COMMAS, COMMAS, COLONS, COLONS,

AND SEMICOLONS AND SEMICOLONS OH MY! OH MY!

The SEVEN Basic The SEVEN Basic Comma RulesComma Rules

Comma Rule #1Comma Rule #1

THE “SERIAL” COMMA (LISTING)THE “SERIAL” COMMA (LISTING)(not Killer)(not Killer)

Place a comma between Place a comma between items in a items in a seriesseries..

ExampleExample: I have my iPad: I have my iPad,, my pens my pens,, my my pencilspencils,, and my charger in my and my charger in my backpack. backpack.

PLACE THE COMMAS! PLACE THE COMMAS!

At the mall, I need to buy shirts pants At the mall, I need to buy shirts pants sneakers and an iPhone case. sneakers and an iPhone case.

Some of the English teachers are Ms. Some of the English teachers are Ms. Fishman Mrs. Lobitz and Mr. Grouzes. Fishman Mrs. Lobitz and Mr. Grouzes.

My favorite sports are basketball My favorite sports are basketball baseball and hockey. baseball and hockey.

Comma Rule #2Comma Rule #2 CONJUNCTION COMMACONJUNCTION COMMA

Place a comma Place a comma beforebefore a conjunction that joins two a conjunction that joins two independentindependent clauses. clauses.

The coordinating conjunctions are: The coordinating conjunctions are: andand, , butbut, , forfor, , nornor, , oror, , soso, and , and yetyet. . (FANBOYS) (FANBOYS)

ExampleExample: The best place to take a vacation is : The best place to take a vacation is ChicagoChicago,, but the best place to take a honeymoon is but the best place to take a honeymoon is Hawaii.Hawaii.

(Look at the sentence BEFORE the comma. Look at (Look at the sentence BEFORE the comma. Look at the sentence AFTER the comma. Couldn’t they the sentence AFTER the comma. Couldn’t they stand alone?) stand alone?)

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA! I would usually agree with you but I I would usually agree with you but I

actually don’t think you’re right on this actually don’t think you’re right on this topic! topic!

Would you rather go to the movies or do Would you rather go to the movies or do you just want to hang at home tonight? you just want to hang at home tonight?

She raised her hand through the entire She raised her hand through the entire class but the teacher never called on her! class but the teacher never called on her!

Comma Rule #3Comma Rule #3 INTRODUCTORY WORDS OR PHRASES INTRODUCTORY WORDS OR PHRASES

Always place a comma after an Always place a comma after an introductory word or phrase. See below.introductory word or phrase. See below.

ExampleExample: John: John,, what are you doing to my what are you doing to my car? car? OROR

As I walked down the streetAs I walked down the street,, I ran into a I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in years. friend I hadn’t seen in years. OR OR

WaitWait,, didn’t we already decide? didn’t we already decide?

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA!

Once I stole a candy bar from a store. Once I stole a candy bar from a store.

However I think that the book was better However I think that the book was better than the movie. than the movie.

Courtney can you please stop sending Courtney can you please stop sending Snapchat pictures of me? Snapchat pictures of me?

Although I knew he was right I ignored him. Although I knew he was right I ignored him.

Comma Rule #4Comma Rule #4 EXPLANATORY WORD/PHRASEEXPLANATORY WORD/PHRASE

““Appositive” Appositive” AlwaysAlways place a comma place a comma beforebefore ANDAND afterafter any any

word or phrase that word or phrase that can be removed can be removed from from the sentence and the sentence and still make sensestill make sense..

ExampleExample: Ms. Fishman: Ms. Fishman,, the teacher the teacher,, wrote her wrote her name on the board. name on the board. OROR

JaneJane,, my youngest sister my youngest sister,, always steals my stuff. always steals my stuff.

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA!

Bloomingdales the most expensive Bloomingdales the most expensive store in the mall was off-limits today. store in the mall was off-limits today.

