Curated OER
Semicolon vs. Colon...And What is a Comma Splice?
Designed originally for higher education, this PowerPoint could also be used to introduce your high schoolers to the semicolon, colon, and comma splice. The texts do not contain pictures or graphics; instead, they present information in...
Curated OER
Semicolons: Where Should They Go?
Do you know how to use a semicolon? Are you sure? Everybody can benefit from a review! This presentation goes through a detailed explanation of when and how to use them. There are examples and a quiz at the end. A handy resource to use...
Curated OER
Independent and Subordinate Clauses
Middle schoolers identify independent and subordinate clauses and differentiate between the two. They discuss sentences, complete a practice worksheet, write independent clauses, and identify independent and subordinate clauses in the...
Curated OER
Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences
Colorfully animated and packed with engaging examples, this PowerPoint encourages to employ clauses to create a variety of sentence structures. Peer editing of sample paragraphs would provide an opportunity for guided practice with...
Curated OER
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Viewers are entertained as well as educated by the illustrations in this colorfully animated PowerPoint focused on run-on sentences.
Curated OER
Punctuation (The Comma vs. The Semicolon)
Explore English by participating in a grammar correcting activity. Elementary and middle schoolers distinguish when to use commas from when to use semicolons. Then they correct twelve sentences by placing commas and semicolons in the...
Curated OER
Colon and Semicolon Rules
Are your kids always mixing up the colon and the semicolon? Help make their purpose clear with this short presentation. Thirteen slides offer explanations, examples, and a short practice opportunity. Although it serves its purpose, the...
Curated OER
Semicolons
When do you need a semicolon? Help your class better understand this tricky punctuation by offering this presentation. Although the PowerPoint is very short, the slides are text heavy. Provide some opportunities to practice using the...
Curated OER
Comma and Semicolon: Test Yourself
A pair of complex sentences, drawn from a New York Times article about a police writing class, are punctuated differently with commas and semicolons. There's only one question, but it's a good one to press your grammarians to increase...
Curated OER
Semicolons
This one-page handout provides an overview and examples of how and when to use a semicolon. It does not include any questions or exercises; however, it does address relevant grammar rules at the secondary level.
Curated OER
Semicolons and Commas Review
Young grammarians review the proper usage of colons and semicolons in writing. Given a list of sentences, they determine which are direct characterizations and which are indirect characterizations. They also decide where the punctuation...
Curated OER
Run-ons, Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
In this sentence writing activity, students are given pairs of sentences with directions to form one new sentence using commas, semicolons and/or conjunctions. Students can self check or trade and grade using the answer key provided.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: An Educational Companion to Eats, Shoots & Leaves [Pdf]
Eats, Shoots & Leaves illustrates the necessity of correct punctuation in order to convey intended meaning. Punctuation rules are stated here in a concise manner with accompanying exercises/keys.
English Plus+
English Plus: Semicolons in a Series
The site discusses using semicolons with complete independent clauses, and prepositions.
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: Punctuation Between 2 Independent Clauses
What is the correct punctuation between two independent clauses? Use this site to learn more about the rules to follow.
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: The Semicolon
What is a semicolon and how do you use it in your writing? Check out this tutorial to learn more about this punctuation mark in English sentence structure.
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Semi Colons
This resource discusses two uses of the semicolon and provides examples for each use.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Exercise: Comma vs. Semicolon: Compound Sentences
A handout with forty sentences for practicing comma and semicolon usage in compound sentences; answer key provided.
Towson University
Towson University: Ows: Semicolon Use Exercise 3
This is a 10-question, self-grading exercise/quiz on the use of Semicolons.
Get It Write
Get It Write: Using the Semicolon
Clear lesson on when to use (and when not to use) a semicolon. The article ends with a self-test and answers. L.9-10.2a Punc/Indep Clause
ACT360 Media
Writing Tips: Sentence Builder Punctuation
A list of the major elements of punctuation in the English language, including the period, question mark, exclamation mark, comma, apostrophe, quotation marks, colon, semicolon, dash, and hyphen. Provides a brief description and the...
Robin L. Simmons
Grammar Bytes: The Fused Sentence
Printable information is provided that demonstrates how to identify a fused, or run-on, sentence.
Robin L. Simmons
Grammar Bytes: Semicolon
Printable information is provided that demonstrates how to identify a semicolon.
Other
Transaction: Punctuation Guide: Semicolon
Writing lab tutorial for punctuating English writing with a semicolon.