Grammar Workshop Series Unit 8 Punctuation Part One

Transcription

1 Grammar Workshop Series Unit 8 Punctuation Part One (End Punctuation, Commas, Semi-Colons)

2 The Period is An example of end punctuation. Used at the end of a sentence, unless you are asking a question or saying something emphatically. Used instead of a question mark with indirect questions: I asked him if he really wanted to go skydiving.

3 Period: Problem Areas With abbreviations Most abbreviations require a period St. Dr. Mr. Ms. Jan. a.m. or p.m. Some abbreviations (acronyms) do NOT require a period CBC UTM CIDA

4 Period: Problem Areas Do NOT put a second period after an abbreviation at the end of a sentence The class ends at 2:00 p.m. DO put a question mark or exclamation mark after an abbreviation at the end of a sentence Does the class end at 2:00 p.m.?

5 Question Mark: Problem Areas Used to indicate a question, but not in parentheses to indicate doubt NO: Elvis Presley died (?) on August 16, YES: Elvis Presley is said to have died on August 16, 1977.

6 Exclamation Mark: Problem Areas Do NOT combine an exclamation mark with other forms of punctuation. NO: That guy looks like Elvis!, he cried. YES: That guy looks like Elvis! he cried. YES: That guy looks like Elvis, he cried. NOTE: Exclamation marks are rarely used or needed in academic writing. Instead, use your words to convey intensity.

7 Commas Commas are the most frequently used form of punctuation, and they are very often misused. There are many confusing rules about comma use, some of which you ll read below. You can, however, make your life easier by remembering this simple principle: Commas separate.

8 1: Commas separate independent clauses in a sentence A comma, followed by one of the FANBOYS, can be used to separate two independent clauses: Correct: The car swerved, and it hit a tree. Correct: The music was loud, so I needed to cover my ears. Incorrect: The music was loud, I needed to cover my ears. No FANBOYS! Do you remember the FANBOYS? If not, go back a few workshops.

9 2: Commas separate introductory items from the rest of the sentence Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause. However, I am tired. (after an introductory word) To satisfy a craving, he ate a litre of ice cream. (after an introductory phrase) When I am tired, I go to bed. (after an introductory clause) Yes, you are right. (after an interjection)

10 3: Commas separate expressions in the middle of the sentence from the body of the sentence Use a comma BEFORE AND AFTER an transitional expression in the middle of a sentence Error: I am tired however and must sleep. Correct: I am tired, however, and must sleep. Commas do not separate the elements of the sentence s skeleton (subject, verb, object) from each other. But we do use commas to separate parenthetical expressions from the skeleton. So we don t write I (subject), like (verb) fish (object). But we do write I, however, like fish.

11 4: Commas separate items in a series This is an important strategy for creating parallelism. Culture is a way of thinking, feeling, believing. Culture is a way of thinking, feeling, and believing. Culture is a way of thinking, feeling and believing. All of these are acceptable, depending on your intended meaning.

12 Rule 4 Continued Use commas for clarity in numbered lists: Correct: To file your claim, please enclose 1) a letter requesting payment, 2) a police report, and 3) proof of purchase of the items you are declaring. Never put a comma AFTER the last item in a list or BEFORE the first item in a list: Error: Many artists, writers, and composers, have been daydreamers. Correct: Many artists, writers, and composers have been daydreamers.

13 5: Commas separate coordinate adjectives Two adjectives of equal weight (coordinate adjectives) that modify a noun must be separated by a comma: Error: The huge restless crowd wanted to see the band. Correct: The huge, restless crowd wanted to see the band.

14 Rule 5 Continued How do you know if adjectives are coordinate and therefore need a comma? Question #1: Can you reverse the adjectives without changing the sentence s meaning? The restless, huge crowd wanted to see the band. The huge, restless crowd wanted to see the band. If yes, then use a comma to separate the adjectives Question #2: Can you insert the word and without changing the sentence s meaning? The restless, huge crowd wanted to see the band. The restless AND huge crowd wanted to see the band. If yes, then use a comma to separate the adjectives

15 Rule 5 Continued Question #3: Can you reverse the adjectives without changing the sentence s meaning or creating nonsense? Several new bands played. New several bands played. In this example, the adjectives CANNOT be reversed, so NO COMMA is required. Finally Don t put a comma between a final coordinate adjective and the noun it modifies. Error: Hundreds of cheering, stamping, happy, fans filled the stadium. Correct: Hundreds of cheering, stamping, happy fans filled the stadium.

