Easy Comma, Semicolon, and Colon Tips

These tips are super easy that my students used them to earn high scores on standardized tests.

When I taught English in Florida, my 10th graders had to take the state writing test. Getting a 3.5 or higher was passing, getting a 5 was tough, and getting a 6 was like chasing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Based on my experience with standardized writing tests, I developed simple strategies to help my students score well on them.

There are many strategies that go into writing a high-scoring essay, such as having a unique insight, opening with an engaging introduction, organizing the essay in a logical way, using relevant supporting details, and incorporating figurative language. In addition to all of that, students must also demonstrate a strong command of language.

Test scorers genuinely want students to do well. They are delighted when they come across a well-written essay, and if an essay is both engaging and grammatically correct, scorers are impressed.

Obviously, there are other uses of the comma, semicolon, and colon, but here is my targeted teaching of these three punctuation marks. Focusing on them has also helped my juniors perform well on the ACT.

Using a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction

One way to use a comma is with a coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence. Many teachers use the acronym FANBOYS to help students remember coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

These coordinating conjunctions can be used to join two subjects (Lucy and Mike went to the store), two verbs or predicates (They looked around and decided to buy chips), two objects (They bought chips and soda), etc. All these examples are considered simple sentences, and no comma is needed.

It is when two sentences are joined together by a coordinating conjunction that a comma must be placed before the coordinating conjunction. Here are examples for each of the FANBOYS:

1. Austin is in danger of failing the class, for he has not completed a single assignment. (For with a comma works the same as because. Test scorers like seeing this usage because it’s a fresh alternative to using because.)
2. Pachia spends weekends baking cookies, and she packages them into beautiful boxes for her friends and family. (And adds additional information in a factual, neutral way.)
3. Maurice did not complete the assignment, nor did he put his name on his paper. (Nor adds a negative idea in a second sentence to a negative idea presented in the first sentence. The subject of the second sentence must go between the helping verb and the main verb.)
4. Aniya was tired and sleepy, but she forced herself to be attentive in class. (But presents a contrast, usually in a factual, neutral way.)
5. Cameron sometimes eats a late breakfast, or he completely skips it and waits for lunch. (Or introduces an alternate idea that is related to the first idea.)
6. Zelda refuses to interact with others, yet she complains about feeling excluded. (Yet presents a contrast. However, unlike the word but, yet conveys a bit of an exasperated, annoyed, or amazed tone.)
7. Kou made all A’s on his report card, so his parents took him out to celebrate. (So presents a result, consequence, or effect that is directly related to the idea or action presented in the first sentence.)

Grammatically, multiple coordinating conjunctions can work in any sentence, but each one creates a slight nuance in the tone of a sentence. Look at these examples:

1. I like cake, for my husband likes ice cream. (That means the reason I like cake is simply because my husband likes ice cream. Jeez! I am petty.)
2. I like cake, and my husband likes ice cream. (Neutral, factual. No pettiness.)
3. I like cake, but my husband likes ice cream. (Okay, we just happen to like different things.)
4. I like cake, yet my husband likes ice cream. (Hmm. Why can’t he like what I like? I come across as super controlling.)
5. I like cake, so my husband likes ice cream. (Dang! He just wants to be contrary.)

Of these examples, the three that seem to impress scorers the most are for, nor, and yet. Most likely, it’s because they are not frequently used. Therefore, they add freshness to any writing.

Using a Semicolon in a Compound Sentence

If you have two sentences that are about the same topic or subject, you can use a semicolon to join them together. However, if they are not about the same subject or topic, don’t use this method. Doing so will make your sentence sound odd. This method will impress scorers, but if it’s overused, it will lose its appeal.

Here are examples of a correct way and an incorrect way to use a semicolon in a compound sentence:

1. Florida is a great vacation destination; it has warm weather and sunny skies. (Both sentences are about Florida and its positive attributes, so the sentences can be joined by a semicolon.)
2. Florida is a great vacation destination; I love ice cream. (This, obviously, is an incorrect use of a semicolon. You would seem odd if you wrote like this.)

Using a Semicolon and a Conjunctive Adverb

If you want to get fancy, use the semicolon with a conjunctive adverb and a comma. Here are some examples of common conjunctive adverbs: therefore, meanwhile, consequently, subsequently, however, otherwise, furthermore, thus, nevertheless, moreover, instead, accordingly, and indeed. The conjunctive adverb creates a transition and connection between the two sentences.

1. Florida is a popular vacation destination; subsequently, its beaches are crowded.
2. Minnesota is bitterly cold in winter; nevertheless, it is the perfect place to call home.

This method elevates a student’s essay, especially if the student uses a conjunctive adverb that is either not commonly used or enhances the sentence by giving it a subtlety that would be absent without that particular conjunctive adverb.

Using a Colon in a Sentence

People like using the colon to signal a list, but the colon can be elegantly incorporated into an essay in other ways. The colon must follow a complete sentence, however. That means you could put a period where the colon goes and end the sentence. If you can’t replace the colon with a period, then you are chopping up your sentence. That would be an incorrect way of using a colon.

1. For Brandon’s birthday dinner, I will be making: chicken, salad, rice, and a cake. (If I replaced the colon with a period and ended my sentence there, would the sentence make sense? No. This is an incorrect usage.)
2. I bought too many things at the store: a pair of shoes, a necklace, a sweater, a coat, two pairs of pants, a hat, and four purses. (Notice that a period can go where the colon is, but instead of a period, I used a colon to signal a list of things.)

A colon can signal other things besides a list. It can signal a word, a phrase, AND even another sentence. However, the second sentence must define, clarify, exemplify, or support the idea mentioned in the first sentence. Here are some examples:

1. The biggest obstacle to a student’s education is actually quite small: a cell phone! (Signalling a word or a phrase.)
2. I ate way too much at the buffet restaurant: steak, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, apple pie, chocolate cake, and waffles. (Signalling a list.)
3. John is the most popular boy in school: all the other students consider him their best friend! (Signalling a clarifying or supporting sentence.)

The Difference Between a Semicolon and a Colon in a Sentence

Remember, a semicolon and a colon can join two sentences, but with a semicolon, both sentences need to be about the same topic or subject.

I drove to California; the drive took three days. (Both sentences are about driving to California.)

With a colon, the second sentence must give additional information to support, explain, or clarify an idea presented in the first sentence.

The drive to California was so long: it took three days! (Notice how the second sentence gives additional information to support that the drive was long.)

Key Takeaways

Although there are countless ways to express ourselves in writing, a sprinkling of these strategies helped my students score well on standardized tests.

1. For the comma and coordinating conjunction method, use for, nor, and yet when appropriate. It gives a freshness to your writing over other commonly used conjunctions.
2. Use a semicolon to join two sentences once or twice in an essay to demonstrate an understanding of this rule. But that’s it. Overusing it can sound robotic, jarring, or even come across as lazy because there is no transitional word between the two sentences.
3. Elevate the semicolon by using it with a conjunctive adverb and a comma. This demonstrates your confidence in using the semicolon, and the conjunctive adverb provides a connection and transition between the two sentences, which creates a nice flow to the essay.
4. Instead of simply using a colon to list items, use it to signal a word or a phrase. Better yet, use it to signal a clarifying or supporting sentence. (Pssst. Some people don’t know this rule and are reluctant to apply it in their writing.)

My students enjoyed applying these tips. They told me that knowing these tips made them feel confident during the test. And it showed in their scores.

© May Y. Yang 2022. All Rights Reserved.

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