Demonstrate the correct use of commas (e.g., after introductory words, phrases or clauses; setting off appositives and interrupters; before coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses to form compound sentences), colons (e.g., in business letters, before a list of items in a series, before a long or formal quotation), semicolons (e.g., combining sentences, between items in a series when the items already contain commas, before conjunctive adverbs), underlining and italicizing (e.g., titles; certain words, letters, figures; foreign words), quotation marks (e.g., with direct quotations, to set off dialogue, in titles, correct use with end marks), apostrophes (e.g., to form both singular and plural possessives), hyphens, and end marks. 0801.1.4

Links verified on 08/24/2026

1. Colons and Commas
   1. Colons: How to Use Them - Like a semicolon, a colon can connect two independent clauses, but it has several other uses as well. Colons, like semicolons, should be used sparingly.
   2. Commas: Exercise 1 || Exercise 2 || Exercise 3 || Exercise 4 || Exercise 5 [these expired pages are from the Internet Archive known as the Wayback Machine.]
   3. Commas, Semicolons, and Colons - a guide on when and how to use each. (pdf available)
   4. Quiz: Colons - think you know when to use a colon in your writing? Test your ability by identifying which sentences are correct.
   5. Punctuation Guide: Commas, Colons, and Semicolons - The comma, semicolon, and colon are often misused because they all can indicate pauses.
   6. Middle School Writing: How to Use the COMMA - for students having difficulty with sentence fluency.
   7. Semicolon and Colon Quiz - this quiz is interactive and self checking
   8. Using Commas - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab [This expired page comes from the Internet Archive known as the Wayback Machine.]
   9. Proofreading for Commas - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab [This expired page comes from the Internet Archive known as the Wayback Machine.]
2. Quotation Marks
   1. 22 Quotation Marks Rules - 22 Quotation Marks Rules provide concise rules and clear examples to improve your mastery of mechanics.
   2. Lesson 8: Quotation Marks for Middle Schoolers - This lesson explains 4 reasons to use quotations marks in your writing: to show dialogue/monologue, to title short creative works, to imply sarcasm, and to cite words from a source.
   3. Quotation Marks - Exercise to be printed and completed by students at their desk | answer to the exercise [these expired pages are from the Internet Archive known as the Wayback Machine.]
   4. Quotation Marks and Underlining - 18 multiple choice questions
   5. Quotation Marks in Dialogue - This guide explains rules and examples for commas, periods, question marks and where they belong in relation to dialogue.
   6. Quotation Marks Quiz - 25 multiple choice questions
   7. The Gallery Of "Misused" Quotation Marks
   8. Punctuation QUIZ on Quotation Marks and Commas - In this video practice using quotation marks and commas in this 10 question multiple choice quiz. You will have 7 seconds to answer each question correctly and choose the correctly punctuated option.
   9. Single Quotation Marks - Use single quotation marks for a quotation or title using quotation marks inside another quotation or title which uses quotation marks.

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