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Common Grammar Issues - COMMAS

This document provides an overview of common grammar and punctuation rules. It discusses the proper use of periods, question marks, exclamation points, colons, semicolons, quotation marks, apostrophes, hyphens, dashes, parentheses, and brackets. It also covers comma rules and the order of adjectives. The document aims to help improve written communication by clarifying grammar and punctuation guidelines.

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daniel21805
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74 views

Common Grammar Issues - COMMAS

This document provides an overview of common grammar and punctuation rules. It discusses the proper use of periods, question marks, exclamation points, colons, semicolons, quotation marks, apostrophes, hyphens, dashes, parentheses, and brackets. It also covers comma rules and the order of adjectives. The document aims to help improve written communication by clarifying grammar and punctuation guidelines.

Uploaded by

daniel21805
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common Grammar Issues

PUNCTUATION RULES
Punctuation makes a huge difference sometimes
Without punctuation: With punctuation:

perhaps you dont always need to use commas Perhaps you don't always need to use commas,
periods colons etc to make sentences clear periods, colons etc. to make sentences clear.
when i am in a hurry tired cold lazy or angry i When I am in a hurry, tired, cold, lazy, or angry I
sometimes leave out punctuation marks sometimes leave out punctuation marks.
grammar is stupid i can write without it and dont "Grammar is stupid! I can write without it and
need it my uncle Harry once said he was not don't need it," my uncle Harry once said. He
very clever and i never understood a word he was not very clever, and I never understood a
wrote to me i think ill learn some punctuation word he wrote to me. I think I'll learn some
not too much enough to write to Uncle Harry he punctuation - not too much, enough to write to
needs some help Uncle Harry. He needs some help!
End Marks
Period (.) Full Stop - Periods are necessary to end a complete thought, or an
independent clause:
ex.) Henry walks to the end of the road everyday.

Question Mark (?) - Put question marks at the end of direct questions
ex.) Have you been drinking tonight?

Exclamation Point (!) - Put exclamation points at the end of statements or after
words showing strong feeling
ex.) He won the lottery!
The colon (:)
Colons are used to expand upon a sentence by either introducing a list, or setting
off a definition.

Ex.) There are many reasons for poor written communication: lack of planning,
poor grammar, misuse of punctuation marks, and insufficient vocabulary.

He had just one fault: an enormous ego.


The semicolon (;)
Semicolons can be used to join sentences or phrases that are part of the same
theme without having to use a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). They can
also be used instead of commas to separate items in a list when the items
themselves have commas in them.

Ex.) I like your brother; he's a good friend.

Many great leaders, Churchill, leader of Britain during the Second World War;
Alexander, the great Emperor and general; and Napoleon, the brilliant French
general, had strong characters..
STAND UP
AND SHAKE!!!
No sleeping in here
Quotation Marks
We use quotation marks to cite what someone said exactly.

Ex.) "I'm going to the store now," she said.


Harry told me, "Don't forget your soccer jersey."
Harry told me not to forget my soccer jersey.

When citing a quote within a quote, we use single quotation marks for the second
quote

Ex.) “I haven't spoken to Peter for months,” Dianne said. “The last time I spoke to
him he said, ‘I'm going to Bahrain and won't be back for about three years’, I've
heard nothing since then.”
Apostrophe
We use an apostrophe in contractions, or combinations of a noun or pronoun with
a verb. Remember, the apostrophe is replacing a letter that is already dropped
Ex.) Using "not" is not, has not, had not, did not, would not, can not
isn't, hasn't, hadn't, didn't, wouldn't, can't

Using "is" she is, there is, he is, it is, Mary is, Jim is, Germany is, who is
she's, there's, he's, it's, Mary's, Jim's, Germany's, who's

We also use apostrophes to show possession. Special case:


It’s = It is
Ex.) It was the child’s toy. She is Gary’s grandmother Its = showing possession
****additional apostrophe information
Rules for showing possession.

