SMITHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL - Britton-Nix€¦ · The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation Notes to Self: 2 Comma Rules 1. ... - poems - short stories - articles - essays - chapters -

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Punctuation Rules

“A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated

wildlife annual and tosses it over his shoulder. "I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up." The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”

― Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

No tes to Self:

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Comma Rules

1. Use commas to separate words or phrases in a series.

Example: Please remove your coat, gloves, hat, and shoes before entering.

Example: John went fishing, washed the car, and did laundry.

*If all items in a series are joined by and or or, do not use commas to separate them.

Example: The weather forecaster predicted rain or sleet or snow.

*Do not use a comma if there are only two items being joined.

Example: I love to cook and eat food on the weekends.

*Independent clauses in a series are usually separated by a semicolon. Short independent clauses,

however, may be separated by commas.

Example: We walked, we played, we ate, and we gained weight.

2. Use a comma before for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (coordinating conjunctions) when they join

independent/main clauses, unless the clauses are very short. Example: The first two acts were slow moving, but the third act was full of action and suspense.

Example: I love vanilla ice cream, but chocolate is my favorite flavor in an ice cream cake.

3. Use a comma after a dependent/subordinate clause (introductory adverb clause). The clause will usually begin with the word since, because, as, although, if, when, or similar words (subordinating

conjunctions). Example: When John was ill, he went to the doctor’s office.

Example: Tom cleaned the kitchen while his mother washed the bathroom.

*If the dependent clause follows the independent clause, it is not introductory, so no comma is used.

Example: His mother washed the bathroom while Tom cleaned the kitchen.

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4. Use commas to separate an appositive if the sentence would be clear and complete without it. (An appositive is a noun or pronoun – often with modifiers – set beside another noun or pronoun to

explain or identify it.) Example: Ruth Harris, a prominent lawyer, became a judge.

Example: John Kennedy, the popular US president, was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

*In some cases the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone.

Example: The popular US president John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational

speeches.

5. Use a comma after certain introductory elements: a. After words such as well, yes, no, and oh, when they begin a sentence.

Example: Yes, we could be in the city soon.

b. After an introductory participial phrase. (A participle is a form of a verb that can function

independently as an adjective. A participial phrase such as walking down the street or having finished her homework are commonly used to modify nouns or pronouns)

Example: Washing and polishing the car, I developed sore muscles.

Example: Running in the rain, I slipped and fell in the mud.

c. After a prepositional phrase of more than four words or two or more prepositional phrases in

a row.

Example: During the very long game, it started to snow.

Example: In the middle of the game, it started to rain.

6. Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and nonessential participial phrases (not necessary for making the meaning of a sentence clear).

Example: Peary, who had tried to reach the North Pole before, reached the Pole in September of

1909.

Example: Mr. Thompson, who is my principal, spoke to me about the dress code.

Example: My little brother, playing in the street, was struck by a car.

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7. Use a comma to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence: a. Appositives

Example: A syndicated column by Max Marsh, the noted writer, will appear in the Times News, a local paper.

b. Words in a direct address Example: Sarah, please come here

c. Parenthetical expressions (I believe, I am sure, on the contrary, on the other hand, after all, by the way, incidentally, in fact, indeed, naturally, of course, in my opinion, for example, however, nevertheless, to tell the truth)

Example: My parents will, I am sure, let me have the car tonight.

8. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun.

Example: We sat through the long, dull music recital.

9. Use a comma in certain conventional situations: a. To separate items in dates, addresses, and geographical names.

Example: Peter was born on March 15, 1994, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

b. After the salutation of a friendly letter and after the closing of every letter.

Example: Dear Ms. Britton,

Example: Sincerely yours,

c. After a name followed by Jr., Sr., PhD.

Example: Ken Griffey, Jr.

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Punctuation Rules

Semi-colons ( ; )

Use a semi-colon to link closely related independent clauses if the word and, for or but has been left out. Every Wednesday my family has game night; my favorite is Scrabble™. Cutting class is against the rules; you can get suspended.

Use a semi-colon to separate two independent clauses joined by the adverbs however, nevertheless, therefore, moreover, and consequently. He played the best game of his l ife; however, his opponent played better. The judge said that he sympathized with the man; nevertheless, he found him guilty.

Use a semi-colon to separate items in a series when the items themselves require commas. My favorite cities to visit are Atlanta, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Houston, Texas. The best players on the team are Sue, the goalie; Nicole, a striker; and Erin, who plays defense.

Colons ( : ) Use a colon to separate two sentences when the second explains the first. We now knew what to expect from the new teacher: She was going to be strict. I relax the only way I know how: I read a book.

Use a colon to signal to the reader that a series (list) of words, phrases or clauses follows a complete sentence. You must bring all materials to class: text, notebook, agenda, and a pen.

The baseball coach claimed that the team’s success stemmed from four things: consistent hitting, solid pitching, good fielding, and excellent teamwork.

Use a colon to signal the reader that a name or description follows a complete sentence when you want

to put a lot of emphasis on that item. The local anglers had a nickname for the large muskie that had cruised the lake’s shoreline for years without being

caught: Old Mossback The preoccupied burglar didn’t notice who was standing right behind him: a smiling police officer.

Use a colon to introduce a long quotation after a complete sentence. In his book, Language is Sermonic, rhetorician Richard Weaver described how language may influence us: Sophistications of theory cannot obscure the truth that there are but three ways for language to af fect us. It can move us toward what it good; it can move us toward what is evil; or it can, in hypothetical third place, fail to move

us at all (60).

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Use a colon to express time, to cite a law or biblical passage, to separate titles and subtitles, to separate the place of publication and the publisher in a bibliographic entry, and to end a salutation. 11:23 P.M. Deuteronomy 17:2-7 Mr. Gunsel: the Man, the Myth, the Legend

New York: Random House [separates the city of publication from the publisher] Dear Rachel: Quotation Marks (“)

Use quotation marks to signal a direct quotation. “Your physical prowess,” he replied, “is no match for my superior intellect.”

Use quotation marks to signal dialogue. The two friends took a walk, slowly stroll ing past the monument where they had met years before. His heart

knocked furiously against his ribcage. “Say, I’ve been thinking,” he mumbled. “About what?” With that he bent down onto one knee. “Will you marry me?”

Use quotation marks to indicate titles of

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“The Raven” “By the Waters of Babylon” “Man Trapped in Refrigerator, Eats Own Foot” “A Study in Symbolism”

“Beast From the Air” “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant”

Use quotation marks to indicate irony or a made-up word. You can’t play today? That’s just “great.”

I’m feeling a l ittle “Fridayish” today.

Apostrophe (’) Use an apostrophe to show possession/ownership.

singular noun or indefinite pronoun The teacher’s word is final.

plural noun

The women’s bathroom is out of order. The twins’ first day of school was yesterday.

compound words

The mother-in-law’s advice was not welcomed.

two or more nouns (individual possession) Mr. Smith’s and Mrs. Jones’ styles of teaching are similar.

two or more nouns (group possession)

Sosa and McGwire’s home run race was unprecedented.

Use an apostrophe to indicate omission of a letter(s). Contractions can’t = cannot let’s = let us

wouldn’t = would not it’s = it is

Use an apostrophe to indicate the plural of letters, numbers, symbols, and words used as terms

*The plural of years (decades) should be written without an apostrophe. 1980s

I received three C’s and a D on my report card. Three .22’s were found at the scene of the crime.

Do not use &’s in your typed work. The three there’s are there, their, and they’re.