COMMAS AND SEMI-COLONS

Think About It: Discuss possible answers with a shoulder partner and write your responses in your notes. Why do we need punctuation? Why do the rules have to be so precise?

Reading this sentence is simple, because the punctuation breaks up ideas and tells you where to pause.

Reading. this. sentence. is. difficult. because. the. chronic. use. of. periods. makes. your. brain. automatically. pause. every. time. you. see. one.

Reading, this, sentence, is, not, as, difficult, because, commas, only, cause, your, brain, to, take, a, brief, pause, rather, than, a, full, pause.

Reading; this; sentence; is; probably; just; weird; because; you; might; not; fully; understand; the; purpose; of; a; semi- colon.

Do you notice the rule? After we wash the car, we can go to the movies. I couldn’t help but laugh when Brandon slipped and fell. Once we realized how late it was, we decided to call it a night. If you work hard, you can accomplish anything you want.

RULE #1 Place a comma between dependent and independent clauses when the dependent clause comes first.

EXAMPLE After we wash the car, we can go to the movies. We can go to the movies after we wash the car.

EXAMPLE When Brandon slipped and fell, I couldn’t help but laugh. I couldn’t help but laugh when Brandon slipped and fell.

RULE #2 Back-to-back independent clauses must be separated by some sort of punctuation, otherwise they form a run-on sentence.

EXAMPLE Learning grammar will help you become a better writer pay close attention and take detailed notes.

EXAMPLE Learning grammar will help you become a better writer, pay close attention and take detailed notes.

RULE #3 A comma by itself can never separate two independent clauses, this mistake is called a comma splice.

Did you catch the comma splice in the previous slide?

COMMA SPLICE Learning grammar will help you become a better writer, pay close attention and take detailed notes.

RULE #4 Comma splices can be fixed by adding a conjunction after the comma.

FANBOYS for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS connect clauses in a sentence.

EXAMPLE Learning grammar will help you become a better writer, so pay close attention and take detailed notes.

RULE #5 Two independent clauses about a similar idea can be separated with a semi-colon.

RULE #6 Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) can NEVER be placed directly after a semi-colon.

EXAMPLE This lesson is going to be very long and arduous; so pay close attention. (NO) This lesson is going to be very long and arduous; pay close attention. (YES)

EXAMPLE Learning grammar will help you become a better writer; pay close attention and take detailed notes.

PRACTICE

1.Name the error 2.Correct the error A fragile layer of tissue coats coral reefs, the tissue is susceptible to diseases.

1.Name the error 2.Correct the error These diseases are old in recent years they have intensified.

1.Name the error 2.Correct the error One ailment is called black-band disease, it affects brain and star corals.

1.Name the error 2.Correct the error There are two types of white-band disease both threaten Caribbean coral.

1.Name the error 2.Correct the error White plague was first noted in 1977 in 1995, a deadlier strain appeared.

Why do you think comma splices are considered grammatical errors? What’s the big deal? Think About It: Discuss possible answers with a shoulder partner and write your responses in your notes.

ACTIVITY 1.Create three sentences with comma splices and three run-on sentences (6 total). Two of them must contain vocabulary words. 2.Swap papers with a shoulder partner and correct the sentences. 3.Switch back and score your shoulder partner’s paper.