Punctuation

Meet Period

• What it does:Separates ideas.

• What it “says”:“We are done with this thought. Let’s move on.”• What it cannot do:

Connect ideas• It’s kind of like a:

Wall that divides two properties

Meet Comma

• What it does:Joins a smaller idea to the main idea

• What it “says”:“And one more thing that connects here . . .”• What it cannot do:

Connect two big ideas (ICs)• It’s kind of like a:

Hook connecting a train car to the engine

Meet Semicolon

• What it does:Combines two related main ideas (ICs)

• What it “says”:“Hey you, come back!”“But wait, there’s more!”

• What it cannot do: Join a dependent clause to an independent clause

• It’s kind of like a:“holy palmer’s kiss”Welding joint between two pieces of metal

Meet Colon• What it does:Presents something after a setup, bringing emphasis to the idea that follows. • What it “says”“Guess what . . .”“Look what’s behind this curtain!”• What it cannot do: End the sentence.• It’s kind of like a:Drumroll before a big momentMagician pulling a rabbit from his hat

Listen up:

• You should know this fact: a colon can be used to introduce and emphasize important ideas EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO LIST

• Here is one more reminder: there is not always a list after a colon.

• Something else besides a list can come after a colon: one really important statement.

Try this:

• Holicong “sevvies” must remember one thing: obey and serve the ninth graders.

• Teachers repeat the same refrain all year: be quiet.

• Sometimes there is only one right way to act: properly

• There he was, standing right in front of me: Blum-tober-fest.

Try this:

• Holicong “sevvies” must remember one thing:

• Teachers repeat the same refrain all year:

• Sometimes there is only one right way to act:

• There he was, standing right in front of me:

Semicolons and Colons

Which one of these is incorrect?