New
New
Year 6
Colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points revision
I can practise colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points test questions.
New
New
Year 6
Colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points revision
I can practise colons, semi-colons, hyphens and bullet points test questions.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- 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.
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
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.
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).Lesson video
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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.
Q2.
Which sentence has the fronted adverbial correctly shown with a comma?
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
semi-colons
Q4.
Which sentences include parenthesis?
As I woke up, I rubbed my eyes, wondering what was happening.
Q5.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
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.
Q6.
Which parenthesis could fill this gap? 'We emerged - __________ - into the sunlight.'
which is surprising
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:
I've been to many countries, including:
Q2.
Which of these lists is punctuated correctly?
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?
The road was flooded, there had been - heavy rain during the night.
We all cheered the team: had come back from the competition victorious.
Q4.
Which sentences use hyphens correctly?
My long-lost cousin's ex husband is completely self obsessed.
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.
Q6.
When might we need to use semi-colons in a list?
when the list items are proper nouns
when there are more than two list items