Rex the dog next door is usually Rex the dog next door is usually really aggressive. really aggressive.

The law which would allow driving at The law which would allow driving at 15 did not pass in the legislature. 15 did not pass in the legislature.

Comma Rule #5Comma Rule #5 CONCLUDING WORD OR PHRASE CONCLUDING WORD OR PHRASE

AlwaysAlways place a comma place a comma beforebefore any word or phrase any word or phrase that is just tagged on that is just tagged on at the end at the end of the sentence. of the sentence.

ExamplesExamples: :

Is that you in the cornerIs that you in the corner,, John? OR John? OR

I hadn’t seen Matt in yearsI hadn’t seen Matt in years,, though that didn’t make though that didn’t make much difference in our friendshipmuch difference in our friendship..

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA! Did you say something Ray? Did you say something Ray?

I’ll take a Pepsi too! I’ll take a Pepsi too!

I laughed though the joke wasn’t I laughed though the joke wasn’t funny at all. funny at all.

Comma Rule #6Comma Rule #6 CATCH-ALL COMMA RULES CATCH-ALL COMMA RULES

- To separate To separate numbersnumbers more than more than fourfour digits digits long (long (1,000,0001,000,000););

- To separate city from state, (To separate city from state, (Austin, TexasAustin, Texas););

- To separate month & year (To separate month & year (August 15, 1980August 15, 1980););

- Before and after Before and after titles (titles (James Smith, M.D.James Smith, M.D.))

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA! Their wedding is on March 18 2015. Their wedding is on March 18 2015.

I paid 30000 for my car. I paid 30000 for my car.

Last summer I traveled to Paris France Last summer I traveled to Paris France and Berlin Germany.and Berlin Germany.

My college professor is Kelly MacIntyre My college professor is Kelly MacIntyre

Ph.D. Ph.D.

Comma Rule # 7 Comma Rule # 7 Dialogue! Dialogue!

Commas are placed Commas are placed BEFORE dialogue.BEFORE dialogue.ExampleExample: John said, “Wow, that was : John said, “Wow, that was

fun!”fun!”Commas are placed at the Commas are placed at the ENDEND of the of the

dialogue (dialogue (UNLESSUNLESS the dialogue ends in ? the dialogue ends in ? or !) or !)

ExampleExample: “I would like to go there: “I would like to go there,,” said ” said John. John.

ExampleExample: “I would like to go there!” said : “I would like to go there!” said John. John.

PLACE THE COMMA! PLACE THE COMMA!

““I think she is the best” Jamie said. I think she is the best” Jamie said.

Jeff stated “Game of Thrones is the Jeff stated “Game of Thrones is the best television show ever.” best television show ever.”

““Wow” Matt exclaimed “that was Wow” Matt exclaimed “that was really awesome!” really awesome!”

THE COLONTHE COLON

We use colons to We use colons to LISTLIST! ! The word The word BEFOREBEFORE the colon is always some the colon is always some

sort of sort of NOUNNOUN! ! ExampleExample: I will buy the following foods at the : I will buy the following foods at the

market: eggs, chicken, and cheese. market: eggs, chicken, and cheese. Do you notice how after the colons, the first Do you notice how after the colons, the first

words were lower case? words were lower case? ExampleExample: I love these bands: Muse, The Black : I love these bands: Muse, The Black

Keys, and The Lumineers. Keys, and The Lumineers. Here, right after the colon I was listing proper Here, right after the colon I was listing proper

nouns, so they nouns, so they areare capitalized. capitalized.

PLACE THE COLON! PLACE THE COLON! Here are my favorite cars Lexus, Toyota, and Here are my favorite cars Lexus, Toyota, and

Porsche.Porsche.

I want the following a mansion, lots of money, and a I want the following a mansion, lots of money, and a

cool car. cool car.

I have a few favorite teachers Mrs. Caiola, Mr. I have a few favorite teachers Mrs. Caiola, Mr. Nolen, and Mrs. Lobitz. Nolen, and Mrs. Lobitz.

