25 Punctuation

Barry wanted to know why I didn't respond to his text: I hadn't received it.

A semi-colon was used because it was saying an explanation.

Mom wants the chores completed; moreover she wants them done properly.

A semi-colon was used because it was separating two independent clauses.

She calls it the bathroom; I call it the loo.

A semi-colon was used because it was separating two independent clauses.

I really like beef, with mushroom sauce; pasta, with Alfredo sauce; and salad, with French dressing.

A semi-colon was used to break up the independent clauses.

I have finished the main course; now I have to make dessert.

A semi-colon was used to connect the independent clauses.

Star Trek was my favorite television show during the 1960s; in fact, it is my favorite television show of all time.

A semi-colon was used to separate the independent clauses.

The Christmas ornaments are finally packed away: small, shiny ones; big, bright ones; and the homemade ones.

A semi-colon was used to separate the independent clauses.

I half-wanted to commit a felony.

A hyphen was used because it was a conjoining a fraction with a compound adjective.

"No, I won't party "like it's nineteen ninety-nine."

A hyphen was used because it's conjoining two numbers.

There are some beautiful-looking flowers in the garden.

A hyphen was used to combine the adjective and present participles.

The president of the company gave a 10-minute speech to the Board of Directors.

A hyphen was used to conjoin the compound adjective and number.

t's recommended you don't take down any load-bearing walls when renovating.

A hyphen was used to conjoin two words together.

Don't sit Adam next to Martha! She's his ex-wife!

A hyphen was used because it had the prefix "ex" in it.

These are my favorite colors: purple, turquoise, pink and yellow.

A colon was used because it was introducing a list of items.

This was first said by Shakespeare: "To thine own self be true."

A colon was used because it was introducing a quotation.

Here are three states that begin with M: Michigan, Mississippi and Maine.

A colon was used because it was listing examples.

I bought a lot of meat at the store: bacon, turkey, chicken and tuna.

A colon was used because it was listing items.

The new boss has many nice traits: friendly, outgoing and fair.

A colon was used because it was listing items.

This house has everything I need: two bedrooms, a backyard and a garage.

A colon was used because it was listing items.

There are two choices at this time: run away or fight.

A colon was used to introduce the choices the person had.

Low-flying airplanes contribute to the noise pollution in the area.

A hyphen was used because it had low with a compound adjective.

After eighty years of dreaming, the elderly man realized it was time to finally revisit the land of his youth—Ireland.

The dash was used to show emphasis.

Mimi began to explain herself, saying, "I was thinking—" "I don't care what you were thinking," Rodolpho interrupted.

The dash was used to break up dialogue.

Books, paper, pencils—many students lacked even the simplest tools for learning in nineteenth-century America.

The dash was used to indicate the introduction of a sentence.

Everything I saw in my new neighborhood—from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings—reminded me of my alma mater.

Two of the dashes were used to show emphasis in the middle of the sentence.