PUNCTUATION MADE EASY San Jose State University Writing Center.

PUNCTUATIOPUNCTUATIONNMADE EASYMADE EASYSan Jose State UniversitySan Jose State University

Writing CenterWriting Center

Examples from Eats, Shoots and Leaves bExamples from Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Trussy Lynn Truss

Compare these Compare these sentences:sentences:

A woman, without her man, is A woman, without her man, is nothing.nothing.

A woman: without her, man is A woman: without her, man is nothing.nothing.


Read the passage Read the passage below:below:Dear Jack,Dear Jack,

I want a man who knows what love is all I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours?happy—will you let me be yours? JillJill


And now read this one:And now read this one:

Dear Jack,Dear Jack,I want a man who knows what love is. I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I You have ruined me. For other men I yearn! For you I have no feelings yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart I can be whatsoever. When we’re apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,Yours,JillJill

PUNCTUATION PUNCTUATION IS IMPORTANTIS IMPORTANT

Because it can radically alter the Because it can radically alter the meaning of a textmeaning of a text

Because it helps readers to Because it helps readers to understand what writers are trying understand what writers are trying to sayto say

Because it helps writers to be clear Because it helps writers to be clear in what they are trying to in what they are trying to communicatecommunicate

ConquerinConquering the g the CommaComma

A workshop brought to you by A workshop brought to you by

the Purdue Universitythe Purdue University

Writing LabWriting Lab

What Is a Comma?What Is a Comma?

A comma is a A comma is a punctuation mark punctuation mark that indicates a that indicates a pause is needed pause is needed in a sentence.in a sentence.

Commas help to Commas help to clarify meaning clarify meaning for the reader.for the reader.

Clauses and PhrasesClauses and Phrases

A clause is a group of A clause is a group of words that contains words that contains both a subject and a both a subject and a verb that complement verb that complement each other.each other.

A phrase is a group of A phrase is a group of words that does not words that does not contain a subject or a contain a subject or a verb that complement verb that complement each other.each other.

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Independent ClauseIndependent Clause

A complete sentence has A complete sentence has two components, a two components, a subject and a verb.subject and a verb.

The subject and verb The subject and verb must form a complete must form a complete thought to be considered thought to be considered an independent clause.an independent clause.

The couple dances. The couple dances. subject (S) verb (V)

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Compound SentenceCompound Sentence

A sentence that contains A sentence that contains two independent clauses two independent clauses joined by a coordinating joined by a coordinating conjunction is called a conjunction is called a compound sentence.compound sentence.

A conjunction joins words, A conjunction joins words, phrases, and clauses phrases, and clauses together in a sentence.together in a sentence.

ConjunctionsConjunctions– forfor– andand– nornor– butbut– oror– yetyet– soso

FAN BOYS


The comma in a The comma in a compound sentence is compound sentence is placed before the placed before the coordinating conjunction.coordinating conjunction.

Andy built a snowman, Andy built a snowman, and Jeff played with his and Jeff played with his dog.dog.

S V conj.

Andy built a snowman, and

Jeff played with his dog.

S V

Where would you Where would you place the comma place the comma in the following in the following sentence?sentence?


Dan struggled with his homework so his father helped him.Dan struggled with his homework, so his father helped him. S V conj. S V

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Dependent ClauseDependent Clause

A dependent A dependent clause contains a clause contains a subject and verb, subject and verb, but the clause but the clause cannot stand cannot stand independently.independently.

Dependent Dependent clauses can often clauses can often be identified by be identified by the use of the use of dependent clause dependent clause markers.markers.

Some dependent clause markers:Some dependent clause markers:

because

since

when

while

until

if

as

though

although

unless

after

before

once

whether

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Dependent Phrases and Dependent Phrases and ClausesClauses

Dependent phrases Dependent phrases and clauses help to and clauses help to clarify and add clarify and add detail to an detail to an independent clause.independent clause.

Dependent clauses Dependent clauses may appear at the may appear at the beginning, middle, beginning, middle, or end of a or end of a sentence.sentence.

Introductory clause=Introductory clause=dependent clause located at the dependent clause located at the beginning of a sentencebeginning of a sentence

When a dependent When a dependent clause is placed at the clause is placed at the beginning of a beginning of a sentence, place a sentence, place a comma between the comma between the independent clause independent clause and the dependent and the dependent clause.clause.