If the word is singular:

● add ’s (the dog’s toy)


● if it ends in s, add ’s (Mr. Jones’s car)

If the word is plural:

● if the plural form ends in s, add only ’ (the whales’ holes)


● if the plural form does not end in s, add ’s (the children’s father)
Hyphens (-) Dashes (--) Parentheses () and
Brackets []
Hyphens are used to join words or parts of Parentheses are used to add extra information,
words together to avoid ambiguity further thoughts, or comments that distract from
Ex.) run-down, up-to-date, twenty-one
the main point.
Dashes are used to add comments or extra Ex.) I visited Kathmandu (which was full of
statements. tourists) on my way to the Himalayas for a
Ex.) You may think she is a liar - she isn't. She trekking expedition.
might come to the party - you never know.

Brackets are used similarly to parentheses, but


for adding information in formal documents for
clarification. Commonly, they are used in formal
reports to add clarifications.
Ex.) He [the police officer] can’t prove they did
it.
Jump Up and
Down!!!
You have to stay awake
Commas (Common Rules)
1. Put commas after each item except the last in a series of three or more words
a. He bought eggs, cheese, and bacon
b. The mayor of the city, the sheriff of the county, and the governor of the state are elected.
2. Put a comma between two independent clauses if they are connected by
FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
a. He walked down the street to the bus stop, but he had forgotten his keys at home.
3. Put commas after words that do not flow with the rest of the sentence
a. Well, that was the end of that.
b. So, I suppose you are not going to visit her today.
Commas (Common Rules)
4. Put a comma after a long participial, infinitive, or prepositional phrase at the
beginning of a sentence
Participial: Seeing his father come down the street, the child shouted and ran
to the door.
Infinitive: To drive correctly, you must keep both hands on the wheel.
Prepositional: Before you choose your path, be sure to consider your
options.
5. Put a comma after introductory clauses that start with words like if, when, after,
since, although, because…
Since the shoe does not fit, she must not be Cinderella.

NOTE: When these two types of phrases and clauses appear at the END of a
Commas (Common Rules)
6. Use pairs or commas to separate certain words, phrases, and clauses from the
rest of the sentence. Words like: however, nevertheless, furthermore, in addition,
of course, consequently, on the other hand, namely, that is, as a result,
subsequently…
Most authorities, however, disagree with these conclusions.
The results, therefore, seem to be conclusive.
The final judgement, of course, must wait for more evidence.
Commas (Common Rules)
7. Use a pair of commas to separate words, phrases, and clauses that give
additional information or rename a person or thing already identified. These things
are called NONESSENTIAL MODIFIERS

Words: My history professor, Dr. Brown, lives near us


Clause: Dr Brown, who is my history professor, lives near us
Phrase: Dr. Brown, fighting to keep his job, is speaking with the principal.

CAREFUL: Words and phrases which are ESSENTIAL to identification are not
separated with commas. Without commas, the implication in this sentence is that
you have many former neighbors, and therefore you must clarify which neighbor.
ex.) My former neighbor who moved to Chicago last year is a professor
Commas (Common Rules)
8. Use Commas after every item in an address or date if there is more than one
item (month and date together count as one item).

One item: On May 15 she will be ten years old


More than one item: On May 3, 1893, the war began

9. Use commas between every item in addresses


She worked at Big Grove Machines, 342 Collier Street, Dayton, Texas 76109
*Do NOT separate state and zip code
Commas (Common Rules)
10. Use commas before a tag question or other contrasting phrase at the end of
the sentence

She is late today, isn’t she?


They will not leave early, will they?
He wore his new suit, not his old one.

11. Always use commas in a direct quotation to separate the speaker’s exact
words from the rest of the sentence.
“She needs to get her lunch now,” he said.
He said, “She needs to get her lunch now.”
Commas (Common Rules)
12. Use commas between two adjectives which can be separated by and

They were well-trained and intelligent horses


They were well-trained, intelligent horses

Her rich and famous brother was coming to visit her


Her rich, famous brother was coming to visit her

It was a beautiful, fantastic shirt


*Order of Adjectives*

Opinion Size Color Origin Type Noun


Shape
Condition
Age
Temperature

fine small, round, red, French, private, table,


new, old, tall, white English historical, shirt,
cold country chair, man

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