Using Punctuation To Separate Items Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.5.2.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When we reading just about anything, the more space between two items, the better we decipher that these items are separate. Authors can achieve this use of punctuation and spacing. The most common method for achieving this is to use commas. Dashes and hyphens are also regularly used to separate items. Many students think they are same thing and have the same purpose, but that is just not true. A hyphen is used to join two things and a dash is used to separate items. As you can see, they are polar opposites. These worksheets will help students learn to use various forms of punctuation to separate items.

Separating Item Worksheets To Print:

Harvest Season – Fill out the basket tags to tell what is in each basket.

Which One is Correct? – Where does the comma go?

Punctuating Lists – Jimmy is the Pet show spokesman of sorts.

Items in a Series – Color the flowers for correct sentences.

Punctuating Items in a Series – Add the correct punctuation as needed.

Trick or Treat! – The passage has had all of its punctuation marks removed. Read the passage. Use a colored marker or colored pencil to add punctuation where needed to separate items in a series.

Commas | Semicolons – In each set of sentences below, only one correctly punctuates items in series. Choose the correct sentence and write its letter on the line.

Punctuating Items in a Series – Combine each group of sentences below into a single sentence. Use commas and/or semicolons as appropriate.

Items in a List – Write a sentence using each list provided below. Remember to use proper punctuation.

Recognizing items in a Series – Read the passage. Underline the items in each sentence that are in a series. Then answer the questions.

Listing Items in Sentences – Complete each sentence below, incorporating the items in parentheses.

Martin Luther King, Jr. – Read each list of facts about Martin Luther King, Jr. Then use them to write a short paragraph whose sentences include properly punctuated items in a series.

Using Punctuation to Separate Items in a Series – The table contains the titles of five books, their authors, and the reason why they were once banned. Use this information to create a single sentence that presents all of this information.

At the Grocery Store – Read each grocery list . Write a sentence for each list, that includes each item on that list. Be sure to properly punctuate your sentence.

Using Commas and Semicolons – In each sentence below some punctuation is missing between the underlined words. Does it need a comma or a semicolon? Write the letter of the correct answer on the line.

How to Use Punctuation to Separate Items?


Punctuations are a great tool to make written texts easily readable and assist readers in understanding the text without any confusion. Without their use in written work, the language cannot make sense at all. The absence of these punctuations from any language means that the language cannot exist in written form at all.


While there are innumerable punctuations marks used for different purposes, the purpose of separating items and elements in written form is mostly served by commas and semicolons. These two marks are used differently for different purposes and some specific rules determine their usage. Some of the most important rules for using commas and semi colons are given below:


Using Commas to Separate Items


Commas are used to indicate a small pause in any sentence and this makes them the most useful choice for separating items in a list or sentence. These indicate that the items are separate from each other, but are related in a sentence too. Some of the rules for using commas are:


- One comma is used after each item in a sentence, but the last item follows a full stop and not a comma.

- The last item in the list is preceded by 'and' which itself is preceded by a comma.

- There can never be two 'ands' in the same list if the 'and' is not the part of the item's name. Other than that, all 'ands' except one must be replaced by a comma.


Using Semicolons to Separate Items


Semicolons are used where a pause is longer than that represented by a comma, but shorter than a period. Some of the rules for using these include:


- A semi colon is used after a main item if the sub-items are to be listed afterwards

- A semi colon can also be used before conjunctions in a sentence to indicate a pause

- Words except proper nouns are never capitalized after semicolons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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