Coordinating ConjunctionsRule 32a

Find The Error

It was raining outside so I decided to grab my umbrella.

I wanted to eat the pizza but I couldn’t because of my tooth ache.

I tried to study for my test but there was too much noise.

Rule

“When a coordinating conjunction connects two or more independent clauses- word groups that might have been punctuated as separate sentences-a comma must be used. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.”

Examples: “Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in

love at first dance.”

“Along the walls were glass cubicles, and partitions ran down the middle of the room.

Corrections from “Find the Error”

It was raining outside, so I decided to grab my umbrella.

^ I wanted to eat the pizza, but I couldn’t because

of my tooth ache. ^

I tried to study for my test, but there was too much noise.

^

Additional Practice

I went to the grocery store but forgot to grab a loaf of bread.

I went to hunting to catch a deer but came home with a pheasant instead.

The temperature in the hotel was 76 degrees yet everyone in the room was still cold.

Corrections for Additional Practice

I went to the grocery store but forgot to grab a loaf of bread.

(correct) I went hunting to catch a deer but came home

with a pheasant instead. (correct)

The temperature in the hotel was 76 degrees, yet everyone in the room was still cold. ^

Final Side Note

Be careful that a comma isn’t put in a sentence to separate coordinate word groups that aren’t independent clauses.

• Example:

“A good money manager controls expenses, and

invests surplus dollars to meet future needs.”

The red comma is incorrectly used. Can you explain why?

Comma Rules 32-b

Find the Error

Knowing that Kevin had basketball practice he brought his tennis shoes to school.

If they want to win athletes must exercise every day.

Because he kept barking we threw the ball for Patches.

Rule

Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.

CLUE: Introductory clauses usually start with adverbs (which in this usage in a dependent clause makes them subordinating conjunctions) like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc.

Corrections for “Find the Error”

Knowing that Kevin had basketball practice, he brought his tennis shoes to school.

If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day.

Because he kept barking, we threw the ball for Patches.

Additional Practice

As the boat turned about a dozen dolphins began to follow it.

When he was in high school he was known only as an athlete.

Making up his mind quickly Jared ordered lasagna while we were still reading the menu.

Corrections for “Additional Practice”

As the boat turned, about a dozen dolphins began to follow it.

When he was in high school, he was known only as an athlete.

Making up his mind quickly, Jared ordered lasagna while we were still reading the menu.

Comma Rule 32-C

Find The Error

•My uncle willed me all of his property, houses and warehouses.

•The activities include a search for lost treasure, dubious financial dealings, and much discussion of ancient heresies.

Rule:Use a comma between all

items in a series.

Corrections• My uncle willed me all of his property,

houses, and warehouses

• The activities include a search for lost treasure, dubious financial dealings, and much discussion of ancient heresies.

Additional insight

• When three or more items are presented in a series, those items should be separated from one another with commas. Items in a series may be single words, phrases, or clauses.

• Although some writers view the comma between the last two items as optional, most agree that it is better to put it in because its omission can result in ambiguity or misreading.

More Practice• I couldn’t believe how much the restaurant

charged us for a coke, garlic bread and spaghetti and meatballs.

• Her favorite meals were pizza lasagna and chicken and dumplings.

32-D

• Coordinate and Cumulative Adjectives

Spot the Error

1. We were prepared for a long, tedious, planning session.

2. Allen owns several blue, wool sweaters.

3. Brooke read three, small, books last week.

Rule-Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined by and. Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives.

*Adjectives are coordinate if they can be joined with and or if they can be scrambled. Therefore, you need commas to separate them when they appear in succession.

Example:Mother has become a strong, confident,

independent woman. (strong and confident and independent)

32-D Cont’d

*Adjectives that do not modify the noun separately are cumulative. (no comma)

Example:Three large gray shapes moved

slowly toward us.(Gray modifies shapes, large

modifies gray shapes, and three modifies large gray shapes.)

The word and cannot be inserted between cumulative adjectives.