When Elizabeth called 911, the firemen rushed to her rescue.When Elizabeth called 911, the firemen rushed to her rescue. DCM S V S V

Introductory ClauseIntroductory Clause

Where would you place the comma in the Where would you place the comma in the following examples?following examples?

After the movie ended we went out for coffee.

Since it was raining we decided to go to the movies.

Once the movie began I fell asleep.

Since it was raining, we decided to go to the movies. DCM S V S V

Once the movie began, I fell asleep.DCM S V S V

After the movie ended, we went out for coffee.DCM S V S V

Dependent ClausesDependent Clauses

When a dependent clause is When a dependent clause is

located after an independent clause, located after an independent clause,

DO NOTDO NOT place a comma between the two. place a comma between the two.I went on the roller coaster because my brother dared me.

S V DCM S V

I became very sick when the S V DCMroller coaster zoomed upside down. S V

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Essential Phrases and Essential Phrases and ClausesClauses

An essential clause or An essential clause or phrase is used to phrase is used to modify a noun.modify a noun.

It also adds information It also adds information that is critical to the that is critical to the meaning of the meaning of the sentence.sentence.

Essential clauses are Essential clauses are NOT set off by commas.NOT set off by commas.

The The peoplepeople who work in my officewho work in my office areare so uptight! so uptight!


S essential phrase V

Without the essential phrase, this sentence does not make complete sense : The people are so uptight!

The The martinimartini that I had at Joe’sthat I had at Joe’s was was much better than this one!much better than this one!


S essential V

The word “that” is almost always an indicator of an essential phrase or clause.

Sentence Structure: Sentence Structure: Nonessential Nonessential Phrases and ClausesPhrases and Clauses

A nonessential phrase or clause adds A nonessential phrase or clause adds extra information to a sentence.extra information to a sentence.

This information can be eliminated This information can be eliminated from the sentence without from the sentence without jeopardizing the meaning of the jeopardizing the meaning of the sentence.sentence.

Always place commas around Always place commas around nonessential phrases and clauses.nonessential phrases and clauses.

My My brotherbrother, , who lives across townwho lives across town, , plansplans to throw a party! to throw a party!

S non-essential V

Even without the phrase the sentence still makes sense : My brother plans to throw a party!


SteveSteve said said that he would propose to me on that he would propose to me on Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day, which iswhich is my favorite holidaymy favorite holiday!!

S V

non-essential

Use commas to set off additional information


Would you place commas in Would you place commas in the following sentences? If the following sentences? If so, where?so, where?

I am planning a trip to Paris which is I am planning a trip to Paris which is one of the greatest cities in the one of the greatest cities in the world.world.

No comma is needed. The sentence is correct.

The place that I would most like to see is the Eiffel Tower.

Pierre who is one of my business contacts will meet me at the airport.

I am planning a trip to Paris, which is one of the greatest cities in the world.

Pierre, who is one of my business contacts, will meet me at the airport.

Sentence Structure:Sentence Structure:Commas in a SeriesCommas in a Series

Place commas in a sentence to Place commas in a sentence to divide items in a list.divide items in a list.

The commas will help the The commas will help the reader to avoid confusion.reader to avoid confusion.

The comma before the The comma before the conjunction is generally conjunction is generally required, but it can be omitted required, but it can be omitted if there is no possibility of if there is no possibility of confusion.confusion.


Consider the difference in the Consider the difference in the following:following:

Last month, Alex dated Mary Ann Last month, Alex dated Mary Ann Lee and Kim.Lee and Kim.

Last month, Alex dated Mary, Last month, Alex dated Mary, Ann, Lee, and Kim.Ann, Lee, and Kim.

Last month, Alex dated Mary Last month, Alex dated Mary Ann, Lee, and Kim.Ann, Lee, and Kim.

How many women did Alex date?

Commas should be placed in series of Commas should be placed in series of words, phrases, or clauses.words, phrases, or clauses.

Place commas in the following sentences:Place commas in the following sentences:


Martina brushed her hair put on her pajamas and went to bed.

She fell asleep and dreamed that she was a princess she kissed a frog and she rescued her prince.

