DOs and DON’Ts of Punctuation
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DOs and DON Ts of Punctuation Commas, Colons, and Semicolons
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Transcript of DOs and DON’Ts of Punctuation
8/2/2019 DOs and DON’Ts of Punctuation
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DOs and DON’Ts of Punctuation
Commas, Colons, andSemicolons
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Semicolons
DO use a semicolon to separate two
Independent clauses (complete thoughts).
Example:
I went to the store; they were out of bread.
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Colons
DO use a colon before a list of three or morethings, especially if the sentence includes“followed” or “following”.
Example:
I always order the same toppings on pizza: sausage, pepperoni, and extra cheese.
I would like the following items for my birthdayan iPad, a puppy, and a cake.
:
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Colons
Use a colon in conventional situations.
Time
In the salutation of a formal letter
Bible verses
Separating larger and smaller titles
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Commas
DO
DO use commas to
separate independentclauses with words likeand, but, so
Example:I went to Florida for
Spring Break, and I hadfun.
DON’T
DON’T use JUST
commas to separateindependent clauses.
WRONG:
I got a new dog, Inamed him Bobby.
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How could you fix that sentence?
I got a new dog; I named him Bobby.
I got a new dog, and I named him Bobby.
I got a new dog. I named him Bobby.
(1) use a semicolon
(2) use a comma and a word like and, but, so
(3) create two separate sentences.
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Commas
DO
DO use a comma toseparate dependentclauses at the beginningof sentences.
Because I missed thebus, I walked to school.
DON’T
Don’t use a comma to
separate dependentclauses at the end ofsentences.
Wrong: I walked toschool, because Imissed the bus.
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Commas
DO
DO use a comma in lists.
When I went to the store,I bought butter, milk, andeggs.
Do the next example onyour own.
DON’T
DON’T use a comma if
less than three itemsare present.
Wrong:
Over the summer Iswim, and playvolleyball.
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Commas
DO
DO use a comma toseparate extra
information in thesentence.
Oh, I didn’t see youthere.
My oldest cat, Fluffy,died.
DON’T
DON’T use a comma to
separate an importantchunk in the sentence.
Wrong:
The house, on the cornerof Elm Street, is for sale.
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Commas
DO use a comma when calling someone byname.
Hey, Sally, can I borrow a dollar?
You left your phone at football practice, Jake.
Molly, do you remember what our Sciencehomework was?
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Commas
DO use a comma in conventional situations:
After cities and states (not abbreviations) Also after street names in addresses. After the date and year.
After the salutation of personal letters and afterthe closing of any letter.