(three and large and gray shapes)

Nor can they be scrambled(gray three large shapes)

Rule Cont’d

Spot the Error Corrections

1. We were prepared for a long, tedious planning session.

-There should not be a comma between tedious and planning because we cannot say “planning, tedious session” or “a tedious and planning session.

Corrections Cont.

2. Allen owns several blue wool sweaters.

–There should not need to be a comma between blue and wool because it would not be right to say “wool blue sweaters” or “blue and wool sweaters.

3. Brooke read three, small, books last week. --There should not be any commas in this sentence because it would be incorrect to say “three and small and books” or “books, small, three”.

Additional Practice

1. They lived in a white, frame house. 2. The relentless, powerful, sun beat

down on them. 3. The strong graceful train drove by my

house.

Corrections

1. They lived in a white frame house.2. The relentless, powerful sun beat

down on them. 3. The strong, graceful train drove by my

house.

32 EEssential/Non-Essential Elements

Find the Error

The store honored the complaints, that were less than 60 days old.

The boat sailed on October 25th which is the day we referred to in the contract.

Use commas to set off non-essential elements.

Do not use commas to set off essential elements

Essential elements cannot be removed without drastically changing the main idea of the sentence.

E.g. - The people who are most important to me will always be people I find time to help. (essential)

Sandra and Kelly, who were walking by the park, saw a giant train. (non-essential)

Practice

The credit card is in my wallet which you can find in the kitchen drawer

The 1964 Ford Mustang which propelled Lee Iacocca to the top of the automobile industry is now considered a classic

More Practice

Norman Mailer’s first novel The Naked and the Dead was a best-seller.

Correct

The store honored the complaints that were less than 60 days old.

The boat that sailed on October 25 is the one to which we referred in the contract.

Correct

The credit card is in my wallet, which you can find in the kitchen drawer.

The 1964 Ford Mustang, which propelled Lee Iacocca to the top of the automobile industry, is now considered a classic.

Correct

Norman mailer’s first novel, The Naked and The Dead, was a best-seller.

The song “ Fire It Up” was blasted out of amplifier ten feet tall.

Additional Practice

My father told the woman, who called yesterday, that I was not home.

Dick Prosser the protagonist of Wolfe’s “Child By Tiger” suffers a mental breakdown at the end.

The song, “Fire It Up,” was blasted out of the amplifiers ten feet tall.

Correct

My father told the woman who called yesterday that I was not home

Dick Prosser, the protagonist of Wolfe’s “Child By Tiger,” suffers a mental breakdown at the end.

The Song “Fire It Up” was blasted out of the Amplifiers ten feet tall.

32-F

Spot The Error

1. Driving on major highways for example is four times more dangerous than flying.

2. Ann headed this way, however, she did not see me.

3. The rules of basketball as far as we know do not allow that kind of contact.

Rule: Use commas to set off transitions, conjunctive adverbs, and parenthetical expressions.

• Transitions are bridges between sentences or parts of sentences. For example, in other words, in fact, in the first place, and as a matter of fact are common examples.–As a matter of fact, American football

was established by fans who wanted to play a more organized game of rugby.

–Celery, for example, contains more sodium than most people would imagine.

• Conjunctive adverbs include however, therefore, furthermore, moreover, nevertheless, thus, and consequently.

• When such words are used between independent clauses, they are preceded by a semicolon and are usually followed by a comma. Otherwise they are usually separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

– The prospective babysitter was very kind; however, she was busy every Saturday for a month.

– The major benefit of flex-time to working parents, however, is the opportunity to spend more time with their children.

• EXCEPTION: If a transition or conjunctive adverb blends smoothly with the rest of the sentence, calling for little or no pause in reading, it does not need to be set off with a comma. Expressions such as also, at least, certainly, consequently, indeed, of course, moreover, no doubt, perhaps, then, and therefore do not necessarily call for a pause.–Bill’s typewriter is broken; you will

therefore need to borrow Sue’s.

