1. Punctuating Independent and Dependent Clauses

2. Punctuating Independent Clauses An independent clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete idea. As a result, an independent clause can stand alone and be used as a sentence. Two independent clauses used this way and joined together should each be ended (and separated) with a period (or question mark or exclamation point).

3. Option 1: Independent clause. Independent clause. Examples: Rina went to the store. She bought some candy. The writing test was very hard. It was about Greek history. Omar failed his Psychology test. He was deeply sad.

4. Coordinating Conjunctions Two independent clauses can also be joined together into one, more complex sentence. When we do this, we must separate the clauses with a coordinating conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions used to join independent clauses are: and but or for so yet no A comma must also always be placed directly before the coordinating conjunction that is used to connect the two independent clauses.

5. Option 2: Independent clause, {coordinating conjunction} independent clause. Examples: Maher went to the store, and he bought some candy. Garrett called me this morning, but I wasn’t home. You can go to the drugstore to get your medicine, or you can order it online.

6. Option 3: Independent clause; independent clause. A semicolon can be used in place of a coordinating conjunction in order to connect two independent clauses. Examples: Yoon went to the store; he bought some candy. Mark went to Korea last summer; he bought a lot of presents for us. Florence speaks Chinese; she also speaks Arabic very fluently. Note: two independent clause can be separated by a semicolon only when the two clauses have the same subject. Otherwise, a period would be necessary.

7. Conjunctive Adverbs Conjunctive adverbs are often used as introductory words after the semicolon. A comma always follows them. A partial list of words and phrases used as conjunctive adverbs includes: However therefore for example for instance in fact moreover nevertheless consequently then indeedalsofurthermore instead after all still in general

8. Option 4: Independent clause; {conjunctive adverb}, independent clause. Examples: Abdullah went to the store; then, he bought some candy. Vivian didn’t do her homework; therefore, she will receive an F as a final grade. Maher never came to class on time; however, he never failed a test.

9. Two Serious Errors Error # 1: An independent clause should never be joined together with another one without end punctuation, a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or a semicolon. If this occurs, we call it a “run-on” sentence. (One independent clause/sentence is “run” onto another.) Run-on: Independent clause independent clause. Examples: Anqi went to the store she bought some candy. Majeed graduated from Harvard he is very talented.

10. Error # 2 It is also incorrect to join an independent clause with another simply by using a comma. If this occurs, we call it a “comma-splice.” Comma Splice: Independent clause, independent clause. Examples: Anqi went to the store, she bought some candy. Majeed graduated from Harvard, he is very talented.

11. Punctuating Dependent Clauses A dependent clause or a subordinate clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a predicate but does not express a complete idea and, therefore, cannot stand alone. (It is subordinate or dependent on the rest of the sentence in order to express a complete idea.) Such clauses often begin with introductory words called subordinating conjunctions. A partial list of words and phrases used as subordinating conjunctions includes: Afterbefore when althoughif whenever as since whereas as ifunlesswhile because untilsupposing that

12. Subordinating Conjunctions By using subordinating conjunctions, an independent clause is turned into a dependent or subordinate one. Examples: Linh went to the store. (Independent clause) After Linh went to the store (Dependent clause) Chris loves chocolate. (Independent clause) Because Chris loves chocolate. (Dependent clause)

13. Option #1: Dependent clause, independent clause. A dependent clause can be made into a complete idea if it is placed before an independent clause. A comma comes directly after a dependent clause that comes before an independent clause. Examples: After Abdullah went to the store, he bought some candy. Because Chris loves chocolate, I bought some for him.

14. Option #2: Independent clause dependent clause. A dependent clause can also be made into a complete idea if it is placed after an independent clause. When a dependent clause comes directly after an independent clause, no comma is necessary. Example : Garrett doesn’t care what store he goes to as long as it has candy.

15. Option #3: Independent clause, dependent clause Although a comma is not necessary (and is usually omitted) in the case of option #2, it is sometimes placed after the independent clause for emphasis. Example : Santiago doesn’t care what store he goes to, as long as it has candy.

16. Option #4 : Dependent clause dependent clause. A dependent clause is sometimes made into a complete idea by combining it with another dependent clause. When two dependent clauses are joined together, no comma is necessary. Example : To buy some candy at the store will be easy for Fred.