Punctuation- It’s kind of important  End Marks Commas Semicolons Colons

Commas Use commas to separate items in a series. Use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. HINT: If you can say the word and between the adjectives and the sentence makes sense, you need a comma. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so= FANBOYS) when it joins independent clauses in a compound sentence. When you have items in a series that are not separated by the word “and,” use a comma. Ex: Billy, Gina, and Cody are presenting their projects today. It was a cold, windy night. Apply the hint: It was a cold AND windy night. Since this makes sense, I know that I need a comma between the adjectives. If you have 2 independent clauses, avoid the run-on by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Remember, an independent clause is a group of words that could stand alone as a sentence. If you can’t tell if it is an independent clause, read each side of your sentence by itself. Ex: (I love watching basketball games), but (my little brother loves watching baseball games.) Each side of the sentence works by itself, so you combine them by using a comma with a FANBOYS

Interrupters Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence. Use commas to set off nonessential participial phrases and nonessential subordinate clauses. Nonessential- means it is not needed to understand the basic meaning of the sentence Ex: This small turtle, crossing the street slowly, was in danger. Ex: All farmers growing the new hybrid corn should have a good harvest. Interrupters do just what they sound like- they interrupt the sentence. If a phrase or clause is not needed in the sentence, you must put commas around it. Ex: In the first example, we do not need to know that the turtle was crossing slowly to understand that it was in danger. Therefore, the commas around that phrase are necessary. Ex: The second example has no commas because the phrase “growing the new hybrid corn” is necessary. Without it, the reader would assume that every farmer no matter what the crop should have a good harvest.

Interrupters Use commas to set off words of direct address. EX: Do you know, Bob, when the team is leaving? Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions. EX: Leah, I believe, will have the highest average at the end of the year. EX: I believe Leah will have the highest average at the end of the year. (Why don’t I have commas??) Whenever you address someone, put commas around the name. Parenthetical expressions require commas. Common parenthetical expressions include the following: I believe; in fact; however; therefore; in any case; in my opinion The first example requires commas around the parenthetical expression. The second example does not need commas because “I believe” is the subject and verb of the sentence. It is not acting as a parenthetical expression.

Introductory words, phrases, clauses Set off words such as well, oh, why, yes, no when they come at the beginning of a sentence. Use a comma after introductory prepositional, participial, and infinitive phrases. EX: In the morning, they are going hiking. EX: Studying all night long, Bob finally drifted off to sleep. EX: To perform well in games, be sure to come to practice each day. EX: To perform well in games is Bob’s goal. Introductory words require commas. Introductory phrases also require commas. It is not so important that you can distinguish the types of phrases; rather, you need to recognize that a phrase is introductory. In the final example, “To perform well in games” is not acting as an introductory phrase. It is actually the complete subject of the sentence.

Conventions Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses. My old address was 250 Dolphin Lane, Miami, FL 32523. Dear Bob, Friday, June 1, 2012 Always separate items in dates and adresses. You don’t need a comma between state and zip code

Semicolons Use between independent clauses when they are not joined by FANBOYS. Use between independent clauses when they are joined by a word other than FANBOYS. EX: English was Lou’s hardest subject; accordingly, he gave it more time than any other subject. Use to separate independent clauses joined by FANBOYS if the clauses already contain commas. EX: Our strongest defensive players are Carlos, Will, and Jared; and Kareem and Matt are excellent on offense. Independent clauses are simply sentences that can stand alone. Often, we try to put two of these together. In order to be grammatically correct, you can use a semicolon to divide them when a FANBOYS is not present. If you have a FANBOYS between 2 independent clauses you usually just use a comma; however, if you have several commas already in your sentence, use a semicolon to avoid confusion.

So how do I use this??? Understanding comma rules and semicolon rules, you can avoid run-on sentences in your writing. 3 ways to avoid run-ons: Use a comma with a FANBOYS Use a semicolon Split into 2 separate sentences