Punctuation Practice

1. PunctuationPractice

2. MYTH: Long sentences need a comma. A really long sentence may be perfectly correct without commas. The length of a sentence does not determine whether you need a comma. • MYTH: Commas are so mysterious that it’s impossible to figure out where they belong! Some rules are flexible, but most of the time, commas belong in very predictable places. You can learn to identify many of those places using the tips in this handout.

3. THE COMMA 1) Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (FANBOYS) 2) Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. • Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.

4. The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave. • The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn't seem to understand. • Yesterday was her brother's birthday, so she took him out to dinner. • My hamster loved to play and often ate marshmallows. • I liked your hat but not the rest of the outfit.

5. While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door. • Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class. • If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor. • When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the driveway.

6. NOT “FANBOYS” • However, therefore, moreover, consequently, unfortunately, furthermore are not FANBOYS (they are called conjunctive adverbs). • They go between two complete thoughts, just like FANBOYS, but they take different punctuation. • You just need to recognize that they are not FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so—remember?), and you’ll make the right choice.

7. GOOD: Basketball is my favorite sport. However, table tennis is where I excel. • ALSO GOOD: Basketball is my favorite sport; however, table tennis is where I excel. • BAD: Basketball is my favorite sport, however table tennis is where I excel. • ALSO BAD: Basketball is my favorite sport, however, table tennis is where I excel.

8. Your Turn! • I am a wife and I am a mother. • I am fervently against discrimination of any kind to any group but I believe we’re going just a bit overboard when the Bible is called sexist and rewritten. • I like coffee and Robert likes iced tea. • The test doesn’t seem too difficult but it may get harder. • Glen refused to visit his sister because she was rude to him. • Teens watch movies at the theater or they rent movies and watch them at home.

9. Although science isn’t my favorite subject I stay for extra help to raise my grade. • If you don’t wish to attend the party send a reply by next Friday. • When he announced the winners of the raffle the auditorium was silent. • As I raced to class I worried about whether or not I had left my assignment at home. • Watering and feeding new plants is necessary for growth, however too much water or fertilizer can kill them. • Erica felt as if she might faint from hunger, therefore, she decided a trip to Wendy’s was necessary.

10. 3. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential: • If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense? • Does the clause, phrase, or word interrupt the flow of words in the original sentence? • If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the sentence still make sense?

11. Clause: That Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day when I am available to meet. Phrase: This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland. Word: I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted yourself.

12. 4. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). Thatclauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.

13. That clauses after nouns: • The book that I borrowed from you is excellent. • The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised. Thatclauses following a verb expressing mental action: • She believes that she will be able to earn an A. • He is dreaming that he can fly. • I contend that it was wrong to mislead her. • They wished that warm weather would finally arrive

14. Essential Information • Students who cheat only harm themselves. • The baby wearing a yellow jumpsuit is my niece. • The candidate who had the least money lost the election.

15. Ask yourself… • If you leave out the element or put it somewhere else in the sentence, does the essential meaning of the sentence change? If so, the element is essential; if not, it is nonessential.

16. Nonessential or Essential? • The average world temperature, however, has continued to rise significantly. • The sixth-century philosopher Boethius was arrested, tortured, and bludgeoned to death. • Company managers, seeking higher profits, hired temporary workers to replace full-time staff. • The person checking tickets at the counter asked for a form of identification. • My uncle, who is eighty years old, walks three miles every day. (clause) • The woman who interviewed you is my sister.

17. Nonessential Information • Fred, who often cheats, is just harming himself. • My niece, wearing a yellow jumpsuit, is playing in the living room. • Apples, which are my favorite fruit, are the main ingredient in this recipe. • Professor Benson, grinning from ear to ear, announced that the exam would be tomorrow. • Tom, the captain of the team, was injured in the game. • It is up to you, Jane, to finish. • She was, however, too tired to make the trip. • Two hundred dollars, I think, is sufficient.

18. 1. Patterson Tower the recently completed office building is a monument to concrete ugliness. • 2. The movie that I wanted to see is no longer playing. • 3. Each person who enters the contest must send in two box tops. • 4. John decided nonetheless not to buy the car. • 5. The Mississippi River which once flowed north into Hudson Bay flows south into the Gulf of Mexico. • 6. Your cat watching the dog intently walked carefully away. • 7. The cat that was watching the dog most intently walked carefully away. • 8. TV commercials sometimes the most entertaining parts of a program are essentially flashy corporate propaganda. • 9. The dam project which many in the government consider to be a sign of national strength will destroy hundreds of villages and vast areas of wildlife habitat along the river banks. • 10. The free-jazz musician Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn.

19. _____ 1. The woman who did not attend the meeting said that she had to study for her chemistry exam. • _____ 2. He did not however intend to return the money he borrowed. • _____ 3. West Point cadets, who break the honor code, are expelled. • _____ 4. She was as a matter of fact chiefly interested in becoming a Hollywood celebrity. • _____ 5. Raul's wife, Conchita, is president of the local Red Cross. • _____ 6. The German writer, Hermann Hesse, is a favorite with American college students. • _____ 7. The courthouse which was renovated recently was built in 1878. • _____ 8. Saul having forgotten to save his work lost all of his revisions when his computer crashed. • _____ 9. St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, wrote his handbook of spiritual exercises in the sixteenth century. • _____ 10. The book, that your sister gave you for your birthday, won a National Book Award.