Fun With Punctuation

COMMA RULES: remember Luci L: lists U: unnecessary or extra info C: coordinating conjunctions – the comma goes between independent clauses I: introductory clause – the comma goes after

Lists I went to the store to buy bread, jam, mayo, peanut butter, and cheese. *Notice there is a comma between peanut butter and “and.” This is why . . . Take this sentence: I saw a little boy, a man walking a dog, a woman eating a sandwich, and a parakeet. Without the comma, what happens to the parakeet?

More Lists It was a cold, gray, rainy day. He was an old, brown, shaggy, smelly dog. *Notice there is no comma between the last adjective and the noun it’s describing.

Unnecessary or Extra Information The girl, who happened to be a friend of my sister’s, was driving way too fast when she lost control and wrecked the car. My husband, Vic, loves lasagna.

*Note: if I have 2 sons and only one of them likes lasagna, I would write it like this: My son Gray likes lasagna. *In this case, “Gray” is not unnecessary or extra information because I need it to let you know which son I’m referring to.

Since in real life Gray is my only son, I would write it like this: My son, Gray, likes lasagna.

Never do this: My husband, Vic likes lasagna.

Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Independent Clauses These are the coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so I like pizza, but my puppy likes Puppy Chow. *I like pizza is a complete sentence. My puppy likes Puppy Chow is a complete sentence. Jim walked to school, and Shelly drove to school.

Don’t do this: I like pizza but, my puppy likes puppy chow.

Introductory Clauses Before the game, I went over to my friend Jill’s house. Not wanting to appear ignorant, Patrick pretended he knew what I was talking about.

Semi-Colons I like pizza; my puppy likes Puppy Chow. (Take out the cc and the comma and replace it with a semi-colon.)

Apostrophes Singular noun: Sean’s book Plural noun: the boys’ bedroom Form-changing noun: children’s books Joint Ownership: Tom and Judy’s house

Never use an apostrophe when you just want a plural: I have a lot of book’s.

Quotations Commas and periods go INSIDE THE QUOTATIONS – Always!! This is correct: According to Stephen Carter, “integrity is what we need.” This is wrong: According to Stephen Carter, “integrity is what we need”.

This is correct: Stephen Carter states that, rather than honesty, “integrity is what we need,” in his controversial essay. This is wrong: Stephen Carter states that, rather than honesty, “integrity is what we need”, in his controversial essay.

Semi-colons and colons go OUTSIDE THE QUOTES, always.

Questions marks and exclamation points go inside the quotes if they belong to the quote. If they’re not part of the quote they go outside. My son is always asking, “Why do I have to do that?” Have you read Poe’s poem “The Raven”?

Homonyms: I don’t like eating there. It’s their dog. They’re going to the movie. It’s too hot to go to the beach after two o’clock.

It’s my brother’s dog that always jumps its fence. Whose idea was this? Who’s at the door? You’re going to proofread your papers now.