1. Commas Use commas to separate items in a series. Use commas to separate items in a series. Ex: There were books on the desk, posters on the walls, and clothing on the floor. Ex: There were books on the desk, posters on the walls, and clothing on the floor. Ex: Dinner included a tossed salad, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and soda. Ex: Dinner included a tossed salad, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and soda.

2. Commas Use a comma before a FANBOYS when they join two independent clauses. Use a comma before a FANBOYS when they join two independent clauses. Ex: We did not know whether to stay, for the weather forecast had predicted rain. Ex: We did not know whether to stay, for the weather forecast had predicted rain. Ex: The police searched everywhere, but there were no fingerprints. Ex: The police searched everywhere, but there were no fingerprints.

3. Commas Use commas to set off introductory elements. Use commas to set off introductory elements. Introductory words such as well, yes, and why. Introductory words such as well, yes, and why. Ex: Well, what do you think? Ex: Well, what do you think? Ex: Yes, you are welcome to join us. Ex: Yes, you are welcome to join us.

4. Commas Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase and most other participial phrases (not gerund phrases). Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase and most other participial phrases (not gerund phrases). Ex: Laughing like a child, he opened the present. Ex: Laughing like a child, he opened the present. Ex: The linebacker, seeing his opening, sacked the quarterback. Ex: The linebacker, seeing his opening, sacked the quarterback. Ex: Cleaning and painting my room was hard work. [gerund] Ex: Cleaning and painting my room was hard work. [gerund]

5. Commas Use a comma after introductory subordinate clauses. Use a comma after introductory subordinate clauses. Ex: When they finished eating dinner, they played basketball until dark. Ex: When they finished eating dinner, they played basketball until dark. Use a comma after most introductory prepositional phrases. Use a comma after most introductory prepositional phrases. Ex: After a lengthy discussion, we voted on the proposal. Ex: After a lengthy discussion, we voted on the proposal.

6. Commas Words used in direct address are set off by commas. Words used in direct address are set off by commas. Ex: Joe, please see me about your grade. Ex: Joe, please see me about your grade. Appositives and appositive phrases are set off by commas. Appositives and appositive phrases are set off by commas. Ex: An interview with Florence Cohen, the noted landscape artist, will appear Sunday in The Sun, our local paper. Ex: An interview with Florence Cohen, the noted landscape artist, will appear Sunday in The Sun, our local paper.

7. Commas Use commas to separate dates and addresses. Use commas to separate dates and addresses. Ex: Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, becoming the fiftieth state. Ex: Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, becoming the fiftieth state.

8. Commas Words used in direct address are set off by commas. Words used in direct address are set off by commas. Ex: Joe, please see me about your grade. Ex: Joe, please see me about your grade. Appositives and appositive phrases are set off by commas. Appositives and appositive phrases are set off by commas. Ex: An interview with Florence Cohen, the noted landscape artist, will appear Sunday in The Sun, our local paper. Ex: An interview with Florence Cohen, the noted landscape artist, will appear Sunday in The Sun, our local paper.

9. Semicolon Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by a FANBOYS. Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by a FANBOYS. Ex: Read all the choices; don’t write the first answer that seems correct. Ex: Read all the choices; don’t write the first answer that seems correct. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by words such as for example, moreover, nevertheless, therefore, however, etc (W660) Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by words such as for example, moreover, nevertheless, therefore, however, etc (W660) Ex: We saw no solution to the problem; however, we refused to surrender. Ex: We saw no solution to the problem; however, we refused to surrender.

10. Semicolon A semicolon may be needed between independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS) when the clauses contain commas. A semicolon may be needed between independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS) when the clauses contain commas. Ex: After we ate dinner, we played basketball until dark; but we continued the game at a nearby rec center, the YMCA. Ex: After we ate dinner, we played basketball until dark; but we continued the game at a nearby rec center, the YMCA.

11. Semicolon Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas. Ex: The winners in the election were John Smith, president; Sue Jones, vice president; and Steve Brown, treasurer. Ex: The winners in the election were John Smith, president; Sue Jones, vice president; and Steve Brown, treasurer.

12. Quotation Marks Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quote – a person’s exact words. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quote – a person’s exact words. Ex: My dad said, “My favorite actor is John Wayne.” Ex: My dad said, “My favorite actor is John Wayne.” Ex: “Take care,” he warned, “that you don’t spill anything.” Ex: “Take care,” he warned, “that you don’t spill anything.” Ex: He said, “My favorite movie is ‘The Godfather.’” Ex: He said, “My favorite movie is ‘The Godfather.’” [Note: commas and periods are always placed inside the closing quotations] [Note: commas and periods are always placed inside the closing quotations]

13. Quotation Marks Question marks and exclamation points are placed inside the quotation marks if the quotation itself is a question or exclamation. Question marks and exclamation points are placed inside the quotation marks if the quotation itself is a question or exclamation. Ex: “Is everyone present?” asked the teacher. Ex: “Is everyone present?” asked the teacher. Ex: Were you surprised when he said, “You win”? [not …win.”?] Ex: Were you surprised when he said, “You win”? [not …win.”?]

