A colon has two functions - it can introduce a list or an explanation. A dash can also introduce an explanation.
A semi-colon has two functions - to separate detailed items in a list or to join two closely-related main clauses.
Using colons and semi-colons can improve text cohesion.
Bullet points are useful in certain non-fiction texts.
Hyphens are used to join two or more words or parts of words together.

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to identify the correct punctuation for bullet points.

There are very few hard-and-fast rules; the key is to select consistent punctuation throughout the list.

Keywords

Colon - a piece of punctuation placed after a complete sentence that can introduce a list, a question or an explanation
Semi-colon - a piece of punctuation that can join two closely-related main clauses or separate items in a detailed list
Hyphen - a piece of punctuation that can join two or more words or parts of words together
Bullet points - punctuation marks that lay key information out in a non-fiction text

In our Year 6 Grammar curriculum, dashes have been taught in the context of parenthesis; here, their further use is introduced. All other content can be found in detail throughout our Year 6 Grammar units.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

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.

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

Q2.

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

Correct answer: 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.

Q3.

Parenthesis can be shown using __________.

colons

Correct answer: brackets

Correct answer: dashes

Correct answer: commas

semi-colons

Q4.

Which sentences include parenthesis?

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

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

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

Q5.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

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

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

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

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

Q6.

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

Correct answer: blinking and rubbing our eyes

which is surprising

Correct answer: relieved and delighted

Correct answer: slowly and cautiously

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

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

I've been to many countries like:

Correct answer: I've been to many countries:

I've been to many countries, including:

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

Q2.

Which of these lists is punctuated correctly?

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

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

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

Q3.

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

Correct answer: 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.

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

Q4.

Which sentences use hyphens correctly?

Correct answer: 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.

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

Q5.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

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

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

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

Q6.

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

when the list items are proper nouns

Correct answer: when the list items contain commas

when there are more than two list items