When it comes to punctuation, You will use commas and periods most frequently. A good writer, however, needs to know how to use colons and semicolons as well. These two punctuation marks might look similar, but they serve different purposes.

Determine which punctuation rule is illustrated by the following sentence.

1. I met with the managers in the following cities: San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

1) Use a colon after a complete thought that introduces a list of items.

2) Use a colon to join closely related independent clauses.

3) Use a semicolon after a complete thought that introduces a list of items.

2. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) The old office space was dark and cold it seemed depressing.

2) The old office space was dark and cold; it seemed depressing.

3) The old office space was dark and cold, it seemed depressing.

3. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) She enjoyed working for the company; however, she has decided to take another job.

2) She enjoyed working for the company; however she has decided to take another job.

3) She enjoyed working for the company: however, she has decided to take another job.

4. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) Dear Sir:

2) Dear Sir;

3) Dear Sir

5. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) I practiced my presentation for three hours this afternoon, it is on management strategies.

2) I practiced my presentation for three hours this afternoon it is on: management strategies.

3) I practiced my presentation for three hours this afternoon; it is on management strategies.

Determine which punctuation rule is illustrated by the following sentence.

6. I wonder whether I will see Mary Ortega, founder of Season Fruit Shipping; Jose Arenas, head shipping agent at Produce Plus; or Delia Finnegan, manager of Finnegan Fruit Growers.

1) Use a colon to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contain internal commas.

2) Use a semicolon to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contain internal commas.

3) Use a comma to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contain internal commas.

7. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities; Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

2) During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities: Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

3) During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities, Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

8. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) I need to know whether you are able to perform the following functions of the job, revising existing marketing materials, promoting the company at trade shows, and reaching potential customers through direct mail campaigns.

2) I need to know whether you are able to perform the following functions of the job; revising existing marketing materials, promoting the company at trade shows, and reaching potential customers through direct mail campaigns.

3) I need to know whether you are able to perform the following functions of the job: revising existing marketing materials, promoting the company at trade shows, and reaching potential customers through direct mail campaigns.

9. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) He graduated from college at the age of 17 furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

2) He graduated from college at the age of 17: furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

3) He graduated from college at the age of 17; furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

10. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

1) The following companies will be going out of business, HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.

2) The following companies will be going out of business; HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.

3) The following companies will be going out of business: HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.