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Worksheet6th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 6th Grade Semicolons, Colons, Parentheses, and Dashes Worksheet

Students learn four punctuation marks that help writers connect and add ideas: semicolons to join closely related sentences, colons to introduce a list or show time, parentheses for extra information, and dashes for emphasis or a sudden break. They choose correct sentences, add the named mark, edit sentences with several errors, and correct a short paragraph using everything they have learned.

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Grade
6th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Punctuation
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
25 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
18
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • joining related sentences with a semicolon
  • introducing a list with a colon
  • adding extra information with parentheses
  • using a dash for emphasis or a sudden break
  • editing sentences for punctuation and capital letters

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Semicolons, Colons, Parentheses, and Dashes

  1. 1Commas with Appositives and Nonessential Clauses
  2. 2Hyphens in Compound Adjectives and Numbers
  3. 36th Grade Possessive Apostrophes (the dog's bowl, the dogs' bowl) Worksheet — Level 1
  4. 46th Grade Possessive Apostrophes (the dog's bowl, the dogs' bowl) Worksheet — Level 2
← Easier: Level 1 · EasierHarder: Level 3 · Challenge →

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

6th Grade students (typically ages 11–12) working on punctuation. It is pitched at level 2 · standard; an easier version and a harder version are linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 25 minutes for 18 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Commas with Appositives and Nonessential Clauses.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets6th Grade · English · Punctuation

Semicolons, Colons, Parentheses, and Dashes

Name

Date

Score /

Semicolons, colons, parentheses, and dashes help you join ideas and add detail clearly.

Part A: Which one is right?

Circle the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

1.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AThe storm was loud; we stayed inside.
  2. BThe storm was loud; and we stayed inside.
  3. CThe storm; was loud we stayed inside.
  4. DThe storm was loud, we stayed inside.
2.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. ABring these items: a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
  2. BBring: a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
  3. CBring these items; a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
  4. DBring these: items a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.
3.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AOur class pet (a turtle named Speedy) sleeps all day.
  2. BOur class pet (a turtle named Speedy sleeps all day.)
  3. COur class (pet a turtle named Speedy) sleeps all day.
  4. D(Our class pet) a turtle named Speedy sleeps all day.
4.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AI opened the box and found—nothing!
  2. BI opened the box and found nothing—!
  3. CI—opened the box and found nothing!
  4. DI opened—the box and found nothing!

Part B: Add the mark

Rewrite each sentence, adding the punctuation mark named in parentheses.

5.I have three pets a dog, a cat, and a fish. (colon)
6.Maya likes to paint Leo likes to draw. (semicolon)
7.It rained all day however, the game went on. (semicolon)
8.The meeting starts at 3 30. (colon)
9.My cousin who lives in Waco is visiting next week. (parentheses around "who lives in Waco")
10.We waited for an hour and then the bus broke down. (dash before "and then")

Part C: Edit the sentences

Each sentence has several mistakes in capital letters and punctuation. Rewrite it correctly. Use the serial comma (a comma before and in a series).

11.dr. smith said "Wash your hands before lunch".
12.we visited austin texas on march 2 2024.
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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Punctuation in other year levels

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.