a piece of punctuation placed after a complete sentence that can introduce a list, a question or an explanation

a piece of punctuation that can join two closely-related main clauses or separate items in a detailed list

a piece of punctuation that can join two or more words or parts of words together

punctuation marks that lay key information out in a non-fiction text

Colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points revision

English

In this unit, pupils revise all the grammar and punctuation learnt from Year 1 - Year 6.

In 'Punctuation', pupils learnt how to use the colon and the semi-colon. In this unit, pupils will revise all the grammar and punctuation learnt from Year 1 - Year 6. 

Review, including word class, sentence types, tense, commas and colons

I've been to many countries, including the following: 

Which of the following could be used to start a list? 

We have three teachers: Mr Martinez, Miss O'Neill, and Mrs Brown. 

We have three teachers: Mr Martinez, Miss O'Neill and Mrs Brown. 

We have three teachers, Mr Martinez, Miss O'Neill and Mrs Brown. 

Which of these lists is punctuated correctly? 

Mr Martinez was furious: no-one had done the homework. 

The road was flooded, there had been - heavy rain during the night. 

We all cheered the team: had come back from the competition victorious. 

I find French difficult - the pronunciation is very different to English!

Which sentences use dashes and colons correctly to introduce an explanation? 

It was a hard-fought victory against a confident team of eleven-year-olds. 

My long-lost cousin's ex husband is completely self obsessed. 

He washed his blood-soaked hands in a fast-flowing stream. 

The storm was terrible, trees were knocked over and fences were damaged. 

The storm was terrible; trees were knocked over; and fences were damaged. 

The storm was terrible; trees were knocked over and fences were damaged. 

When might we need to use semi-colons in a list? 

On holiday, we went to the beach, played in the park, and stayed in a caravan.

On holiday, we went to the beach played in the park, and stayed in a caravan.

On holiday, we went to the beach, played in the park and stayed in a caravan.

Before we could even think, the train was leaving. 

Before we could, even think, the train was leaving. 

Before, we could even think, the train was leaving. 

Which sentence has the fronted adverbial correctly shown with a comma?

Parenthesis can be shown using __________.

The room - which was very small - was full of house plants. 

As I woke up, I rubbed my eyes, wondering what was happening. 

A small dog (a chihuahua, I think) was yapping at my feet. 

Miss O'Neill who loved teaching PE, helped us to play tennis properly. 

Miss O'Neill, who loved teaching PE, helped us to play tennis properly. 

I was delighted - completely and utterly delighted - to see her standing there. 

I was delighted completely - and utterly delighted - to see her standing there. 

Which parenthesis could fill this gap? 'We emerged - __________ - into the sunlight.'

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points revision

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.