1. After the closing of a letter

1. comma

2. After initials

2. period

3. After the greeting of a business letter

3. colon

4. To replace omitted letters in contractions

4. apostrophe

5. At the end of a politely worded question

5. period

6. Between independent clauses when no conjunction is used

6. semicolon

7. To show possession in proper nouns

7. apostrophe

8. To set off the name of the person spoken to

8. comma

9. To separate the minutes and hours when writing time

9. colon

10. To enclose titles of poems, articles, and chapters of books

10. Quotation marks

11. After the salutation of a friendly letter

11. comma

The Comma

1. Does a pressure cooker have a safety valve Clara?

1. Does a pressure cooker have a safety valve, Clara?

2. Changes in pressure can be quite dangerous.

correct

3. One of the first places a diver feels pressure changes Teresa is the eardrum.

3. One of the first places a diver feels pressure changes, Teresa, is the eardrum.

4. I’ve heard Clara that divers hold their noses and blow when they start to feel pain in their ears.

4. I’ve heard, Clara, that divers hold their noses and blow when they start to feel pain in their ears.

5. Yes swallowing also helps to equalize pressure.

5. Yes, swallowing also helps to equalize pressure.

6. Air pressure exerts a different amount of force on the filling than on the tooth and Clara under severe conditions it can cause a tooth to collapse.

6. Air pressure exerts a different amount of force on the filling than on the tooth, and, Clara, under severe conditions it can cause a tooth to collapse.

7. Oh I know the definition of esprit de corps a French phrase meaning “team spirit.”

7. Oh, I know the definition of esprit de corps, a French phrase meaning “team spirit.”

8. No this machine a recent model does not use as much electricity oil and water as the older model.

8. No, this machine, a recent model, does not use as much electricity, oil, and water as the older model.

9. School alterations a large item in the budget are necessary because of the inadequate cafeteria facilities and the undersized auditorium.

9. School alterations, a large item in the budget, are necessary because of the inadequate cafeteria facilities and the undersized auditorium.

10. Mr. Wortham, trying not to chuckle, offered to help us clean up the mess.

correct

11. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin who won a 1964 Nobel Prize determined the molecular structure of vitamin B 12.

11. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, who won a 1964 Nobel Prize, determined the molecular structure of vitamin B 12.

12. Species of turtles, that live in regions with harsh winters, must hibernate.

13. Speleologists are scientists, who study caves and the organisms that live in them.

14. The puppy excited to see its owner wagged its tail vigorously.

14. The puppy, excited to see its owner, wagged its tail vigorously.

15. By explaining the refraction of light through water I can give sensible reasons for these strange appearances.

15. By explaining the refraction of light through water, I can give sensible reasons for these strange appearances.

16. Ascending the tree one branch at a time Mrs. Weinberg eventually reached the stranded kitten.

16. Ascending the tree one branch at a time, Mrs. Weinberg eventually reached the stranded kitten.

17. While I was working at the gas station I learned a lot about cars.

17. While I was working at the gas station, I learned a lot about cars.

18. Chasing a fly ball in center field Armand stepped in a hole and sprained his ankle.

18. Chasing a fly ball in center field, Armand stepped in a hole and sprained his ankle.

19. If people object to my suggestions let them state their reasons.

19. If people object to my suggestions, let them state their reasons.

Semicolons and Colons

20. My mom is reading Shadow and Act it is a collection of essays by Ralph Ellison.

20. My mom is reading Shadow and Act; it is a collection of essays by Ralph Ellison.

21. The largest urban areas in Southeast Asia are centered around the cities of Manila, Philippines Jakarta, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand.

21. The largest urban areas in Southeast Asia are centered around the cities of Manila, Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Bangkok, Thailand.

22. Ships on the Caribbean Sea might carry sugar from the West Indies coffee from Colombia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala or bananas from Panama.

22. Ships on the Caribbean Sea might carry sugar from the West Indies; coffee from Colombia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala; or bananas from Panama.

23. The Abeita family has three dogs, a cat, and a parrot and Jaime, Miguel, and Julia have been asking for a horse.

23. The Abeita family has three dogs, a cat, and a parrot; and Jaime, Miguel, and Julia have been asking for a horse.

24. The reviewer praised the special effects however, she criticized the screenplay.

24. The reviewer praised the special effects; however, she criticized the screenplay.

25. The letter began, “Dear Dr. Garcia Thank you for considering my application for kennel attendant at your clinic.”

25. The letter began, “Dear Dr. Garcia: Thank you for considering my application for kennel attendant at your clinic.”

26. Katrina wrote her book report on The Golden Gate A Novel in Verse by Vikram Seth.

26. Katrina wrote her book report on The Golden Gate: A Novel in Verse by Vikram Seth.

27. The play doesn’t start until 800 p.m. however, we should plan to arrive early.

27. The play doesn’t start until 8:00 p.m.; however, we should plan to arrive early.

28. The lecture begins at 200 Dr. Durand will be discussing the literary elements of Psalm

28. The lecture begins at 2:00; Dr. Durand will be discussing the literary elements of Psalm 104: 1-50.

29. Mrs. Hershey has visited several cities in Canada Toronto, Ontario Edmonton, Alberta and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

29. Mrs. Hershey has visited several cities in Canada: Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.