Grade 6 Spring — Rhetorical Devices, Sentence Craft, and Formal Multi-Pass Peer Revision Protocols
English · GR G6 eng.g6.s.gr.semicolon_compound_sentences

Use the SEMICOLON correctly with 3 rules (CCSS L.6.2.b; English NC Y6 V/G/P)

Apply the 3 semicolon rules: (1) join two independent clauses without a conjunction; (2) before a conjunctive adverb (however/therefore/moreover) with comma after; (3) in complex lists where items contain internal commas. Distinguish semicolon use from comma splices, run-ons, and proper-conjunction joins.

Mastery threshold
90%
Min instances
12
Typical minutes
45
Spaced intervals (days)
1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60
Prereqs
Successors
  • eng.g7.f.gr.semicolon_advanced_with_dashes
    (not yet loaded)
Common misconceptions
  • Uses a comma where a semicolon is required (comma splice between two independent clauses).
  • Uses a semicolon where a comma is appropriate (semicolon between a dependent and independent clause).

Exercise pool (2)

Diff Stem Type
3 Fix the comma splice in each sentence using a semicolon: (1) 'Maya brought cookies, Sara brought juice.' (2) 'The team practiced hard,... fix comma splice
3 Apply Rule 3 (semicolons in complex lists): Punctuate this list correctly: 'The trip stopped in Boston Massachusetts New Haven... complex list semicolon