16 6: Commas separate non-restrictive relative clauses Relative clauses give extra information about a noun. If the information is essential to the noun s definition, the relative clause is restrictive and we don t use a comma because we don t want to separate this essential info from the noun. If the information is not essential to the noun s definition, the clause is non-restrictive and we do use a comma, to indicate that the info is separate from the noun. Restrictive Relative Clause: Many of her friends think that people who are convicted sex offenders should be given the death penalty. The people in question are convicted sex offenders; if we don t know that, we don t know who the author is talking about. Non-restrictive: Those people, who are over 65 years old, are my friends. The fact that those people are over 65 years old is extra, not essential information

17 Rule 6 (Continued) This applies to other restrictive elements as well: Correct: Some people in my neighborhood let their dogs run on my grass. If we don t know that the people are in my neighborhood, we can t understand who the author is talking about. Correct: People who exercise regularly are in good shape. The author isn t talking generally about people: the fact that they exercise is crucial information to identify them. Non-restrictive elements, therefore commas: Correct: John, who has a bad haircut, is crazy. We know who John is, bad haircut or not. Correct: Ahmed likes vegetarian food, which is also my favorite food. We know what vegetarian food is, whether or not I like it.

18 7: Commas separate parenthetical expressions Use commas where you could use parentheses Treat parenthetical expressions as asides (like non-restrictive elements) that are not necessary to convey the basic meaning of a sentence Correct: Sales of tobacco, according to statistics, have been decreasing. Correct: More people, obviously, are trying to quit smoking. Use commas to identify expressions of contrast Correct: Global warming is a serious, but not overwhelming, crisis. Direct address Correct: Join me, friends, in the battle to combat global warming.

19 8: Commas separate quotes that are not integrated into their sentence Be careful using commas with quotations and explanatory words: Correct: The man said, stop global warming. Correct: We must stop global warming, said the man. Correct: Global warming, said Al Gore, must be stopped. Do NOT use commas to introduce quotations that are blended into your sentence (i.e., with indirect discourse) Correct: The man said that global warming must be stopped. Correct: Al Gore describes global warming as a man-made menace.

20 9: Commas have some weird rules Beware, there are a number of rules governing the use of commas with names, dates, addresses, etc. Here are some examples of the correct usage: November 18, 2007 Sunday, November 18, November 2007 Jason Jones, M.D., was a good man. The city of Toronto, Ontario, is hated by the rest of Canada.

21 Semi-Colons: Rule 1 Use a semi-colon to connect two independent clauses when they are closely related and/or you want the reader to take them as being closely related in some way: Two independent clauses Correct: The car swerved; it hit a tree. Independent clause + conjunctive adverb + independent clause Correct: The car swerved; nevertheless, it hit a tree. Independent clause + transitional expression + independent clause Correct: The car swerved; as a result, it hit a tree. But not: Independent clause + FANBOYS + independent clause Incorrect: The car swerved; for it hit a tree.

22 Semi-Colons: Rule 2 Never use a semi-colon after a dependent clause or other introductory phrase: Error: In spring; it rains a lot. Correct: In spring, it rains a lot. Error: Although he campaigned tirelessly; John McCain was unable to win the election. Correct: Although he campaigned tirelessly, John McCain was unable to win the election.

23 Semi-Colons: Rule 3 Never use a semi-colon to introduce a list: Error: My grocery list is short; eggs, milk, and bread. Correct: My grocery list is short: eggs, milk, and bread.

