going to bring a game to play.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. Among the books were the following items, a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, and folder.

B. Among the books were the following items: a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.

C.Among the books were the following items; a pen, pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.

D.Among the books were the following items - a pen, pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. Open your folder, take out your homework and pass it forward.

B. Open your folder; take out your homework; and pass it forward.

C. Open your folder, take out your homework, and pass it forward.

D. Open your folder: take out your homework and pass it forward.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. Mario likes to play- football, tennis, baseball and volleyball.

B. Mario likes to play football, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

C. Mario likes to play: football, tennis, baseball and volleyball.

D. Mario likes to play; football, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. Please take out the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on the can.

B. Please take out, the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on the can.

C. Please, take out the trash and don't, forget to put the lid on the can.

D. Please, take out the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on, the can.

Choose the sentence with punctuation errors.

A. The waitress asked, "Would you like anything else?"

B. Bobby asked for eggs and toast for breakfast.

C. Henry took a long nap but he was still tired.

D. Mrs. Todd calmed the excited, noisy children.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky, Portland, Oregon, and Sacramento, California.

B. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky- Portland, Oregon- and Sacramento, California.

C. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky; Portland, Oregon; and Sacramento, California.

D. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky: Portland, Oregon: and Sacramento, California.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

A.The field trip to the park should be fun we are all going to bring a game to play.

B. The field trip to the park should be fun, we are all going to bring; a game to play.

C. The field trip to the park should be fun we; are all going to bring a game to play.

D. The field trip to the park should be fun; we are all going to bring a game to play.


	Commas are used to separate ideas, to set off special elements, and to set off quotations.

	A colon is used to introduce lists of items, after the greeting of a business letter, and to separate hours and minutes in time expressions.

	A semicolon is used to join two related sentences, each with balanced meaning.


	Incorrect: Kari is bringing candles baskets napkins and plastic plates to the park. Correct: Kari is bringing candles, baskets, napkins, and plastic plates to the park.




	Incorrect: Yesterday my team won the game.
	Correct: Yesterday, my team won the game.



	Incorrect: Clark asked “Where is Lois?”
	Correct: Clark asked, “Where is Lois?”


			Incorrect:The following items will be required at camp, sleeping bag, tent, hiking shoes, and compass.
			Correct: The following items will be required at camp: sleeping bag, tent, hiking shoes, and compass.



	Incorrect: The field trip to the park should be fun we are all going to bring a game to play. Correct: The field trip to the park should be fun; we are all going to bring a game to play.


			A. Among the books were the following items, a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, and folder.
			B. Among the books were the following items: a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.
			C.Among the books were the following items; a pen, pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.
			D.Among the books were the following items - a pen, pencil, a pad of paper, and a folder.


			A. Open your folder, take out your homework and pass it forward.
			B. Open your folder; take out your homework; and pass it forward.
			C. Open your folder, take out your homework, and pass it forward.
			D. Open your folder: take out your homework and pass it forward.


			A. Mario likes to play- football, tennis, baseball and volleyball.
			B. Mario likes to play football, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.
			C. Mario likes to play: football, tennis, baseball and volleyball.
			D. Mario likes to play; football, tennis, baseball, and volleyball.


			A. Please take out the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on the can.
			B. Please take out, the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on the can.
			C. Please, take out the trash and don't, forget to put the lid on the can.
			D. Please, take out the trash, and don't forget to put the lid on, the can.


			A. The waitress asked, "Would you like anything else?"
			B. Bobby asked for eggs and toast for breakfast.
			C. Henry took a long nap but he was still tired.
			D. Mrs. Todd calmed the excited, noisy children.


			A. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky, Portland, Oregon, and Sacramento, California.
			B. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky- Portland, Oregon- and Sacramento, California.
			C. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky; Portland, Oregon; and Sacramento, California.
			D. I have cousins in Frankfort, Kentucky: Portland, Oregon: and Sacramento, California.


	A.The field trip to the park should be fun we are all going to bring a game to play.
	B. The field trip to the park should be fun, we are all going to bring; a game to play.
	C. The field trip to the park should be fun we; are all going to bring a game to play.
	D. The field trip to the park should be fun; we are all going to bring a game to play.