How do I punctuate my sentences?
FRAGMENTFragments are posers, meaning they look like
a sentence with a capital letter and a period, but they are not a sentence.
How to Spot a Fragment
Look for dependent clauses or phrases disguised as a sentence.
1. They may lack a main verb.
Fragment: A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
2. They may lack a linking verb.
Fragment: Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.
3. They may lack a subject.
Fragment: Eating all day until my stomach hurts.
4. They may just be a dependent clause.
Fragment: Because I was tired of working out.
Correcting FragmentsGive the fragment what it’s lacking to
make it a sentence.
Fragment: A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Correction: I am looking for a story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Fragment: Because I was tired of working out.
Correction: Because I was tired of working out, I left the gym.
Note: If it was a dependent clause, you only need to add an independent clause after it, or you may connect it to the independent clause before it.
Common ErrorsComma Splice (CS)-When two independent clauses are connected by only a puny, little comma
Run-On (RO)- Two independent clauses that are smooshed together with no punctuation (Yes, I said smooshed).
Examples of Comma SplicesNotice that two independent clauses are joined by just a comma. This is WRONG!
On Sunday, Mrs. Wilson went to the seafood festival, it was a gorgeous day.
Georgia beat LSU on Saturday, they must be very good.
English I Honors students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, English I students are reading Speak.
We could go see Despicable Me 2 this Friday, we could just wait until Saturday.
Examples of Run-OnsNotice that two independent clauses are joined
without any punctuation. This is WRONG!
On Sunday, Mrs. Wilson went to the seafood festival and it was a gorgeous day.
Georgia beat LSU on Saturday so they must be very good.
English I Honors students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird English I students are reading Speak.
We could go see Despicable Me 2 this Friday we could just wait until Saturday.
Four ways to combine your ideas:
1)Use a comma and a FANBOY to join two independent clauses
ForAndNorButOrYetSo
On Sunday, Mrs. Wilson went to the seafood festival, and it was a gorgeous day.
Georgia beat LSU on Saturday, so they must be very good.
English I Honors students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, but English I students are reading Speak.
We could go see Despicable Me 2 this Friday, or we could just wait until Saturday.
2) Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are related.
Please close the window; the room is too cold.
I am going to Knoxville in November; I can’t wait.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday; I eat until my stomach hurts every year.
3) Use a conjunctive adverb plus a semicolon and a comma.
AccordinglyAs a resultBesidesConsequentlyFinallyFor instanceFurthermoreHoweverIn additionIndeedIn factLikewiseFor exampleOn the contraryPerhaps
MeanwhileMoreoverNeverthelessNextNonethelessOtherwiseSimilarlyStillSubsequentlyThereforeThus
On Sunday, it was a gorgeous day; therefore, Mrs. Wilson went to the Seafood Festival.
Georgia beat LSU on Saturday; thus, they must be very good.
English I Honors students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird; on the contrary, English I students are reading Speak.
4) Use a subordinating conjunction. Note: You will use a comma only if your dependent clause is
introductory. afteralthoughasas soon asbecausebeforeby the timeeven ifeven thoughevery timeifin casein the event just in casenow that
onceonly ifsincethoughunlessuntilwhen wheneverwhereaswhether or notwhile
Even though Georgia beat LSU, it was a close game.
Aaron is selling cheesecake because he is trying to raise money for the band
I am going to Knoxville in November since I want to go to a Vols game.
5. Use a period and begin a new sentence with a capital letter.
Note: Don’t do this too much or your writing will sound choppy. On Sunday, it was a gorgeous
day. Mrs. Wilson went to the Seafood Festival.
Georgia beat LSU on Saturday. They must be very good.
English I Honors students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird. English I students are reading Speak.
NEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVERNEVER
use a comma anywhere near the word “because.”
It is extremely allergic to commas!
_________If a person who isn’t used to exercise runs five miles, he or she may be in trouble. ________Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea it’s the law.
_________Julie is a real hypochondriac when her stomach hurts, she is certain that she has a bleeding ulcer.
Guided Practice-Yay!