Semicolon vs colon Exercises: 12 Questions with Answers

Question 1

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Accepted Answer

The shop was closed; we came back the next day.

Answer

The shop was closed, we came back the next day.

Answer

The shop was closed: we came back the next day.

Question 2

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Accepted Answer

Bring one thing: your student ID.

Answer

Bring one thing, your student ID.

Answer

Bring one thing; your student ID.

Question 3

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

Accepted Answer

The recipe needs three ingredients: butter, flour and sugar.

Answer

The recipe needs: butter, flour and sugar.

Answer

The recipe needs, butter, flour and sugar.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly separates list items that already contain commas?

Accepted Answer

Our branches are in Dhaka, Bangladesh; Lagos, Nigeria; and Manchester, England.

Answer

Our branches are in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Lagos, Nigeria and Manchester, England.

Answer

Our branches are in Dhaka; Bangladesh, Lagos; Nigeria, Manchester; England.

Question 5

A semicolon can replace which punctuation mark between two closely related complete sentences?

Accepted Answer

Both a comma alone and a full stop

Answer

A comma alone

Answer

A full stop

Semicolon vs colon exercises