Martina brushed her hair, put on her pajamas, and went to bed.

She fell asleep and dreamed that she was a princess, she kissed a frog, and she rescued her prince.

Commas with Commas with adjectivesadjectives

Use commas to separate adjectives that Use commas to separate adjectives that provide an equal description of a noun.provide an equal description of a noun.

THE TEST:THE TEST:Can you put “and” between the adjectives?Can you put “and” between the adjectives?Can they be described in reverse order?Can they be described in reverse order?If so, use a comma.If so, use a comma.

big blue house three hungry kittens

a cranky, ungrateful man

A Common Comma A Common Comma Error:Error:The Comma SpliceThe Comma Splice

A comma splice is an error in which two A comma splice is an error in which two independent clauses are joined by a independent clauses are joined by a comma.comma.We had a nice time, I hope we can meet again soon.

S V S V

The Internet has revolutionized the business world,S V

online sales have increased dramatically this year. S V

To Correct a Comma To Correct a Comma SpliceSplice

Insert a conjunction between the two independent Insert a conjunction between the two independent clauses.clauses.

Start a new sentence.Start a new sentence. Insert a semi-colon between the two independent Insert a semi-colon between the two independent

clauses (only in cases where the independent clauses (only in cases where the independent clauses are closely related in topic).clauses are closely related in topic).

•We had a nice time, and I hope we can meet again soon.•We had a nice time. I hope we can meet again soon.

•The Internet has revolutionized the business world; online sales have increased dramatically this year.

The Colon: a The Colon: a sentencesentence

gatewaygatewayThe colon comes at a point in the sentence where the sentence could come to a complete stop.

I’m going to tell you the names of my favorite breakfast foods.

We could even put a period after the word “foods,” couldn’t we? In fact, we did.

The Colon: a sentenceThe Colon: a sentencegatewaygateway

We know, however, what’s going to come after this period.

I’m going to tell you the names of my favorite breakfast foods.

That’s right, a LIST of breakfast foods.


I’m going to tell you the names of my

favorite breakfast foods: meuslix, cornflakes, oatmeal, grits and gravy, and yogurt on toast.

And the proper punctuation mark to set off this list from what precedes it is a colon. The colon “announces” that a list is about to follow; it is the gateway to that list.


My favorite breakfast foods are meuslix, cornflakes, oatmeal, grits and gravy, and yogurt on toast.

Would I use a colon in the sentence above?

No, because the sentence does not come to a halt here.

Instead, the sentence flows right into the list. A colon would not be appropriate here.


Examine this next sentence carefully.

Our math tutor wants just one thing from us that we try our best.

Here, we have an independent thought (ending with “us”).

followed by another kind of completer (a noun clause).


To set off this completer, this explanation, we can use a colon.

Our math tutor wants just one thing

from us: that we try our best.

These are the two main uses of the colon: to set off a list or an explanation that we know is about to follow the main part of the sentence.


We also use the colon to set off a formal quotation.

My father was always using his favorite quotation from Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

The Colon: a sentenceThe Colon: a sentencegatewaygatewayJust remember that you usually know what is going to follow a colon: a list, an explanation, or a formal quotation.

You have now mastered the uses of the colon, a very handy device in the punctuation of your sentences.

This PowerPoint presentation was created by

Charles Darling, PhD

Professor of English and Webmaster

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut

copyright November 1999

Our Friend, the SemicolonOur Friend, the Semicolon


Let’s begin with a simple sentence:

Grandma stays up too late.


Now let’s expand on that a bit:

Grandma stays up too late. She’s afraid she’s going to miss something.

This is OK. Two independent ideas, separated by a period.


What if we try to combine the two ideas?

Grandma stays up too late, she’s afraid she’s going to miss something.

Something’s wrong. We connected two independent clauses with only a comma. The dreaded COMMA SPLICE!


We could insert a coordinating conjunction:

This is better! Note the comma that accompanies the coordinating conjunction.

Grandma is afraid she’ll miss something, so she stays up too late.


We could also try subordinating one of these ideas:

Grandma stays up too late because she’s afraid she’s going to miss something.

Notice that the comma disappeared. One idea (the second one) now depends on the other; it has become a dependent clause.


