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Grammar Point #3: Punctuation

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Commas (Continued)

You’ve learned and practiced using 8 rules for using commas. Below is a common comma error, as well as some rules for how NOT to use commas.

Comma splices

One of the most common punctuation errors is the comma splice. A comma splice is the use of a comma to join together two complete sentences. For example:

This weekend was so much fun, I went to Ottawa for Winterlude.

OR

I have so much homework tonight, I have a shift at McDonald’s too.

To correct this error:

• Add a conjunction such as and, but, so or because to the sentence.

• Turn the sentence into two different sentences.

• Add a semi-colon and conjunction such as however to the sentence.

Correct the following comma splices:

a) This weekend was so much fun, I went to Ottawa for Winterlude.

b) I have so much schoolwork tonight, I have a shift at McDonald’s too.

c) The volume on the t.v. won’t work, the picture is fuzzy.

d) We hiked for three days, we were very tired.

e) I finished the essay, I haven’t handed it in to my teacher.

Rules for how NOT to use commas

NEVER PUT A COMMA:

• Between the subject and the main verb of a sentence

E.g. The girls and their mother, ran to catch the bus.

• After any of the following words (except when listing them!): and, but, because, although, since, if, which, who, what, where, when, why, so

E.g. We hiked for three days so, we were very tired.

I was cranky because, I hadn’t eaten in four hours.

• Between adjectives and the nouns they’re modifying

E.g. After the American won the race, she raised a red, white and blue, flag.

Apostrophes

Apostrophes have two main purposes:

• To show possession

E.g. Sarah’s cat has stinky breath.

• To create a contraction

E.g. Today just isn’t my day. (

NEVER USE APOSTROPHES for plural words that are not possessive.

E.g. Those puppies’ are cute! Those goats’ are ugly! These kid’s love animals.

Do the following sentences use apostrophes correctly or not?

a) ’80’s fashion is ridiculous. Why would anyone wear fluorescent green?

b) My crazy uncle Tommy sells old CD’s and DVD’s at the Saturday flea market.

c) The students’ project was a smashing success! BRAVO to them!

d) I really liked the movie I just saw, but I can’t remember it’s title.

e) The Jones’s new house is five stories tall! They think they’re big shots.

Semi-Colons

Semi-colons are mysterious and tricky punctuation animals, but they are also excellent rhetorical devices. The most important thing to remember about semi-colons is this:

Use semi-colons only when joining together complete sentences.

In other words, use semi-colons when you want to create a connection between two complete sentences that you think are more meaningful together.

Examples:

• I couldn’t fall asleep last night; I had too much on my mind.

• The rain fell for days; his garden was happy, but he was miserable.

• The boy graduated at the top of his class; never again would anyone doubt him.

Do the following sentences use semi-colons correctly or not?

a) I love my sister; but she drives me crazy.

b) Drake was singing “Hold On, We’re Going Home” on the cabbie’s radio; the girl was half-listening and half-looking out the window at the rainy city street.

c) His shopping list was short; peanut butter, bread, Twizzlers and Cheetos.

Periods, Exclamations Marks & Questions Marks

Periods, exclamation marks and questions marks are terminal punctuation marks. That means they are used to end a sentence. Below are some examples:

1. Did you wear my red blazer last night?

2. I would never take your clothes without asking!

3. That’s odd. I can’t seem to find it. It’s not in my closet.

4. Why don’t you look again? You probably didn’t look carefully enough.

5. Oh, leave me alone!

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