• Expressions that are distinctly parenthetical should be set off with commas. Providing supplemental comments or information, they interrupt the flow of a sentence or appear as afterthoughts.

–Evolution, so far as we know, doesn’t work this way.

“Spot The Error” Corrections

1. Driving on major highways, for example, is four times more dangerous than flying.

2. Ann headed this way; however, she did not see me.

3. The rules of basketball, as far as we know, do not allow that kind of contact.

Additional Practice

• No one I believe should ever be homeless in this country.

• One toothpaste according to experts is generally the same as another.

• Unlike other years, we will have an early spring I expect this year.

Additional Practice Corrections

• No one, I believe, should ever be homeless in this country.

• One toothpaste, according to experts, is generally the same as another.

• Unlike other years, we will have an early spring, I expect, this year.

32g- Commas to set off absolute phrases.

Find the errorMaggie left the game early her stomach

nauseated to the point of sickness.

His family exhausted from the public scrutiny Richard will not seek a second term this year.

Kellie is applying to veterinary school her love for animals being her inspiration.

RULE: Use a comma to set off absolute phrases.Absolute phrases are phrases that modify

the entire main clause.E.g. Abraham Lincoln opted to take action

against the south, the Union badly fractured over disagreements.

Find The ErrorFind The Error

• He was merely ignorant not stupid.

• The chimpanzee seemed reflective almost human.

• You're one of the senator's close friends aren't you?

RuleRule

• Use commas to set off contrasted elements.

• Jane talks to me as an adult and friend, not as her little sister.

• Celia, unlike Robert, has no loathing for dance contests.

• Some say the world will end in ice, not fire.

CorrectionsCorrections

• He was merely ignorant not stupid.• The chimpanzee seemed reflective almost

human.• You're one of the senator's close friends

aren’t you?,

,,

EnrichmentEnrichment

• The speaker seemed innocent even gullible.

• It was her money not her charm or personality that first attracted him.

• The puppies were cute but very messy.

CorrectionsCorrections

• The speaker seemed innocent even gullible.

• It was her money not her charm or personality that first attracted him.

• The puppies were cute but very messy.

,

,,

,

Rule 32i

Find the Error

Forgive us Dr. Spock for spanking Brian.

Yes the loan will probably be approved.

Rule

Use Commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections.

Corrections

Forgive us, Dr. Spock, for kicking Brian.

Yes, the loan will probably be approved.

Additional Practice

1. No you can't go to the movies. 2. Ouch I really hurt my foot!3. You like asparagus don't you?4. Kelly you should not forget your

shoes.

Corrections

1. No, you can't go to the movies. 2. Ouch, I really hurt my foot!3. You like asparagus, don't you?

32k Commas with Dates, Addresses,

and Titles

Find The Error• January 30 1991 was a great day.• Alyssa Johnson M.D. was my

doctor.• She was born in Liverpool

England in 1974.

The Rule: Use Commas with Dates, Addresses, and Titles.

• In dates, the year is set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas.– Exception: If the date is inverted,

commas are not needed.• The elements of an address or place name

are followed by commas. A zip code, however, is not preceded by a comma.

• If a title follows a name, separate it from the rest of the sentence with a pair of commas.

Found the Error!• January 30, 1991, was a great

day.• Alyssa Johnson, M.D., was my

doctor.• She was born in Liverpool,

England, in 1974.

Additional Practice

• My favorite movies come out on video on February 29th 2008 and March 3rd 2008.

• Could you deliver the flowers to 4176 83rd Street Chicago Illinois 60290?

Corrections

• My favorite movies come out on video on February 29th, 2008, and March 3rd, 2008.

• Could you deliver the flowers to 4176 83rd Street, Chicago, Illinois 60290?

THE SEMI-COLON

SPOT THE ERROR

Although gaining and maintaining a high level of physical fitness takes a good deal of time; the effort pays off in the long run.

SEM

I-CO

LO

N; S

EM

I-CO

LO

N; S

EM

I-CO

LO

N;

SEM

I-CO

L

THE

RULE

;

A semi-colon is used to show more of a pause than a comma, but still less than a period.