But let’s try something else.


Let’s try using a semicolon in this sentence.

Grandma stays up too late; she’s afraid she’s going to miss something.

Notice there is no conjunction used with this semicolon – either subordinating or coordinating.

Just the semicolon, all by itself.


Sometimes semicolons are accompanied by conjunctive adverbs – words such as however, moreover, therefore, nevertheless, consequently, as a result.

Grandma is afraid she’s going to miss something; as a result, she stays up too late.


Notice the pattern:

; as a result,

semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma

This is a typical construction with semicolons.


There is one other use of the semicolon: to help us sort out monster listsmonster lists, like this one:

The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor ofMathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut, VirginiaVilla, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut, PaulCreech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut, andJoan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.


Be careful where you insert semicolons in this sentence.

The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of

Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut; Virginia

Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut ; Paul

Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut ; andJoan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.


Now you know everything you’ll ever need to know about using semicolons!

This PowerPoint presentation was created by

Charles Darling, PhD

Professor of English and Webmaster

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut

copyright November 1999

QUOTATION MARKSQUOTATION MARKS

are used around direct quotations are used around direct quotations of someone’s words, whether of someone’s words, whether spoken or written:spoken or written:

““Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” ” wrote Robert Frost.wrote Robert Frost.


are used around the titles of short are used around the titles of short works—articles, short stories, works—articles, short stories, songs, book chapters, and poems:songs, book chapters, and poems:

““Two roads diverged in a yellow Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” wrote Robert Frost at the wood,” wrote Robert Frost at the beginning of his poem beginning of his poem ““The Road Not The Road Not Taken.Taken.””


are used to set off words used as are used to set off words used as words:words:

The words The words ““affectaffect”” and and ““effecteffect”” are often confused with each are often confused with each other.other.


follow a set pattern when they are follow a set pattern when they are used for quotations within used for quotations within quotations.quotations.

Begin with double quotation marks, Begin with double quotation marks, then shift to single, and for then shift to single, and for quotations within quotations within quotations within quotations within quotations, shift back to double:quotations, shift back to double:““Oh, no! I just heard Dr. Willoughby say, Oh, no! I just heard Dr. Willoughby say, ‘‘And And now I shall recite Hamlet’s famous now I shall recite Hamlet’s famous ““To be or not To be or not to beto be” ” soliloquy.soliloquy.’”’”


Follow set patterns when used Follow set patterns when used with other marks of punctuation.with other marks of punctuation.

Commas and periods are Commas and periods are alwaysalways placed placed insideinside end quotation marks: end quotation marks:

““Hand over all your moneyHand over all your money,”,” said the mugger, said the mugger, “or I’ll shoot“or I’ll shoot.”.”


Semicolons and colons are Semicolons and colons are alwaysalways placed placed outsideoutside end quotation marks: end quotation marks:Senator Simpson wrote,Senator Simpson wrote, “I regret that illness makes it “I regret that illness makes it impossible for me to attend your fundraising banquet”impossible for me to attend your fundraising banquet”;; he added, however, “I am enclosing a small check as a he added, however, “I am enclosing a small check as a donation to your most worthy cause.”donation to your most worthy cause.”

Some people think that writing personal ads for online Some people think that writing personal ads for online dating has become a new sort of “art form”dating has become a new sort of “art form”:: it takes just it takes just as much craft and talent as painting a self-portrait, as much craft and talent as painting a self-portrait, according to them.according to them.


Question marks are placed either Question marks are placed either outside or inside, depending on outside or inside, depending on whether the question or whether the question or exclamation is part of the exclamation is part of the quotation:quotation:““Now that I’ve finished my homework, can I Now that I’ve finished my homework, can I play videogames?”play videogames?”

Have you heard the old saying that you Have you heard the old saying that you should “Look before you leap”?should “Look before you leap”?


Exclamation points also go either Exclamation points also go either inside or outside, depending on inside or outside, depending on whether they’re part of the whether they’re part of the exclamation:exclamation:

““You never want me to play video games, even You never want me to play video games, even though I’ve already finished my homework!”though I’ve already finished my homework!”

““What a stupid thing to say—“Look before you What a stupid thing to say—“Look before you leap”!leap”!

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lynn truss