Punctuation Full stops and commas Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Why are commas and full stops important? When speaking we can pause, use body language, tone and intonation to convey and clarify meaning. All these elements are not available in writing. Therefore, we have to use punctuation to help the reader and ourselves organise ideas clearly in a string of thoughts. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

This poem has no punctuation. However, the message is clear because the writer has organized his ideas using lines and stanzas. If there were no lines and stanzas, how many full stops and commas would you need? I wrote your name on my final cigarette I thought to myself that’ll be the end of that two years later the ash tray is still full the irony never fails to break my back Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Full stops are important because without them you end up with unclear sentences, which prevent the reader from grasping the ideas you want to convey. Fragment sentence The full stop has been used too early. The sentence doesn’t have a verb. For example, the increase in the cost of renting a flat. What happened with this increase? Has it led to something else? The increase in the cost of renting a flat has affected people with low income. Run-on sentence: The full stop has been used too late. The sentence goes on and on, putting coordinate and subordinate elements together. A printed encyclopedia becomes out of date almost as soon as it is published also it is expensive to purchase although some people believe that Wikipedia is the solution and they use it constantly. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Run-on sentence produced by a student while writing the diagnostic. How many ideas are all put together in one? Try to read it without pausing. How many connectives are there? How many subjects are there? People would much rather type on a computer because errors can be easily deleted and connections can be made but doing this on paper would be difficult so instead paper is used as a second hand mechanism for rough notes and "silly scribbles" to later be thrown away this allows people's carelessness to grow. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Rule: Use a full stop when you change the subject of a sentence. In simple sentences, the subject is who or what the sentence is about. e.g. Mary went shopping. This is a good idea. However, he was not at home. Yes, it is. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Rule: In a compound sentence, don’t use more than two subjects. Compound sentences – put together with and, but – can have one or two subjects. e.g. Mary went shopping and found her perfect dress. e.g. This is a good idea but you need to clarify it. This is a good idea but you need to clarify it and others can understand your message. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Rule: In a complex sentence, the subject that counts is the one belonging to the main clause. You only need one main clause and therefore one subject. If you change the subject, you use a full stop. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013 In complex sentences, the subject is who or what the main clause in the sentence is about. Subordinate clauseMain clause Although it was raining,he went to the park. Main clauseSubordinate clause with elements that are linked by coordination. Mary went to the parkeven though it was raining heavily and the ground was wet.

1. In simple and complex sentences, you only need one main subject. When you change the subject you put a full stop. Simple: I visited Jane yesterday on my way home. Complex: I visited Jane yesterday on my way home because I thought that she was lonely. She had been bed ridden for so long. 2. In compound sentences, don’t use more than two subjects. Put a full stop when you introduce a third subject. Compound: The weather was awful but I still went to the park and John came with me and there we met Angela. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

People would much rather type on a computer because errors can be easily deleted and connections can be made/ but doing this on paper would be difficult/ so instead paper is used as a second hand mechanism for rough notes and "silly scribbles" to later be thrown away/ this allows people's carelessness to grow. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013 People would much rather type on a computer because errors can be easily deleted and connections can be made. However, doing this on paper would be difficult. Therefore, paper is used as a second hand mechanism for rough notes and "silly scribbles" to later be thrown away. This allows people's carelessness to grow.

Commas have two main functions. Coordination (list) We use commas to coordinate elements in a list. We ran into the airport, checked our luggage, raced to the boarding gate, gave the attendant our boarding passes and collapsed in our seats. Note that there is only one subject in this long compound sentence which lists a set of actions. Subordination (inserter commas) We use commas to insert subordinate elements in a main clause and form complex sentences. My cousins, grieving over their mother's death, resolved never to smoke. However, the paperless office has not been achieved. Although it was late, he called her. If you want to come, let me know. Created by Minerva 04/12/2013

Are the commas in this text list commas or inserter commas? Created by Minerva 04/12/2013 People would much rather type on a computer because errors can be easily deleted and connections can be made. However, doing this on paper would be difficult. Therefore, paper is used as a second hand mechanism for rough notes and "silly scribbles" to later be thrown away. This allows people's carelessness to grow.

Can you answer the following questions? 1.Why is punctuation important? 2.What is a fragment sentence? What is a run-on sentence? 3.What main rule do we need to use in order to know when we need a full stop? 4.How many subjects should you have in a compound sentence? 5.Which subject counts in a complex sentence? 6.Which are the two types of commas that we need to use and why? Created by Minerva 04/12/2013