For use of a semi-colon, there must be an independent clause (a complete sentence) on each side of the semi-colon.

Example: The morning of the funeral I went up to New York to see Meyer Wolfsheim; I couldn’t seem to reach him any other way.

You could use a period in the sentence above, but it would create short and choppy sentences.

A comma wouldn’t work in the sentence above because the ideas are too different to group into one sentence AND with separating independent clauses with just a comma and no conjunction is incorrect.

SPOT THE ERROR CORRECTIONS

The error is in the semi-colon, because it links a dependant clause to an independent clause.

Although gaining and maintaining a high level of physical fitness takes a good deal of time (independent); the effort pays off in the long run (dependent).

To fix this error you could: Use a comma instead of the semi-colon. Change both clauses into independent clauses.

Although gaining and maintaining a high level of physical fitness takes a good deal of time; physical fitness will pay off in the long run.

ADDITIONAL PRACTICE

Jill ate bleached English walnuts; Mary didn’t.

Erika has the book I need, she forgot to bring it back again today.

The sun was really bright ( ) it was a perfect day for swimming.

The thesaurus gives synonyms ( ) but it does not give definitions.

My friend spends extra time watching talk shows ( ) in contrast, my sister spends extra time working out.

Find The Error Semi-Colon or comma?

CORRECTIONS FROM ADDITIONAL PRACTICE

The sentence does not contain two independent clauses. Jill ate bleached English

walnuts; Mary didn’t eat anything.

Jill ate bleached English walnuts, but Mary didn’t.

The sentence cannot be grouped with a comma, because it contains two independent clauses. Erika has the book I need; she

forgot to bring it back again today.

The sun was really bright (;) it was a perfect day for swimming.

The thesaurus gives synonyms (,) but it does not give definitions.

My friend spends extra time watching talk shows (;) in contrast, my sister spends extra time working out.

Spot the Error Semi-Colon?

Semi-Colon Rule #2

Use a semi-colon to separate items in a list when items contain commas in them.

Example:Taylor visited Montgomery, Alabama; Chicago,

Illinois; and Boston, Massachussettes.

Alan will be joined by Maria, his sister; John, his cousin; and Alexa, his wife.

Spot the error:

You will need these items for class, a pencil, notebook, and folder.

He wasn’t listening when she asked “Are you all right?”

Rule

Colons are used to introduce a list.

Note: colons cannot be used directly after a verb. My favorite foods are: pizza and popcorn.

(incorrect) These are my favorite foods: pizza and

popcorn. (correct)

Corrections

You will need these items for class: a pencil, notebook, and folder. Change comma to colon

He wasn’t listening when she asked: “Are you all right?” Add colon after asked

Additional Practice

I am taking these classes Science, Spanish, and Algebra.

I went on these rides, the rollercoaster and the waterslide.

The teacher answered, “The project was due on Monday.”

Corrections

I am taking these classes: Science, Spanish, and Algebra. Add colon after classes

I went on these rides: the rollercoaster and the waterslide. Change comma to colon

The teacher answered: “The project was due on Monday.” Change comma to colon

Parentheses

1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene deserve awards.

2. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.

3. 3. The receptionist position requires a person who 1 treats customers respectfully, 2 computer friendly, and 3 well organized.

Parentheses should be used for extra information that is not relevant to the main idea of the sentence.

Examples:

1. He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question.

2. I expect five hundred dollars ($500).

Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.

Example:

1. We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Examples:

Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.). OR Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.) OR Please read the analysis (Attachment A).

1. The men in question (Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene) deserve awards.

The parenthesis should be set around the listednames. Although they give extra information, theyare not needed for the sentence to make sense.

2. Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) caused a great controversy when it appeared.

Parenthesis should be set around the date because it is extra information about the book, but does not need to be included in the sentence.

3. The receptionist position requires a person who is (1) treats customers respectfully, (2) computer friendly, and (3) well organized.

