Learning Map
EnglishGrammar & Punctuationusually ages 10–11

Colons and Semicolons in Lists

Use a colon to introduce a list and semi-colons to separate items within lists, particularly when list items contain internal commas or are complex phrases

How to tell they’ve got it

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Try this together

When your child writes a list of things that are themselves quite long or contain commas — like a list of ingredients with measurements — do they use a colon to introduce it and semi-colons to separate the items?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Commas in listsages 6–11Complex list punctuation builds on basic comma use in lists
Colons and Semicolons in Liststhis skill · ages 10–11
Unlocks
Advanced Punctuation for Clarityages 11–14Extends KS2 colon to introduce lists, semi-colons within lists
Bullet Point Punctuationages 10–11Bullet point punctuation relates to list formatting

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 ACARA · 1 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9E6LA09medium confidenceYear 6 · Language

understand how to use the comma for lists, to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause, and in dialogue

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E5LA09low confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Language strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

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