I think that movies are fun, entertaining, and I think that movies are fun, entertaining, and interesting. interesting.

When When formallyformally addressing… addressing…

Use a colon in an email or letter to a Use a colon in an email or letter to a formalformal person. person.

ExampleExample: Dear Mrs. Sweeney: : Dear Mrs. Sweeney: Who is a formal person? Who is a formal person?

Future bosses;Future bosses;Teachers; Teachers; Administrators;Administrators;THE QUEEN OF ENGLANDTHE QUEEN OF ENGLANDBarack Obama Barack Obama Someone you’d like to impress! Someone you’d like to impress!

SEMICOLONSSEMICOLONS

It's no accident that a It's no accident that a semicolonsemicolon is a period is a period atop a comma. Like commas, semicolons atop a comma. Like commas, semicolons indicate a indicate a pausepause—slightly longer than a —slightly longer than a comma's, but short of a period's full stop.comma's, but short of a period's full stop.

Do not use semicolons in PLACE of a colon!Do not use semicolons in PLACE of a colon!Example: Example:

WRONG: “I have one goalWRONG: “I have one goal;; to find her.” to find her.” RIGHT: “I have one goalRIGHT: “I have one goal:: to find her.” to find her.”

SEMICOLON RULE 1 SEMICOLON RULE 1 Use a semicolon INSTEAD of a period IF the Use a semicolon INSTEAD of a period IF the

two two completecomplete sentences relate to each sentences relate to each other.other.

What’s a complete sentence? What’s a complete sentence?

Contains a SUBJECT and VERB and Contains a SUBJECT and VERB and expresses a complete thought.expresses a complete thought.““Along a bumpy road.” NOAlong a bumpy road.” NO““The car drove along a bumpy road.” YES The car drove along a bumpy road.” YES

SEMICOLON RULE 1 SEMICOLON RULE 1 EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

OK Example: OK Example: Call me tomorrow. We can discuss it Call me tomorrow. We can discuss it then.then.That’s not That’s not wrongwrong. But they’re talking about the . But they’re talking about the

same thing and each sentence can stand on its on same thing and each sentence can stand on its on -- so why not join them? -- so why not join them?

BETTER Example: BETTER Example: Call me tomorrowCall me tomorrow;; we can discuss we can discuss it then. it then.

REPLACING COMMAS: REPLACING COMMAS: ExampleExample: The cow is loud: The cow is loud,, it moos all night long. it moos all night long. ExampleExample: The cow is loud: The cow is loud;; it moos all night long. it moos all night long.

SHOULD YOU USE A SHOULD YOU USE A SEMICOLON INSTEAD?SEMICOLON INSTEAD?

I don’t like Chinese food very much. I don’t like Chinese food very much. It always gives me a stomach ache. It always gives me a stomach ache.

I love to listen to music. I especially I love to listen to music. I especially like listening to it loudly in my car. like listening to it loudly in my car.

Math is my least favorite subject. I Math is my least favorite subject. I really like running track. really like running track.

SEMICOLON RULE 2 SEMICOLON RULE 2 LISTING LISTINGListing … again? Yes – we use COLONS Listing … again? Yes – we use COLONS

(:) to (:) to STARTSTART the list. the list. However, However, WITHINWITHIN the list, sometimes we the list, sometimes we

use use SEMICOLONSSEMICOLONS to AVOID CONFUSION! to AVOID CONFUSION! ExampleExample: I like the following qualities in a : I like the following qualities in a

friendfriend:: kind and calming kind and calming;; funny and witty funny and witty;; honest and upfronthonest and upfront;; and laid back but daring. and laid back but daring.

ExampleExample: I have visited the following places: I have visited the following places:: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania;; Wilmington, Wilmington, DelawareDelaware;; and Baltimore, Maryland. and Baltimore, Maryland.