Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
Rules: Punctuation marks help you to express proper meaning when
you are writing. There are eight common punctuation marks.
Punctuation
Proper Use Example
Mark
______________________
Period At the end of a complete
. sentence
______________________
______________________
______________________
Question mark
?
At the end of a question ______________________
______________________
Between the items in a list ______________________
Comma
,
or in a pause in a ______________________
sentence ______________________
Exclamation At the end of an ______________________
point exclamatory sentence to ______________________
! show strong feelings ______________________
______________________
Quotation marks Show dialogue or direct
“” quotations from a text ______________________
______________________
Before a list and between ______________________
Colon two clauses when the
: second clause explains ______________________
the first ______________________
______________________
Semicolon Links two related
; independent clauses
______________________
______________________
______________________
Apostrophe In a contraction or to
‘ show possession
______________________
______________________
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
holiday, celebrating the find in the passage?
Mexican armys victory over
Frances army on May 5, _______________________________
1862. In Mexicos state of
Puebla, the holiday is
_______________________________
celebrated with many
traditions military parades
recreations of the battle of _______________________________
Puebla and other festivities.
_______________________________
Whats your favorite outdoor Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
activity! Mine is camping. Its find in the passage?
a great way to relax in
nature while being _______________________________
adventurous at the same
time. Youll need several
_______________________________
supplies tent firewood shovel
tarp cooler flashlights and
sleeping bags, to name a _______________________________
few. Have a great time!
_______________________________
In chemistry class its Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
important to follow lab find in the passage?
safety rules during a safety
experiment. First make sure
youre wearing proper _______________________________
protective gear: goggles,
lab coat, and closed-toe
_______________________________
shoes. Also never eat during
an experiment chemicals
could accidentally get in _______________________________
your snack. Finally follow
your teachers directions _______________________________
carefully.
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
There are 4 punctuation mistakes in this passage. Underline each mistake with
a different color, then explain them in the chart below.
Four Corners Monument is the only place in the United
States where you can be in four states at once Arizona
New Mexico Utah and Colorado. Youll find several
campgrounds near the monument. Don’t forget to have
your picture taken while standing in four places at once
Color Explain
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
There are 4 punctuation mistakes in this passage. Underline each mistake with
a different color, then explain them in the chart below.
Our school counselor visited our classroom to talk about
managing a conflict. Approach the person and describe
how their actions made you feel, she explained There are
three parts to this approach: describe behavior explain
your feelings and ask to discuss a solution. Have you ever
used this method
Color Explain
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Answer Keys
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
Rules: Punctuation marks help you to express proper meaning when
you are writing. There are eight common punctuation marks.
Punctuation
Proper Use Example
Mark
Period At the end of a complete Mother’s Day is May 10th.
. sentence
Question mark When is Father’s Day?
At the end of a question
?
Between the items in a list This morning, I gave my mom
Comma
or in a pause in a a card, flowers, and
,
sentence chocolates.
Exclamation At the end of an This is the most delicious cake
point exclamatory sentence to I have ever tasted!
! show strong feelings
Quotation marks Show dialogue or direct My mom said, “Thank you for
“” quotations from a text a wonderful day.”
Before a list and between Here are today’s performers: Julia,
two clauses when the Miguel, and Hector.
Colon
They worked together to write a
: second clause explains play about Mother’s Day: Our
the first Mom, a Hero.
My family really enjoyed the
Semicolon Links two related
play; they talked about it for
; independent clauses
the entire car ride.
Apostrophe In a contraction or to We’ll open mom’s gifts after
‘ show possession dinner.
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
holiday, celebrating the find in the passage?
Mexican armys victory over Amy need an apostrophe and should be
Frances army on May 5, written as “the Mexican army’s victory.”
Frances also need an apostrophe to show
1862. In Mexicos state of
possession of France’s army. There should
Puebla, the holiday is be a comma after each item in the list:
celebrated with many traditions, military parades, recreations of
traditions military parades the battle of Puebla, and other festivities.
recreations of the battle of
Puebla and other festivities.
Whats your favorite outdoor Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
activity! Mine is camping. Its find in the passage?
a great way to relax in The contractions need an apostrophe
nature while being added: what’s, it’s, and you’ll. The first
adventurous at the same sentence is a question (interrogative), so it
time. Youll need several should end with a question mark. There
should be a colon before the list of
supplies tent firewood shovel
camping supplies. Commas are missing
tarp cooler flashlights and after nature and also in the list: tent,
sleeping bags, to name a firewood, shovel, tarp, cooler, flashlights,
few. Have a great time! and sleeping bags.
In chemistry class its Discuss: What punctuation errors did you
important to follow lab find in the passage?
safety rules during a safety There should be a comma after “in
experiment. First make sure chemistry class”, “first”, “also” and
youre wearing proper “finally.” It’s and you’re are contractions
protective gear: goggles, and need apostrophes added. There
should be a semicolon to separate the
lab coat, and closed-toe
two independent clauses (experiment;
shoes. Also never eat during chemicals). Teacher’s directions is missing
an experiment chemicals an apostrophe to show the teacher’s
could accidentally get in ownership of the directions.
your snack. Finally follow
your teachers directions
carefully.
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
There are 4 punctuation mistakes in this passage. Underline each mistake with
a different color, then explain them in the chart below.
Four Corners Monument is the only place in the United
States where you can be in four states at once Arizona
New Mexico Utah and Colorado. Youll find several
campgrounds near the monument. Don’t forget to have
your picture taken while standing in four places at once
Color Explain
There needs to be a colon before the list of states.
There should be a comma between each item in the
list (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.)
You’ll is a contraction (you + will), so it needs an
apostrophe.
There should be an exclamation mark or period at the
end of this sentence.
©2021 Performing in Education LLC
Name: _____________________ Date: _______________
Basic Punctuation
There are 4 punctuation mistakes in this passage. Underline each mistake with
a different color, then explain them in the chart below.
Our school counselor visited our classroom to talk about
managing a conflict. Approach the person and describe
how their actions made you feel, she explained There are
three parts to this approach: describe behavior explain
your feelings and ask to discuss a solution. Have you ever
used this method
Color Explain
There needs to be quotation marks around the
dialogue.
There needs to be a period at the end of the
sentence (after explained)
There should be a comma between each action in
the list.
There needs to be a question mark at the end of this
sentence.
©2021 Performing in Education LLC