Commas, Dashes, Semicolons, and Colons

1. Commas, Dashes, Semicolons, and Colons G. Zermeño Dual Credit English 1301

2. 1. Use a comma with a coordinate conjunction to join two main clauses (two complete sentences). • No comma is used when a coordinate conjunction joins two words, phrases, or dependent clauses (compound elements)—only when the coordinate conjunction joins two complete sentences.

3. 2. Use a comma to separate elements in a series. • Three or more elements make a series. • The elements in a series must be written in the same grammatical form; this is called “parallelism.”

4. 3. Use a comma to set off an introductory element (a word, phrase, or subordinate clause) that comes before the subject of a sentence. • Rule number three is more relaxed. Often these days, when a short phrase comes before the subject, no comma is used, but a comma does always set off a subordinate clause that comes before the subject of a main clause.

5. 4. Use two commas to set off an element that interrupts the middle of a sentence (a comma comes before and after the interrupting element). • An “interrupting element” refers to a word, phrase, or clause that can be dropped from the sentence and the sentence will still be complete. This rule applies to nonrestrictive modifiers.

6. 5. Use a comma to set off a word or a phrase added to the end of a sentence. • The sentence is grammatically complete at the comma. The tagged-on element can be dropped and the sentence is still complete. Also, what follows the comma must be a word or a phrase, not a complete sentence—or a comma splice would occur.

7. Fixing a Comma Splice • Change the comma to a period • Some people put commas between sentences, this practice must stop. • Add a coordinate conjunction after the comma • Some people put commas between sentences, and this practice must stop.

8. Change the comma to a semicolon • Change the comma to a semicolon • Yes! This is how a semicolon is used—to join two complete sentences! It’s a much stronger form of punctuation than a comma (it’s a comma AND a period). Why do we even have semicolons if periods suffice? One reason is to impress your English teachers. Above all, reserve them for formal occasions. They’re a bit stuffy. • Don’t just stick any two sentences together; semicolons join sentences with related meanings.

9. Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb if you want to get fancy. Conjunctive Adverbs belong to the “therefore,” “nevertheless,” “consequently” family of words (here are some more: instead, for example, in addition, likewise, thus, as a result, indeed, furthermore, in fact, meanwhile, still, hence, similarly). • We now know how to use semicolons; therefore, we can impress our English teachers. • We can also add a conjunctive adverb; as a result, we will live happier lives. • Notice the commas following the conjunctive adverbs above. Those commas follow rule No. 3: the conjunctive adverb comes before the subject of a sentence, and so are set off with commas.

10. We could be a bit more daring and add the conjunctive adverb somewhere between the subject and the verb, and follow rule No. 4 (which requires two commas, before and after the element). • We now know how to use semicolons; we can, therefore, impress our English teacher.

11. The bravest of the brave will put the conjunctive adverb at the end of the sentence, embracing comma rule No. 5: • We can also add a conjunctive adverb; we will live happier lives, as a result.

12. Change one of the sentences into a subordinate clause. • Comma splice: Harold flips his dentures around in his mouth, he looks like a circus worker. • Correct: When Harold flips his dentures around in his mouth, he looks like a circus worker.

13. Comma splice: Mabel likes to pull her lip over her nose, it makes her relax. • Correct: Mabel likes to pull her lip over her nose because it makes her relax. • Note: Do not put a comma after a subordinate conjunction (which may look like a conjunctive adverb, but it is not—they are only second cousins). • Although, she can make her ears wiggle, she cannot fly. • Although she can make her ears wiggle, she cannot fly.

14. Dashes • Are a lot like commas, just longer and flatter. In fact, dashes work the exact same way the commas work in rules 4 and 5, because dashes set off interrupting and tagged-on elements. • We decided—because Tom made us—to save our last chocolate bars for tomorrow. • I love hot spiced tea—especially with a chocolate bar.

15. There is no key for a dash on keyboards; a dash must be typed with two hyphens. Once you hit the space bar to continue typing, the dash will appear. • Be careful not to confuse the dash with the hyphen. This can create a misreading. • I think Tom is a son-of-a-bum for hiding the Hershey’s. • I bet his mother-in-law dislikes him. • I love hot spiced tea-especially with a chocolate bar. • What is a “tea-especially”?

16. Colons • A colon is a unique couple of dots, unique because it has only one use: to introduce an example or an explanation [as in this very sentence]. • A complete sentence must come before the colon; what follows a colon may be a single word, a phrase, or a complete sentence—however many words are needed to give an example or explain. • We had one purpose for our camping trip: to have fun. • Tom asked us all a question: “Who cut a hole in my tent?”

17. Incorrect use of a colon: • Remember that a complete sentence must come before the colon. A colon has no business between a predicating verb and its completer (even if there is a series), like this: • We decided to bring: sleeping bags, pads, and pillows. * predicating verb: Main verb Completer: modifier