Parenthesis should be set around the numbers because they are creating a list and should not be apart of the sentence.

1. During final exams week although everyone hopes it will not happen, all of us argue more because of the pressure we feel.

2. The only one of my roommates who doesn't seem to get stressed out is Tanya an avid practitioner of yoga.

1. During final exams week (although everyone hopes it will not happen), all of us argue more because of the pressure we feel.

Step 1. The material in parentheses is not a sentence.

Step 2. The material in parentheses does not require a period.

Step 3. The material in parentheses is part of a longer sentence. Therefore, the comma needs to come after the last parenthesis.

2. The only one of my roommates who doesn't seem to get stressed out is Tanya (an avid practitioner of yoga).

Step 1. The material in parentheses is not a sentence.

Step 2. Since the parenthetical material is part of a larger sentence, the period ending that larger sentence should come after the last parenthesis.

The DashThe Dash

Find the Error

Adam can you help me with, oh, nevermind.

Her lifespan was 1963,1989. Bob is at a high school college

conference.

Dashes

Dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.

Examples:

*It was unthinkable that Stargirl could survive—at least survive unchanged—among us.

-used instead of a comma here to add emphasis to what would normally be an interrupter.

*The bike—my bike—whizzed past us as I helplessly

looked on.

Not to be mistake for a hyphen!

Hyphens combine words (not to be mistaken for compound words). We are open-minded people.

OR the combine prefixes and root words together when two vowels put together would cause confusion.

*We will re-organize after the meeting

Hyphens (one “dash” on the keyboard)

Dashes (2 dashed together on the keyboard)

Corrections to Find the Error

Corrections are made in red Adam can you help me with—oh never

mind. Her lifespan was 1963-1989. Bob is at a high school—college

conference.

Round 2

You are the friend and the only friend who offered to help me.

It is really near the North Carolina Virginia border.

I can’t believe that she would, can you grab that, Joe, do something like that!

Corrections to Round 2

Corrections are made in red You are the friend—the only friend who

offered to help me. It is really near the North Carolina—

Virginia border. I can’t believe that she would—can you

grab that, Joe—do something like that!

Find the Error

Place a dash in the appropriate spot of the sentence. Some sentences may have more than one.

I have opinions of my own strong opinions but I don't always agree with them.

I wish that I could but I can’t so I won’t at least not today.

Birds of prey owls, hawks, eagles are protected by federal law.

Rule

Dashes are used to emphasize, or draw attention to, information that comes after them.

Dashes can also be used to indicate an abrupt break in thought.

Corrected Sentences

I have opinions of my own—strong opinions—but I don't always agree with them.

I wish that I could—but I can’t—so I won’t—at least not today.

Birds of prey—owls, hawks, eagles—are protected by federal law.

Additional Practice

Of the three entrees salmon, spinach lasagna or meatloaf the last option was definitely the least appealing.

The mantelpiece was lined with photographs of people she loved her mother, her grandmother, a favorite aunt

If I knew where to go which I don't then we wouldn't be lost.

Corrections

Of the three entrees—salmon, spinach lasagna or meatloaf—the last option was definitely the least appealing.

The mantelpiece was lined with photographs of people she loved—her mother, her grandmother, a favorite aunt.

If I knew where to go—which I don't—then we wouldn't be lost.

ApostrophesApostrophes

Apostrophe Rules

• Use apostrophes in the following situations:• 1. Showing omitted letters in contractions (can't, won't)• 2. Showing ownership• -Singular = 's example- Mr. Williamson's car• -Plural = s' example- The Williamsons' car

• NOTE: For words ending in -s:• Add an 's when the syllable is pronounced (Ron Jones's car)• Add just an apostrophe when the syllable is not pronounced

(Mr. Bridges' son)• Add just an apostrophe for plural possessives. (The Jones' car)• 3. Pluralizing numbers, letters, and symbols• -Mind your p's and q's buddy!• -Be aware that your 1's look like l's (L's).