1. ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts
Punctuation Tips
ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts

2. Top tips for proofreading
Print it off early/ leave it a day
Look for one issue at a time
Read it aloud slowly
Take care with cut and pasting
Learn punctuation rules
Check your referencing
Draft, draft and redraft
Get a friend to read and provide feedback

3. Why improve your understanding of grammar and punctuation?
Grammar checkers on computers are not full proof.
Demonstrating an understanding of grammar and punctuation will impress your tutors.
It will enhance written communication skills – often considered a highly desirable skill be employers.

4. The colon To introduce an idea To introduce a list
You are left with only one option: practice regularly until you have mastered it
There is only one thing you need to know about colons: the more you practice the better you will become.
To introduce a list
Most students have a wide taste in music: commercial, deep house and rock
The soup contained several key ingredients: vegetable stock, large onions, carrots and coriander.

5. The semi colon In complicated lists
In the meeting today we have present Professor Wilson, University of Barnsley: Dr Watson, University of Liverpool; Mr Aaron Kelly; Senior Resident Tutor, Liverpool Hope University and Dr Sarah Deery, Director of Learning Technology, Sunderland University.
Separating closely – related independent clauses
Liverpool Hope is a great university; the tutors are supportive and the students are super friendly. Students often fear using the semicolon; this is often due to lack of understanding.

6. The comma splice
The comma splice occurs when a comma is used to connect two independent clauses
Liverpool Hope is a great university, the tutors are supportive and the students are super friendly.
Students often fear using the semicolon, this is often due to lack of understanding.

7. Using a comma with a conjunction
A comma should always be used BEFORE conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so to separate independent causes.
e.g. he hated commas, so he never used them
NOT – he hated commas so, he never used them
These are called coordinating conjunctions
There is very often no need to use a comma with the conjunction ‘because’.

8. Other common errors
Avoid using contractions! e.g. shouldn’t, won’t, it’s.
Avoid using the vernacular and casual everyday words
Always write abbreviations in full the first time you see them e.g. The Department for Education (DfE) implies that….
Don’t be tempted to use complex language that isn’t your own just to make your work appear ‘academic’
Avoid using non – quantifiable descriptions

9. Subject/ very agreement
Plural subject, singular verb
Careful planning and a clear mind is important for writing a good academic essay.
Careful planning and a clear mind are important for writing a good academic essay.
In this sentence, careful planning and clear mind are a subject of the verb (writing) and as they are plural the verb has to be plural: are rather than is

10. Singular subject/ plural verb
Aaron’s taste in books was fantastic
Aaron’s taste in book were fantastic
(correct)
(incorrect)
The subject in this sentence is Aaron’s taste, which is singular. It therefore needs a singular verb: was rather than were
Problems can occur with collective nouns such as group of, a collection of, etc. These are singular!
For example:
A small group of birds were flying across the midnight sea.
(incorrect)
A small group of birds was flying across the midnight sea.
(correct)

11. Quiz Q1: Which of these sentences uses the colon correctly?
The jazz band contained the following instruments: trumpets, trombones and saxophones.
The jazz band contained: trumpets, trombones and trumpets.
The jazz band contained: trumpets, trombones, trumpets.
Q2: Which of these sentences uses the semicolon correctly?
Greece is a beautiful country; lovely beaches and friendly people.
Greece is a beautiful country; the beaches are lovely and the people are friendly.
Greece is a beautiful country; people are so friendly.

12. Answers Q1: Which of these sentences uses the colon correctly?
a) The jazz band contained the following instruments: trumpets, trombones and saxophones.
b) The jazz band contained: trumpets, trombones and trumpets.
Incorrect – the phrase before the colon cannot stand alone.
c) The jazz band contained: trumpets: trombones: trumpets.
Incorrect – you cannot use colons to separate elements in a list.
Q2: Which of these sentences uses the semicolon correctly?
a) Greece is a beautiful country; lovely beaches and friendly people.
Incorrect - the two clauses connected by a semi-colon have to be able to stand alone and make sense.
b) Greece is a beautiful country; the beaches are lovely and the people are friendly.
c) Greece is a beautiful country; people are so friendly.
Incorrect - the two clauses connected by a semi-colon have to be related.

13. Useful websites www.thepunctuationguide.com/ www.grammarly.com/