14. Possessive Case Nouns that take apostrophes may be classified as either regular or irregular. Nouns that take apostrophes may be classified as either regular or irregular.

15. Possessive Case A regular, singular noun does not end with an s. A regular, singular noun does not end with an s. To make it possessive, add an apostrophe s. To make it possessive, add an apostrophe s. Ex: (boy) boy’s Ex: (boy) boy’s Ex: (house) house’s Ex: (house) house’s

16. Possessive Case A regular, plural noun ends in with an s. A regular, plural noun ends in with an s. To form the possessive case, add only an apostrophe. To form the possessive case, add only an apostrophe. Ex: (boys) boys’ Ex: (boys) boys’ Ex: (houses) houses’ Ex: (houses) houses’

17. Possessive Case An irregular, singular nouns ends in s. An irregular, singular nouns ends in s. The use of punctuation to create the possessive case depends on the word’s length. The use of punctuation to create the possessive case depends on the word’s length.

18. Possessive Case An irregular, singular noun with one syllable, add apostrophe s. An irregular, singular noun with one syllable, add apostrophe s. Ex: (bus) bus’s Ex: (bus) bus’s In irregular, singular noun with two syllables, add apostrophe or apostrophe s. (either form is correct). In irregular, singular noun with two syllables, add apostrophe or apostrophe s. (either form is correct). Ex: (Jesus) Jesus’ or Jesus’s Ex: (Jesus) Jesus’ or Jesus’s

19. Possessive Case An irregular, singular noun with three or more syllables, add only an apostrophe. An irregular, singular noun with three or more syllables, add only an apostrophe. Ex: (hippopotamus) hippopotamus’ Ex: (hippopotamus) hippopotamus’

20. Possessive Case An irregular, plural noun does not end in s. An irregular, plural noun does not end in s. To form the possessive case, add an apostrophe s. To form the possessive case, add an apostrophe s. Ex: (children) children’s Ex: (children) children’s Ex: (women) women’s Ex: (women) women’s

21. Common writing errors Because every preposition requires an object, clauses should not end with a preposition. Because every preposition requires an object, clauses should not end with a preposition. Ex: I forget who I gave my book to. (incorrect) Ex: I forget who I gave my book to. (incorrect) Ex: I forget to whom I gave my book. (correct) Ex: I forget to whom I gave my book. (correct)

22. Common writing errors Misplaced modifiers – place phrase and clause modifiers as near as possible to the words they modify. Misplaced modifiers – place phrase and clause modifiers as near as possible to the words they modify. Ex: I bought a new computer for our family, which gave everyone trouble. (confusing) Ex: I bought a new computer for our family, which gave everyone trouble. (confusing) Ex: I bought our family a new computer, which gave everyone trouble. (clear) Ex: I bought our family a new computer, which gave everyone trouble. (clear) Ex: We formed a dodge ball team composed of freshmen named “The Gutter Balls.” (???) Ex: We formed a dodge ball team composed of freshmen named “The Gutter Balls.” (???)

23. Common writing errors Dangling Modifiers: Dangling Modifiers: A modifying phrase must clearly and sensibly modify a word in a sentence. A modifying phrase must clearly and sensibly modify a word in a sentence. When there is no word that the phrase or clause can sensibly modify, the modifier is said to “dangle.” When there is no word that the phrase or clause can sensibly modify, the modifier is said to “dangle.”

24. Common writing errors Ex: Carrying a pile of heavy books, her foot caught on the step. [her foot was carrying books?] Ex: Carrying a pile of heavy books, her foot caught on the step. [her foot was carrying books?] Ex: Carrying a pile of heavy books, she caught her foot on the step. Ex: Carrying a pile of heavy books, she caught her foot on the step. Ex: While she was carrying a pile of heavy books, she caught her foot on the step. Ex: While she was carrying a pile of heavy books, she caught her foot on the step.

25. Common writing errors Two-way Modifiers – placing a modifier in such a way that it may be taken to modify two words. Two-way Modifiers – placing a modifier in such a way that it may be taken to modify two words. Ex: Mark said during the meeting that Joe acted like a fool. [does the phrase modify said or acted?] Ex: Mark said during the meeting that Joe acted like a fool. [does the phrase modify said or acted?] Ex: During the meeting, Mark said that Joe acted like a fool. Ex: During the meeting, Mark said that Joe acted like a fool. Ex: Mark said that Joe acted like a fool during the meeting. Ex: Mark said that Joe acted like a fool during the meeting.

26. Common writing errors Use of Correlative Conjunctions: Use of Correlative Conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions must always be used in pairs. Correlative conjunctions must always be used in pairs. either … ornot only … but also either … ornot only … but also neither … norwhether … or neither … norwhether … or both … and both … and

27. Common writing errors Ex: Neither Jack nor Eric received parts in the play. Ex: Neither Jack nor Eric received parts in the play. Ex: Not only was he late for school, but he also received a jug. Ex: Not only was he late for school, but he also received a jug. Ex: Both Dad and I gave blood at the Red Cross. Ex: Both Dad and I gave blood at the Red Cross.