<p>I have one questions. What is the easiest ways to remember when to choose a comma, semicolon, colon, or dash. Those questions are the hardest for me. I keep getting all of them wrong on practice tests. HELP!</p>
<p>Semicolon separates 2 independent clauses, for example:
Jane wanted to go to the pool; she rode her bike. Not the best example, but you get the picture–both sides of that sentence can stand on their own. </p>
<p>Colon begins a list
There were many items at the pool party: water guns, cold soda, and food. </p>
<p>Dash is similar to a comma but sometimes adds extra unnecessary info
I like food–who doesn’t?</p>
<p>Comma separates dependent clauses
I want to shop, so I am going to the mall.
Both sides of that sentence can’t stand on their own.</p>
<p>but there is so much more than that^. buy barron’s act 36, it helps a lot.</p>
<p>I always think a dependent clause is a independent. Like I want to shop. ← Sounds like an independent clause…</p>
<p>I want to shop is an independent clause. I think that she meant that a comma sets apart an independent and dependent clause. While I brushed my hair, I brushed my teeth. Dumb example but yeah.</p>
<p>anyone else have any idea for dashes… The above example isnt the best… Like is their a song or something i can memorize… lol</p>
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<p>It is independent because it can stand on it’s own.
I want to shop. <- sentence
Before going to the mall, he went to get ice cream. <- before going to the mall is dependent, so it needs to be joined by a comma because it can’t stand on it’s own</p>