Grammar and punctuation
Grade 6 · English
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Colons, semicolons and hyphens
Pick the punctuation mark that belongs in each sentence. A free Grade 6 punctuation game with a printable game and worksheet.
Play Colons, semicolons and hyphens
Learning about grammar and punctuation
In this Grade 6 english collection, you can practice Colons, semicolons and hyphens. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Read the example together before playing independently. Ask your child to explain a choice and try a new example afterwards. Match the task to what your child has already learned; grade suggestions are a starting point.
Ask: “Which part of the word or sentence helped you?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Colons, semicolons and hyphens
Colons, semicolons and hyphens are small marks that do big jobs. A colon (:) introduces a list or an explanation after a complete sentence. A semicolon (;) joins two complete sentences that are closely linked, and separates items in a list when the items already contain commas. A hyphen (-) joins words together so that the meaning is clear: a man-eating shark is very different from a man eating shark.
Try an example: We visited three cities ▢ Rome, Paris and Madrid.
'We visited three cities' is a complete sentence, and a list follows, so use a colon.
Show the answer
colon (:)
What to look out for
Using a comma to join two sentences. Check whether both sides could stand alone. If they can, use a semicolon, a period or a conjunction instead.
Practice away from the screen
- Write a packing list for a trip as one sentence with a colon, then read it aloud together.
Curriculum connections
Colons, semicolons and hyphens
Advanced punctuation enrichment. Common Core places semicolons and colons in Grades 9–10; this suggested Grade 6 challenge is not a Grade 6 standards claim.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with grammar and punctuation?
Start with Colons, semicolons and hyphens. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.