7th grade punctuation

Example

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art.

1. A semicolon joins two closely related main clauses (without a conjunction), or separates complex list items.
2. So the answer is: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.

Answer: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.

Example

"I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

1. A single dash can add emphasis or a dramatic pause; an ellipsis shows hesitation, an unfinished thought or suspense.
2. So the answer is: Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

Answer: Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

Example

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta.

1. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that joins two independent clauses, but not before one that joins two verbs with the same subject.
2. Two independent clauses with 'but': comma before 'but'.
3. So the answer is: I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.

Answer: I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.

Example

Is this sentence correct, a comma splice, or a run-on? It was raining, we stayed inside.

1. A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma; a run-on joins them with nothing.
2. A comma alone can't join two independent clauses.
3. So the answer is: comma splice

Answer: comma splice

Example

Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Watch out!," shouted the coach. • "Watch out"! shouted the coach. • "Watch out!" shouted the coach. • "Watch out," shouted the coach!

1. Spoken words go inside quotation marks; separate them from the speaker tag with a comma (or ? or !), and start each new speech with a capital letter.
2. An exclamation mark goes inside the quotation marks, and no comma is added.
3. So the answer is: "Watch out!" shouted the coach.

Answer: "Watch out!" shouted the coach.