Comma, Colons, and Semicolons: A Punctuation Lesson

Who Cares?

Using punctuation is like pausing between words and ideas when you speak.
Imagine if you did not take pauses between words and sentences when
speaking.
Would that be effective communication?
In addition, effective and appropriate punctuation allows your writing to become
more sophisticated and controlled.

A. Commas ( , )
Separate items in a series.

Set off additional information.

Examples

Will there be drinks, snacks, and games at the party?

Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, is home to almost three million

people.

ADDITIONAL Information
Nonessential phrases may come at the beginning, middle, or end of a
sentence.
Examples
On a beautiful spring day, they had a picnic.
Picnics, an old tradition, can be a lot of fun.
Dad grilled ribs, the big ones from Costco.
The person, who sold them to him, smiled.

Semicolons ( ; )

Semicolons join independent clauses.

It is also like using the word furthermore.
Examples
My mom said I could not go to the party; I did not want to go anyway.
Bananas are a healthy snack; they contain potassium, which may help
your vision.
Colons ( : )

Colons introduce lists and explanations.

It is also like using the words “and here it is” or “and here they are.”

Examples
There are many reasons to exercise: it’s good for your health, it’s fun,
and it’s free.
Bananas are a healthy snack: they contain potassium, which may help
your vision.

Practice

Punctuate the following sentences as best as you can.

1. My sister Amy my friend Kyle and I went to the park

2. I brought a lot of stuff food drinks and blankets

3. My aunt Sally who is my favorite aunt talked to my mom

4. Most fruits are low in fat they are also high in vitamins

5. When we left the park the one at the end of the block we went home.

6. I was shaped cut and molded to fit perfectly in the shoes but I was not the
first one to wear them my mom grandfather and ancestors also had this
weight to bear.

7. My personal belief is that your life trajectory is an accident of nature

nobody chooses where they wish to be born or into which sort of
environment.

8. Almost from the outset it was clear that my time here would be utterly
different from that I had spent back home the school is a real melting pot
of different nationalities cultures and viewpoints.

9. In my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than a person who is proud

of their own country but who is tolerant of and inquisitive about others.

10.The effort they have put into the family business and the passion with
which they do it has taught me not to view these shoes as a burden but to
regard them as an exciting opportunity to tread my own path into
becoming a businesswoman.