Review of punctuation and mechanics

1. Review of punctuation and mechanics Information in this presentation was drawn from Raimes, Ann, Keys for Writers, Third Edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

2. Basic sentence mechanics • A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period (.), exclamation point (!), or question mark (?).

3. Commas in compound sentences • Use a comma in front of a FANBOYS word to make a compound sentence. • Joseph attends school, but his sister Renata is taught at home.

4. Commas with transitions • Use a comma after a transition word. • I had eaten nothing all day; as a result, I felt faint and dizzy. • The cost of living is increasing rapidly. For example, the price of gas has risen by ten cents in the last month alone.

5. Commas with sentence adverbials • Use a comma after a sentence adverbial at the beginning of a sentence if it is more than two words long. • In her classroom, students are free to move around. • Before beginning her task, she carefully cleaned off her desk.

6. Commas with series • Use a comma to separate items in a series. • We bought bananas, bread, chicken, and rice at the store. • The word and is required. • The comma before and is optional. It is usually omitted in British English and in American English journalism.

7. Comma errors: compound phrases • Do not substitute a comma for and in compound phrases. • I avoid consuming fats, caffeine.

8. Commas with dates • Use a comma to separate a year from the rest of a sentence. • The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, by Thomas Jefferson and others.

9. Commas with places • Use a comma to separate a city and state and after the name of a state • The University of Maryland, located in College Park, Maryland, serves almost 40,000 students. • Use a comma to separate a city and country and after the name of a country. • She lived in Libreville, Gabon, for several years.

10. Commas with non-restrictive relative clauses • Use commas to separate a non-restrictive relative clause (whether full or reduced) from the rest of the sentence. • The board members, who were appointed by the governor, met for the first time yesterday.

11. Commas with tag questions • Use a comma to separate a tag question from the rest of the sentence. • It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?

12. Commas with quotations • Use a comma before quotations to explain who said the words. • Caroline asked, “Can we take a vacation abroad next year?” • “I think we will be able to afford it,” Howard replied. • “However,” he continued, “we will have to budget carefully.”

13. Comma errors: subject/verb • Do not use a comma to separate a subject and verb. • My mother and I, spent the day at a spa.

14. Comma errors: compound verbs • Do not use a comma to separate the parts of a compound verb. • My older sister and I would clean the house, and get ready for school. • My older sister and I would clean the house and get ready for school.

15. Comma errors: compound nouns • Do not use a comma to separate the parts of a compound noun. • War is bad for a country’s foreign relationships, and its economy.

16. Comma errors: verb/direct object • Do not use a comma to separate a verb and a direct object. • I know, that he is a liar.

17. Comma errors: end-sentence adverbials • Do not put a comma in front of an adverbial clause or prepositional phrase at the end of a sentence. • The rabbit dashed away, because it saw me. • It ran across the field and dived into its burrow, in the ground.

18. Comma errors: formatting • Do not begin a line with a comma. • X When you have time , would you please give me a call?

19. Try it yourself! • Do Practices 1 and 2, pp. 243-244, Problem/Solution.

20. Semicolons in compound sentences • Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clause. • Joanna lives close to her family; her sister lives just two blocks away. • Use a semicolon in front of a transition word to make a compound sentence. • Joanna lives close to her family; in fact, her sister lives just two blocks away.

21. Semicolon errors: formatting • Do not capitalize the first word after a semicolon. • X Joanna lives close to her family; In fact, her sister lives just two blocks away. • Do not begin a line with a semicolon. • X Joanna lives on my street ; her sister lives just two blocks away.

22. Semicolon errors: comma confusion • Do not use a semicolon where a comma is required. • Do not use a comma where a semicolon is required.

23. Try it yourself! • Do the Practice, p. 269, Problem/Solution.

24. Confusing contractions • its/it’s • The dog scratched its ear. • It’s too bad that Marianne couldn’t join us. • whose/who’s • Whose book is this? • Who’s coming to the party? • their/they’re • Their car is being repaired. • They’re going to arrive late.

25. Confusing contractions • theirs/there’s • Our bikes are still here, but I don’t know about theirs. • Oh my gosh, there’s a snake in the basement! • your/you’re • Your mail is on your desk. • You’re in trouble now!

26. Apostrophes • Use ‘s for possessive forms of all nouns except plural nouns that end with –s • the tree’s branches, the sun’s heat • Use s’ for possessive plural nouns that end with –s. • the heroes’ accomplishments • Use an apostrophe to indicate a contraction. • wouldn’t, isn’t, she’s,

27. Apostrophe errors • Do not use -‘s to form a plural noun • X The girl’s are in the store. • Do not use -‘s to form a verb. • X He speak’s English fluently. • Do not use -‘s to form plural names • X The Matsuyama’s are coming to dinner.

28. Colons • Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list. • Three criteria were used to evaluate the applicants: educational background, work experience, and communication skills.

29. Colon errors • Do not use a colon directly after a verb. • X The winners were: Angela and David. • Do not use a colon after for example, especially, such as, or including. • X I like most vegetables, including: kohlrabi, tatsoi, and rutabagas.

30. Capitalization • Capitalize proper nouns (specific people, places, and things) • people • nations, continents, planets, stars, galaxies • mountains, rivers, oceans • public places • regions • streets, buildings, monuments

31. Capitalization • cities, states, provinces • days of the week • months • holidays • organizations and companies • institutions (college departments, schools, government offices, courts • historical events, named periods, documents

32. Capitalization • religions, deities, revered persons, sacred texts • races, tribes, nations, nationalities, languages • registered trademarks • names of ships, planes, and spacecraft

33. Capitalization • Capitalize a title before a person’s name. • Reverend Jones, President Bush, Senator Pinsky. • Capitalize the first word and other major words in the titles of books and movies. • The Wind in the Willows