When it comes to punctuation, you will use commas and periods most frequently. A good writer, however, needs to know how to use colons and semicolons as well. These two punctuation marks might look similar, but they serve different purposes.

Determine which punctuation rule is illustrated by the following sentence.

1. At our company retreat, I met employees from Tempe, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

a. Use a colon to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contain internal commas.

b. Use a semicolon to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contain internal commas.

c. Use a colon to join closely related independent clauses.

2. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. The old office space was dark and cold it seemed depressing.

b. The old office space was dark and cold; it seemed depressing.

c. The old office space was dark and cold, it seemed depressing.

3. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. Most people like to work close to home: however, I enjoy my commute.

b. Most people like to work close to home; however, I enjoy my commute.

c. Most people like to work close to home however, I enjoy my commute.

4.Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. I saw Emily Zhou, regional sales officer Daniel Ortega, president of SellPlus; and Lupe Hernandez, vice president of sales.

b. I saw Emily Zhou, regional sales officer; Daniel Ortega, president of SellPlus; and Lupe Hernandez, vice president of sales.

c. I saw Emily Zhou, regional sales officer Daniel Ortega, president of SellPlus and Lupe Hernandez, vice president of sales.

5. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. Please send me the following office supplies: staples, printer cartridges, paper clips, and red pens.

b. Please send me the following office supplies, staples, printer cartridges, paper clips, and red pens.

c. Please send me the following office supplies; staples, printer cartridges, paper clips, and red pens.

6. Determine which punctuation rule is illustrated by the following sentence.

Dear Mr. President:

a. Use a colon after informal salutations.

b. Use a colon after formal business letter salutations.

c. Use a semicolon after business letter salutations.

7. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities, Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

b. During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities: Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

c. During my first three months of work, I attended four required conferences in these cities; Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, and Chicago.

8. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. I think I would like to work at the smaller company, however the other job pays more.

b. I think I would like to work at the smaller company: however, the other job pays more.

c. I think I would like to work at the smaller company; however, the other job pays more.

9. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. He graduated from college at the age of 17: furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

b. He graduated from college at the age of 17; furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

c. He graduated from college at the age of 17 furthermore, he earned his PhD when he was 19.

10. Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

a. The following companies will be going out of business, HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.

b. The following companies will be going out of business: HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.

c. The following companies will be going out of business; HiTech, CyberSafe, and CalKey.