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7th grade Use semicolons, colons and dashes worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

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Use semicolons, colons and dashes

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

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Circle the best answer.

  1. Bo punctuates a sentence that has a link word like “otherwise”. Which version is correct?

    • We should leave now; otherwise, we will miss the bus.
    • We should leave now otherwise; we will miss the bus.
    • We should leave now; otherwise we will miss the bus.
    • We should leave now, otherwise, we will miss the bus.
  2. Milo punctuates a sentence that has a link word like “meanwhile”. Which version is correct?

    • The movie started late; meanwhile, we shared a bag of popcorn.
    • The movie started late, meanwhile, we shared a bag of popcorn.
    • The movie started late; meanwhile we shared a bag of popcorn.
    • The movie started late meanwhile; we shared a bag of popcorn.
  3. Zee punctuates a sentence that has a link word like “consequently”. Which version is correct?

    • The relay team practiced daily consequently; the handoffs went smoothly.
    • The relay team practiced daily; consequently, the handoffs went smoothly.
    • The relay team practiced daily; consequently the handoffs went smoothly.
    • The relay team practiced daily, consequently, the handoffs went smoothly.
  4. Kira checks where a colon belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • The kit held three tools a saw, a hammer, and a level.
    • The kit held three tools; a saw, a hammer, and a level.
    • The kit held three tools: a saw, a hammer, and a level.
    • The kit held: a saw, a hammer, and a level.
  5. Ren checks where a colon belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • The coach had one rule: equal playing time.
    • The coach had: one rule equal playing time.
    • The coach had one rule equal playing time.
    • The coach had one rule; equal playing time.
  6. Esme checks where a colon belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Bring to the art room: glue, paper, and scissors.
    • Bring these supplies to the art room; glue, paper, and scissors.
    • Bring these supplies to the art room: glue, paper, and scissors.
    • Bring these supplies to the art room glue, paper, and scissors.
  7. Noah checks where a colon belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • The garden had one problem; dry soil.
    • The garden had one problem: dry soil.
    • The garden had: one problem dry soil.
    • The garden had one problem dry soil.
  8. Ari checks where the dash belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • We packed everything—we needed except the tent.
    • We packed everything we needed—except the tent.
    • We packed everything we needed except—the tent.
    • We—packed everything we needed except the tent.
  9. Luz checks where the dash belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • The door creaked open—and the whole team shouted hooray.
    • The door creaked open and the—whole team shouted hooray.
    • The door—creaked open and the whole team shouted hooray.
    • The door creaked—open and the whole team shouted hooray.
  10. Jun checks where the dash belongs. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • My cousin—who lives in Denver visits every summer.
    • My cousin—who lives in Denver—visits every summer.
    • My cousin who lives in Denver—visits every summer.
    • My cousin—who lives—in Denver visits every summer.
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7th grade Use semicolons, colons and dashes worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Use semicolons, colons and dashes. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can join two closely related sentences with a semicolon, and put a comma after a link word such as however.
  • I can use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list or an explanation.
  • I can use a dash for a sharp break, an afterthought or an aside, and tell when one dash or two are needed.

Words to know

semicolon: A mark (;) that joins two complete sentences that belong together.

link word: A word like however, otherwise, meanwhile or consequently that connects two ideas.

colon: A mark (:) that comes after a complete sentence and introduces a list or an explanation.

dash: A long mark (—) for a sudden break, an afterthought, or an aside.

aside: An extra detail in the middle of a sentence, set off by a dash on each side.

fragment: A group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Common mistakes

When joining two sentences with a link word such as however, your child used only commas, which makes a comma splice. Show your child that a semicolon goes before the link word and a comma goes after it.

When using a link word such as however after a semicolon, your child left out the comma after it. The link word needs a comma right after it.

When using a link word such as however, your child put the semicolon after it instead of before it. The semicolon sits between the two sentences, ahead of the link word.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with use semicolons, colons and dashes?

When joining two sentences with a link word such as however, your child used only commas, which makes a comma splice. Show your child that a semicolon goes before the link word and a comma goes after it.

Are these 7th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 7 reading

See all grade 7 reading

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