Year 6 English Semi-colons, colons, dashes, bullet points and hyphens: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.

1. Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.
   It rained all day / The match was cancelled
2. Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.
   It rained all day; the match was cancelled.
3. Write the answer.
   It rained all day; the match was cancelled.

Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓

Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.

Method. Use a dash to mark the boundary between two clauses.

1. Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.
   She finished the puzzle / Her brother was still searching for the last piece
2. Join them with a dash. The dash marks the boundary, and the second clause starts with a small letter.
   She finished the puzzle – her brother was still searching for the last piece.
3. Write the answer.
   She finished the puzzle – her brother was still searching for the last piece.

Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓

Watch out. Put a space either side of the dash, and use a small letter after it.

Method. Use a colon after the introduction, then write the list.

1. Find the introduction. The introduction is a complete sentence before the list.
   The club meets on three days
2. Add the colon and the list. A colon introduces the list; items are separated by commas, with and before the last one.
   The club meets on three days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
3. Write the answer.
   The club meets on three days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Check. The colon introduces the list. ✓

Watch out. Do not put a colon straight after a verb, such as is or are.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
2. Test the choice. No colon comes straight after a verb.
   The team needs a ball and a net. fits
3. Reject the other choices. The colon is placed after a verb, which is wrong.
   The team needs: a ball and a net. do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   The team needs a ball and a net.

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Method. Make every bullet a fragment, with no full stops.

1. Find the mixed bullets. Some have full stops and some do not.
   mixed
2. Make them fragments. Remove the full stops and keep each phrase.
   a coat, wear shoes, check the weather
3. Write the answer.
   a coat, wear shoes, check the weather

Check. All bullets are fragments. ✓

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
2. Test the choice. Resign means to leave a job.
   resign fits
3. Reject the other choices. re-sign means to sign again.
   re-sign do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   resign

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Method. Think about the meaning, and check whether the hyphen is needed.

1. Think about the meaning. The meaning is: famous, and known by many people.
   famous, and known by many people
2. Check the hyphen. The hyphen shows that the parts belong together, and it stops a misreading.
   well-known
3. Write the answer.
   well-known

Check. well-known has the meaning given. ✓

Watch out. Hyphens help the reader see what goes with what.

Method. Think about whether each part stands alone.

1. Check each part. Each part could stand alone.
   stand alone
2. Join them. The semi-colon links two closely related ideas.
   related ideas
3. Write the answer.
   Each clause is complete, and the semi-colon joins two closely related ideas.

Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓

Method. Replace the comma with a semi-colon.

1. Find the wrong mark. A comma alone joins two clauses wrongly.
   comma
2. Replace it. A semi-colon joins the two clauses correctly.
   The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
3. Write the answer.
   The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.

Check. The semi-colon joins the clauses. ✓

Method. The colon introduces the explanation after a complete sentence.

1. Find the introduction. The rule is simple is a complete sentence.
   The rule is simple
2. Place the mark. A colon introduces the explanation.
   :
3. Write the answer.
   :

Check. The colon introduces the explanation. ✓

Method. Join the two clauses with a semi-colon.

1. Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.
   two clauses
2. Join them. Use a semi-colon, then a small letter.
   The shop was closed; we walked home instead.
3. Write the answer.
   The shop was closed; we walked home instead.

Check. The semi-colon joins the clauses. ✓

Method. Put a colon after the complete sentence, then the list.

1. Find the introduction. The club meets on three days is complete.
   The club meets on three days
2. Add the colon. The colon goes before the list.
   The club meets on three days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
3. Write the answer.
   The club meets on three days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Check. The colon introduces the list. ✓

Method. Replace the full stop with a spaced dash.

1. Find the full stop. The full stop is between the two sentences.
   early.
2. Use the dash. A spaced dash, then a small letter.
   The sun rose early – the field was already full.
3. Write the answer.
   The sun rose early – the field was already full.

Check. The dash marks the boundary. ✓

Method. Join the two words with a hyphen.

1. Find the words. Second and hand together describe a used object.
   second hand
2. Join them. The hyphen joins them into one adjective.
   second-hand
3. Write the answer.
   second-hand

Check. second-hand is a compound adjective. ✓

Method. Resign, with no hyphen, means to leave a job.

1. Think about the meaning. To leave a job is resign.
   leave a job
2. Check the other word. re-sign means to sign again.
   re-sign
3. Write the answer.
   resign

Check. resign means to leave a job. ✓

Method. Make every bullet a fragment, with no full stops.

1. Remove the full stops. Each bullet becomes a phrase with no full stop.
   a coat, sensible shoes
2. Keep one style. All three bullets are now fragments.
   bring a coat, wear sensible shoes, check the weather
3. Write the answer.
   bring a coat, wear sensible shoes, check the weather

Check. All bullets are fragments. ✓

Method. Think about what the colon introduces.

1. Look at the sentence. A complete sentence can stand alone.
   stand alone
2. Look at the list. The list follows the colon, so it is clear.
   clear
3. Write the answer.
   The colon follows a complete sentence, so the list that follows is clear.

Check. The colon follows a complete sentence. ✓

Method. Replace the comma with a semi-colon.

1. Find the wrong mark. A comma alone joins two clauses wrongly.
   comma
2. Replace it. A semi-colon joins the two clauses correctly.
   The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
3. Write the answer.
   The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.

Check. The semi-colon joins the clauses. ✓

Method. Compare the two meanings.

1. Look at re-cover. Re-cover means to cover again.
   cover again
2. Look at recover. Recover means to get better.
   get better
3. Write the answer.
   Re-cover means to cover again, but recover means to get better.

Check. The hyphen changes the meaning. ✓

Method. Write two complete clauses, then join them with a semi-colon.

1. Write the first clause. The sun was hot is complete.
   The sun was hot
2. Write the second clause. The children built a sandcastle by the sea is complete.
   the children built a sandcastle
3. Write the answer.
   The sun was hot; the children built a sandcastle by the sea.

Check. The semi-colon joins two clauses. ✓

Method. A spaced dash is used in UK writing.

1. Check the spaces. The correct dash has a space either side.
   rang – the
2. Write the answer.
   The bell rang – the children ran.

Check. A space is on each side of the dash. ✓