G. ZermeñoDual Credit

English 1301

1. Use a comma with a coordinate conjunction to join two main clauses (two complete sentences).

No comma is used when a coordinate conjunction joins two words, phrases, or dependent clauses (compound elements)—only when the coordinate conjunction joins two complete sentences.

2. Use a comma to separate elements in a series.

Three or more elements make a series.

The elements in a series must be written in the same grammatical form; this is called “parallelism.”

3. Use a comma to set off an introductory element (a word, phrase, or subordinate clause) that comes before the subject of a sentence.

Rule number three is more relaxed. Often these days, when a short phrase comes before the subject, no comma is used, but a comma does always set off a subordinate clause that comes before the subject of a main clause.

4. Use two commas to set off an element that interrupts the middle of a sentence (a comma comes before and after the interrupting element).

An “interrupting element” refers to a word, phrase, or clause that can be dropped from the sentence and the sentence will still be complete. This rule applies to nonrestrictive modifiers.

5. Use a comma to set off a word or a phrase added to the end of a sentence.The sentence is grammatically complete at

the comma. The tagged-on element can be dropped and the sentence is still complete. Also, what follows the comma must be a word or a phrase, not a complete sentence—or a comma splice would occur.

Fixing a Comma SpliceChange the comma to a period

Some people put commas between sentences,

this practice must stop.

Add a coordinate conjunction after the comma

Some people put commas between sentences,

and this practice must stop.

Change the comma to a semicolon Change the comma to a semicolon

Yes! This is how a semicolon is used—to join two complete

sentences! It’s a much stronger form of punctuation than a

comma (it’s a comma AND a period). Why do we even have

semicolons if periods suffice? One reason is to impress your

English teachers. Above all, reserve them for formal occasions.

They’re a bit stuffy.

Don’t just stick any two sentences together; semicolons join

sentences with related meanings.

Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb if you want to get fancy.

Conjunctive Adverbs belong to the “therefore,” “nevertheless,”

“consequently” family of words (here are some more: instead, for

example, in addition, likewise, thus, as a result, indeed, furthermore, in

fact, meanwhile, still, hence, similarly).

We now know how to use semicolons; therefore, we can impress our

English teachers.

We can also add a conjunctive adverb; as a result, we will live happier

lives.

Notice the commas following the conjunctive adverbs above. Those

commas follow rule No. 3: the conjunctive adverb comes before the

subject of a sentence, and so are set off with commas.

We could be a bit more daring and add the conjunctive adverb somewhere between the subject and the verb, and follow rule No. 4 (which requires two commas, before and after the element).

We now know how to use semicolons; we can, therefore, impress our English teacher.

The bravest of the brave will put the conjunctive adverb at the end of the sentence, embracing comma rule No. 5:

We can also add a conjunctive adverb; we will live happier lives, as a result.

Change one of the sentences into a subordinate

clause.

Comma splice: Harold flips his dentures around

in his mouth, he looks like a circus worker.

Correct: When Harold flips his dentures around

in his mouth, he looks like a circus worker.

Comma splice: Mabel likes to pull her lip over her nose, it makes her relax.

Correct: Mabel likes to pull her lip over her nose because it makes her relax.

Note: Do not put a comma after a subordinate conjunction (which may look like a conjunctive adverb, but it is not—they are only second cousins).Although, she can make her ears wiggle, she cannot

fly.Although she can make her ears wiggle, she cannot

fly.

DashesAre a lot like commas, just longer and flatter.

In fact, dashes work the exact same way the commas work in rules 4 and 5, because dashes set off interrupting and tagged-on elements.

We decided—because Tom made us—to save our last chocolate bars for tomorrow.

I love hot spiced tea—especially with a chocolate bar.

There is no key for a dash on keyboards; a dash must be typed with two hyphens. Once you hit the space bar to continue typing, the dash will appear.

Be careful not to confuse the dash with the hyphen. This can create a misreading.I think Tom is a son-of-a-bum for hiding the

Hershey’s.I bet his mother-in-law dislikes him.

I love hot spiced tea-especially with a chocolate bar. What is a “tea-especially”?

ColonsA colon is a unique couple of dots, unique because

it has only one use: to introduce an example or an explanation [as in this very sentence].

A complete sentence must come before the colon; what follows a colon may be a single word, a phrase, or a complete sentence—however many words are needed to give an example or explain.We had one purpose for our camping trip: to have

fun.Tom asked us all a question: “Who cut a hole in my

tent?”

Incorrect use of a colon:Remember that a complete sentence must come

before the colon. A colon has no business between a predicating verb and its completer (even if there is a series), like this:

We decided to bring: sleeping bags, pads, and pillows.

* predicating verb: Main verbCompleter: modifier