Semi-colons; colons; hyphens… Punctuation Pointers Semi-colons; colons; hyphens…

Semi-colons Use a semi-colon in the following situations: To join two independent clauses The house looks dark; perhaps we should have called first. To fix a run-on sentence Jen was determined to win the race; she knew that she needed to practice.

Colons Use a colon in the following situations: To introduce a list of items that ends a sentence (Do not use a colon after a verb!) Bring the following tools: hammer, drill, and wrench. NOT: You should bring: hammer, drill, and wrench. To separate the hour and the minute in time 12:42 A.M. 1:45 P.M. After the greeting in a business letter Dear Sir: Dear Ms. Smith:

More Colons To express a ratio 3:1 25:100 To indicate dialogue in a play or script Brian: I want to play baseball. Mike: Great idea. Brian: I’ll get my gear and you get yours. Before subtitles of books, articles, chapters and verses John 3:16 (the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16) Michael Jordan: Basketball Superman (book title)

Hyphens Use hyphens in these situations: To divide words at the end of a line esti-mate experi-mentation In a hyphenated modifier He smiled that I’ve-been-up-to-something smile. After any prefix joined to a noun or adjective ex-spouse self-confidence

More hyphens In scores We beat our arch rival 86-73 In numbers twenty-two thirty-five To represent “through” Read pages 15-34 before class tomorrow. The pet store is open Monday-Friday. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is perhaps the most famous writer of all time.

Let’s Practice… Use semi-colons, colons, and hyphens correctly in these sentences: We won the game the score was 100 32. Can you believe we won by sixty eight points? The coach had that I knew you could do it smile after the game. My mom was early because she thought the game started at 7 30 it really started at 8 00. His great grandmother was cheering loudly at his magnificent through the hoop plays.

Let’s check… We won the game; the score was 100 - 32. Can you believe we won by sixty-eight points? The coach had that I-knew-you-could-do-it smile after the game. My mom was early because she thought the game started at 7:30; it really started at 8:00. His great-grandmother was cheering loudly at his magnificent through-the-hoop plays.

Business Letter Dear Mr. Roberts: My newer-than-new washing machine does not work like your amazing commercial advertised! No, it sure doesn’t. My washing machine has numerous problems: dancing across the floor of the laundry room, leaking water out around the door, making extremely loud banging noises as it spins. I will be home at 5:00 on Tuesday; I need a repairman at my house at that time. I’ll be waiting! Disappointed buyer, Mrs. Sudsy Clean