Commas, Colons and Semicolons Flashcards
All 12 cards in this deck
How do you use commas in a list?
Put a comma between each item, and usually and or or before the last: eggs, flour and milk. A comma before the final and (the Oxford comma) is optional, but be consistent.
When should you put a comma after the start of a sentence?
After a fronted subordinate clause or adverbial: When the lights went out, we froze. / Slowly, the door opened. The comma shows where the opening ends and the main clause begins.
How do commas mark parenthesis, and what does parenthesis do?
A pair of commas encloses extra information that the sentence would still make sense without: My aunt, who hates crowds, came to the parade. It adds detail or a comment mid-sentence without starting a new one. Brackets and a pair of dashes do the same job.
What does a colon do?
It introduces something that explains, expands on or lists what came before. The part before the colon must be a complete sentence: I knew who had taken it: the jam was all over his fingers.
How can a colon create an effect in your writing?
It makes the reader pause before a reveal, so the information after it lands harder. There was only one thing left in the fridge: a single wrinkled lemon. It works well for a punchline, a twist or the key point of an argument.
What does a semicolon do?
It joins two closely related complete sentences, giving a pause stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. Some people love early mornings; others can't face them. It's good for balance and contrast.
When can a semicolon separate items in a list?
When the items are long or already contain commas: We visited Leeds, which was rainy; York, which was packed; and Whitby, which was perfect. The semicolons stop the list becoming confusing.
How do you decide between a colon and a semicolon?
Semicolon: two equal, linked sentences; both halves must stand alone. Colon: the second part explains or expands on the first, and it doesn't need to be a complete sentence. Ask: does the second part explain the first? If so, use a colon.
Colon or semicolon? The plan had one flaw ___ nobody knew where the key was.
Colon. The second part explains what the flaw was. A semicolon is wrong here because the halves aren't equal, separate points.
Colon or semicolon? My sister talks constantly ___ my brother barely says a word.
Semicolon. These are two balanced, contrasting statements that both stand alone. Neither one explains the other.
How does a range of punctuation earn AO6 credit?
The top AO6 level rewards a wide range of punctuation used with a high level of accuracy. Accuracy matters more than variety: a semicolon in the wrong place earns nothing. Aim for a few colons, semicolons, dashes or brackets placed where they create an effect.
What does a dash do, and how should you use it?
A single dash adds an afterthought or a dramatic pause: I opened the box – it was empty. A pair of dashes works like brackets. Dashes feel informal and urgent, so use them sparingly, and not as a lazy replacement for every other mark.