COMMAS, SEMICOLONS, and APOSTROPHESCOMMAS, SEMICOLONS, and APOSTROPHESCOMMAS, SEMICOLONS, and APOSTROPHESCOMMAS, SEMICOLONS, and APOSTROPHES

Do I need a comma?

Do I need a comma?

Or do I need a semicolon?

Or do I need a semicolon?

Commas, Part 1Commas, Part 1Commas, Part 1Commas, Part 1

Without a doubt, Without a doubt, Jasmine will pass the Jasmine will pass the comma test.comma test.

You should know commas as well

as I do!

You should know commas as well

as I do!

• Use commas to connectUse commas to connect introductoryintroductory,, interruptinginterrupting,, and some and some concludingconcluding material.material.

• Interrupting material will include a commaInterrupting material will include a comma before before and a commaand a comma after after..

Jasmine willJasmine will, without a doubt,, without a doubt, pass the pass the comma test.comma test.EXAMPLE - Jasmine will pass the comma EXAMPLE - Jasmine will pass the comma testtest, without a doubt, without a doubt..

Commas, Part 2Commas, Part 2Commas, Part 2Commas, Part 2

Jasmine will pass the comma test. Slacker Sam Jasmine will pass the comma test. Slacker Sam will not.will not.

• Use a comma with aUse a comma with a coordinating coordinating conjunctionconjunction to connect two sentences.to connect two sentences.

• Coordinating conjunctions =Coordinating conjunctions = andand,, butbut,, forfor,, oror,, nornor,, yetyet,, and and soso..

Jasmine will pass the comma testJasmine will pass the comma test, , butbut Slacker Slacker Sam will not.Sam will not.

You have to study if you want

to do well!

You have to study if you want

to do well!

Commas, Part 3Commas, Part 3Commas, Part 3Commas, Part 3

Jasmine will buy a bag of potato chips Jasmine will buy a bag of potato chips andand a hotdog.a hotdog.

• UseUse andand alone to connectalone to connect twotwo items.items.

• Use commas and an Use commas and an and and to connectto connect three or morethree or more items. items.

EXAMPLE - Jasmine will buy a bag of EXAMPLE - Jasmine will buy a bag of potato chipspotato chips,, a hotdog a hotdog,, and and a sodaa soda

Hard work deserves a reward!

Hard work deserves a reward!

SemicolonSemicolonSemicolonSemicolon

Jasmine worries about her grade in statistics. Jasmine worries about her grade in statistics. Math is not her best subject. Math is not her best subject.

• Use the semicolon [Use the semicolon [ ;; ] to connect two main ] to connect two main clauses.clauses.

• DoDo notnot use the semicolon to introduce a list. use the semicolon to introduce a list. The comma with a transition likeThe comma with a transition like such as such as oror includingincluding,, or the colon [ or the colon [ :: ] does that job.] does that job.

Jasmine worries about her grade in Jasmine worries about her grade in statistics; statistics; math math is not her best subject. is not her best subject. EXAMPLE -Jasmine prefers classes that require EXAMPLE -Jasmine prefers classes that require her to writeher to write:: Intro to Humanities, Abnormal Intro to Humanities, Abnormal Psychology, and US Government. Psychology, and US Government.

But I excel at punctuation!But I excel at punctuation!

ApostropheApostropheApostropheApostrophe

We cant cheat from Jasmines punctuation quiz We cant cheat from Jasmines punctuation quiz because shes absent today!because shes absent today!

• Use the apostrophe [Use the apostrophe [ ’’ ] with an] with an ss to showto show possessionpossession:: Jasmine Jasmine’s’s pen, the catpen, the cat’s’s eyes, eyes, the professorthe professors’s’ frownsfrowns

• Or use the apostrophe to indicate the Or use the apostrophe to indicate the letters/spaces removed in aletters/spaces removed in a contractioncontraction:: she she’ ’ d, cand, can’ ’ t, shouldt, should’ ’ veve

EXAMPLE - We canEXAMPLE - We can’’t cheat from Jasminet cheat from Jasmine’’s s punctuation quiz because shepunctuation quiz because she’’s absent today!s absent today!

Ha! Dentist appointment!Ha! Dentist

appointment!

The End.The End.