24 Semi-Colons: Rule 4 Use semi-colons to separate elements in a list that already contains one or more commas, or in a list that has very long items. Error: There were students from Toronto; London; Athens; Cleveland. Correct: There were students from Toronto, Ontario; London, England; Athens, Georgia; and Cleveland, Ohio. Error: My research will shed light on the problematic relationship between eating chicken and growing long, silky feathers, unlock the keys to the fundamental mysteries of life that no one before me has ever unveiled, and prove to my professor and everyone else who has doubted me that there is, indeed, a genius in the house. Correct: My research will shed light on the problematic relationship between eating chicken and growing long, silky feathers; unlock the keys to the fundamental mysteries of life that no one before me has ever unveiled; and prove to my professor and everyone else who has doubted me that there is, indeed, a genius in the house.

25 Choose the Correct Sentence A) I rode, my bike a Raleigh, to the movie last night. B) I rode my bike, a Raleigh, to the movie last night. C) I rode my bike a Raleigh, to the movie last night. D) I rode my bike, a Raleigh, to the movie, last night.

26 Choose the Correct Sentence A) Jeremy, and I, have had our share of arguments. B) Jeremy and I, have had our share of arguments. C) Jeremy and I have had our share of arguments. D) Jeremy and I have had, our share of arguments.

27 Choose the Correct Sentence A) You are I am sure, telling the truth. B) You are, I am sure, telling the truth. C) You are I am sure telling, the truth. D) You are, I am sure telling the truth.

28 Choose the Correct Sentence A) She left Albany, New York, on January 18 of that year. B) She left Albany, New York on January 18, of that year. C) She left Albany New York, on January 18 of that year. D) She left, Albany New York, on January 18 of that year.

29 Choose the Correct Sentence A) I need, sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store. B) I need sugar, butter, and eggs, from the grocery store. C) I need sugar, butter and eggs, from the grocery store. D) I need sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store. E) I need sugar, butter and eggs from the grocery store.

30 Choose the Correct Sentence A) I am typing a letter, and she is talking on the phone. B) I am typing a letter and she is talking, on the phone. C) I, am typing a letter and she, is talking on the phone. D) I am typing a letter and, she is talking on the phone.

31 Choose the Correct Sentence A) She finished her work, and then took a long lunch. B) She finished her work, and then, took a long lunch. C) She finished her work and then took a long lunch. D) She finished her work and then, took a long lunch.

32 Choose the Correct Sentence A) The large interesting art exhibit is free, for students, I think. B) The large, interesting, art exhibit is free, for students I think. C) The large, interesting art exhibit is free for students, I think. D) The large interesting art exhibit is free for students I think.

33 Choose the Correct Sentence A) The large Picasso art exhibit is free, for students, I think. B) The large, Picasso, art exhibit is free, for students I think. C) The large, Picasso art exhibit is free for students, I think. D) The large Picasso art exhibit is free for students I think. E) The large Picasso art exhibit is free for students, I think.

34 Choose the Correct Sentence A) You asked for forgiveness, he granted it to you. B) You asked for forgiveness; he granted it to you. C) You asked for forgiveness: he granted it to you. D) You asked for forgiveness he granted it to you.

35 Choose the Correct Sentence A) We ask; therefore, that you keep this matter confidential. B) We ask, therefore; that you keep this matter confidential. C) We ask, therefore, that you keep this matter confidential. D) We ask: therefore, that you keep this matter confidential.

36 Choose the Correct Sentence A) The order was requested six weeks ago; therefore, I expected the shipment to arrive by now. B) The order was requested six weeks ago, therefore I expected the shipment to arrive by now. C) The order was requested six weeks ago, therefore, I expected the shipment to arrive by now. D) The order was requested six weeks ago: therefore, I expected the shipment to arrive by now.

37 Choose the Correct Sentence A) Clothes are often made from synthetic material; for instance, rayon. B) Clothes are often made from synthetic material, for instance, rayon. C) Clothes are often made from synthetic material, for instance: rayon. D) Clothes are often made from synthetic material, for instance; rayon.

38 Choose the Correct Sentence A) I have been to San Francisco, California, Reno, Nevada, and Seattle, Washington. B) I have been to San Francisco California; Reno Nevada; and Seattle Washington. C) I have been to San Francisco California, Reno Nevada, and Seattle Washington. D) I have been to San Francisco, California; Reno, Nevada; and Seattle, Washington.