Semicolons & ColonsATI TEAS 7 cheat sheet

Two very different jobs

8 key facts Reviewed Oct 2026

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Semicolon

Joins two closely related independent clauses
'The alarm rang; the nurse responded.'
Also separates list items that already contain commas

Colon

Introduces a list, explanation or quotation
What comes before a colon must be a complete sentence
'Bring three things: gloves, a pen, and your badge.'

The Common Error

A colon after a verb or preposition — 'The items are: …' is wrong

Dash

An em dash can replace a colon for emphasis, less formally

Key takeaway

Two very different jobs

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