Punctuation Summary
Sentence Delimiters
Complete Thought: avoiding the "The Sentence to Nowhere"
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"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so (find the U.S. on a map) because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our children." |
Fragments: recognizing incomplete versus complete sentences
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Each year, millions of people travel to the U.S. In fact, eighty-six million. (fragment) Put your suitcase down. Over there. (fragment) How about a visa? (fragment)
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Run-on Sentences: punctuating simple and complex sentences
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My friend and I blogged and read over his shoulder.
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Semicolons, Bullets, Hyphens, Commas, Parentheses & Dashes
Semicolons: punctuating joined phrases
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The sandwich choices include tomato, bacon and lettuce; cheese, ham and lettuce; peanut butter and jelly. He didn't want help; he didn't ask for it. (nor) We needed to have a security report; otherwise, we wouldn't go. The inner city has small narrow streets; for example, two cars cannot pass on a street in the old town. |
Bullet lists: punctuating items in vertical lists
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Job applicants will need to have:
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Hyphens & Capitalization in Headings: linking words to clarify meaning
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Two footstools sold for a half-million dollars at Sothebys. Two-foot stools sold for a half-million dollars at Sothebys.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Treatments President-Elect or -elect Barack Obama
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Comma Series: punctuation & word play
See commas in clauses at bottom of this page. |
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He drinks pops and punches. (verb, noun, noun) |
Commas, Parentheses and Dashes: inserting comments within sentences
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Compare: Jay, my adventurous friend, is kayaking to Alaska.
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Commas Use in Clauses
Punctuating a statement of result vs. purpose with a comma:
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The baby cried, so his mother gave him candy. The baby pulled the lever so (that) he could get some candy. |
Punctuating a coordinating conjunction with a comma
FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so |
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She danced and waved a fan. She danced, and he played a flute. |
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Because / Though: expected and unexpected outcomes
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I went biking even though there was snow on the ground. Even though there was snow on the ground, I went biking. |
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Indeed / Even: emphasizing unexpected or extraordinary details
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His work is indeed more amazing than before |
Real Conditionals - Present & Future: cause-effect facts and predictions
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If there are no bees, flowers will not be pollinated. (future) |
That / Which: identifying "which noun" with a modifying clause
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The water that I drank last night contained sodium. The Evian water, which I drank last night, contained sodium. |
Some or All: using restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses
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The bio-scientist who creates green energy will make a profit. The bio-scientist, who creates green energy, will make a profit. |
Which Clauses: modifying an entire clause
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He deleted the picture that upset me. (The picture upset me.) He deleted the picture, which upset me. (The action upset me.) |