1. C HAPTER 12 Punctuation and Apostrophes

2. J OINING I NDEPENDENT C LAUSES Use a comma + a coordinating conjunction Coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so Use a semicolon To stress a close connection between two clauses

3. J OINING I NDEPENDENT C LAUSES, CONT ’ D Use a semicolon + an adverbial conjunction/ transitional phrase Can be used if the required joiner is not a coordinating conjunction Use a colon To show that what follows answers the question before the colon

4. P UNCTUATION WITHIN S ENTENCES Use commas to separate items in a list/series The last comma is sometimes considered optional Use a colon to set up a list if the thought is complete before the colon Use a comma for sentence introduction when an independent clause follows

5. P UNCTUATION WITHIN S ENTENCES, CONT ’ D Use commas for types of non-essential information Adverbs or transitional phrases interrupting sentence Appositives: noun/ noun phrase that renames previous noun Non-essential adjectival (relative) clauses Concluding words, phrases, and clauses if non- essential

6. M ISCELLANEOUS U SES OF THE C OMMA Direct quotation Use comma before direct quotation if name of source + verb precedes quotation Use comma after direct quotation if name of source + verb follows quotation Do not use comma if quotation preceded by “that” or if grammar does not require it

7. M ISCELLANEOUS U SES OF THE C OMMA, CONT ’ D Adjectives Use a comma between coordinate adjectives (separately modify the noun that follows) Do not use a comma between non-coordinate adjectives (together modify the noun that follows)

8. M ISCELLANEOUS U SES OF THE C OMMA, CONT ’ D Dates, addresses, and numbers Use a comma between day and year when preceded by month Use a comma between address elements May use commas in numbers of 4+ digits when separated into groups of three

9. O THER P UNCTUATION : Q UESTION M ARKS, D ASHES, AND P ARENTHESES Use a question mark with an interrogative sentence Use two dashes to set off word(s)—for example, for emphasis Use parentheses to set off less important information Use parentheses to indicate source origin in some documentation systems

10. A POSTROPHES Use the apostrophe to show possession between two nouns or indefinite pronoun and noun Ownership, authorship, duration, and other relationships Add an apostrophe + s to singular noun Add an apostrophe to plural noun ending in s Do not use an apostrophe with simple plurals Use an apostrophe to show letter(s) omitted in contractions