Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition · Lesson 126–128 · Part 3: Part III: Punctuation, and the Appendix
92. Semicolon, colon and period
Goal: Your child uses the semicolon, colon and period by the book's rules.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- Paper and a pencil (or a slate)
What's in the book
Lesson 126 defines the semicolon with three rules, Lesson 127 the colon with two, and Lesson 128 the period with its rules for sentences and abbreviations.
The lesson, step by step
Review
Ask for two comma rules and an example of each.
The semicolon
Read:
The Semicolon denotes a degree of separation greater than that denoted by the comma.
The semicolon should be used before as, namely, etc., introducing an example or an illustration.
Examples:
There are four seasons; namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Straws swim upon the surface; pearls lie at the bottom.
The colon
Read:
The Colon denotes a degree of separation greater than that indicated by the semicolon.
The colon should precede an example or a lengthy quotation
The period
Read:
The Period denotes the greatest degree of separation.
The period should be placed at the end of a declarative or imperative sentence.
The period should be used after every abbreviated word.
Practice
Dictate the book's examples for each mark. Your child writes them and checks against the page.
Use it today
Find a semicolon or colon in today's reading and say why it is there.
Answers to the book's problems
Check dictations against the book's examples.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.