1. Punctuation
College Prep Comp

2. Comma

3. Between Two Independent Clauses
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses
Correct: I wanted to knock on the glass to attract attention, but I couldn’t move.
Incorrect: I wanted to knock, and attract attention.

4. To Separate Contrasted Elements
Use commas to separate contrasted elements within a sentence.
This word or phrase that is set off is preceded by not.
Since the stereotypes were about Asians, not African Americans, no such reaction occurred.

5. To Separate Adjectives
Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally modify the same noun.
Jack’s eyes met the hard, bright lights hanging directly above him.

6. How can you tell if they are equal?
Shift the order of adjectives; if it still makes sense, the adjectives are equal
Insert and between the two adjectives; if it still makes sense, the adjectives are equal
Matty was tired of working in the hot, smelly kitchen and decided to take her usual morning walk.

7. To Set Off Appositives
Use commas to set off an appositive phrase (identifies or renames proceeding noun or pronoun)
Benson, our enthusiastic Yorkshire terrier, joined our family on my sister’s fifteenth birthday.

8. Between Items in a Series
Use commas to separate individual words, phrases, or clauses in a series that contains at least three items.
I took her for walks, read her stories, and made up games for her to play.
Do not use commas when these items are connected with and, or, or nor.
Her fingernails are rounded and manicured and painted a shiny red.

9. Between Items in a Series
You don’t always have to use this comma, but you absolutely need to when it clarifies meaning.
Rebecca was proud of her new muffin recipes: blueberry, peanut butter and chocolate chip and coconut.
I went to see Zack, an officer and a gentleman.

10. After Introductory Phrases and Clauses
Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase
Remember: a participial phrase consists of a participle (a verb form ending in ing or ed that acts as an adjective) and its modifiers
Determined to finish the sweater by Friday, my grandmother knit day and night.

11. After Introductory Phrases and Clauses
Use a comma after a long introductory prepositional phrase or after two or more short ones.
In the oddest places and at the strangest times, my grandmother can be found knitting madly away.
You may omit the comma if the introductory phrase is short.
Before breakfast my grandma knits.

12. After Introductory Phrases and Clauses
Use a comma after an introductory subordinate (dependent) clause
After practice was over, Tina walked home.
Do not use a comma if the subordinate clause follows the independent clause
Tina walked home after practice was over.

13. To Enclose Parenthetical Elements
Use commas to separate parenthetical elements, such as an explanatory word or phrase, within a sentence.
Allison meandered into class, late as usual, and sat down.

14. To Set Off Nonrestrictive Phrases and Clauses
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive (unnecessary) phrases and clauses that are not necessary to understand the basic meaning of the sentence
The fitness center, which was built last year, is busy every day.

15. To Set Off Nonrestrictive Phrases and Clauses
Do not use commas to set of restrictive (necessary) phrases or clauses, which help to define a noun or pronoun
The handball court that has a sign-up sheet by the door must be reserved.
Note: If you took out the clause, the meaning of the sentence would change.

16. That and Which Reminder
Use that to introduce restrictive clauses/phrases
Use which to introduce nonrestrictive clauses/phrases

17. To Set Off Dates Place a comma between the date and year
On September 30, 1997, my sister was born.
When a full date appears in the middle of a sentence, a comma follows the year
He began working out on December 1, 2005, but quit by May 1, 2006.

18. To Set Off Dates, cont.
Do not include a comma when only the month and year are given
He began working out in December 2005 but quit by May 2006.

19. To Set Off Items in Addresses
Use commas to set off each item in an address, but do not put a comma between the state and the ZIP code
Mail the box to Friends of Wildlife, Box 402, Spokane, Washington
When a city and state (or country) appear in the middle of a sentence, a comma follows the last item in the address.
Several organizations is Juneau, Alaska, pool their funds.

20. To Enclose Titles or Initials
Use commas to enclose a title or initials and names that follow a surname (a last name)
Jim O’Reilly, M.D., is our family physician.
John Kennedy, Jr., died in a plane crash.
Please insert the name Fitzgerald, Duane, in the proper place in the alphabetical list.

21. Before Tags
Use a comma before a tag, which is a short statement or question at the end of a sentence
He’s the candidate who lost the election, isn’t he?
You’re not going to like this casserole, I know.

22. Following Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Phrases
Use a comma following conjunctive adverbs such as however, instead, and nevertheless, and transitional phrases such as for example, in fact, and as a result.
Jaleel is bright and studies hard; however, he suffers from text anxiety.
Pablo was born in the Andes; as a result, he loves the mountains.

23. To Set off Dialogue
Use commas to set off the speaker’s exact words from the rest of the sentence.
“I feel more independent,” said Tanya, a freshman at the university.

24. To Set Off Interjections
Use a comma to separate an interjection or a weak exclamation from the rest of the sentence
Hey, how am I to know that a minute’s passed?

25. To Set Off Interruptions
Use commas to set off a word, a phrase, or a clause that interrupts the movement of a sentence.
Perform the following test:
Words can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence
Words may be placed nearly anywhere in the sentence without changing the meaning.

26. To Set Off Interruptions, cont.
For me, well, it’s just a good job done!
The safest way to cross this street, as a general rule, is with the light.

27. In Direct Address
Use commas to separate a noun of direct address from the rest of the sentence.
A noun of direct address names the person(s) spoken to.
You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction.

28. For Clarity or Emphasis
There will be times when none of the traditional rules call for a comma, so you may need to add one to prevent confusion.
It may be that those who do most, dream most. (added for emphasis)
Those who can, pay and forego consumption of other essential goods. (added for clarity)

29. Semicolon

30. To Join Two Independent Clauses
Use a semicolon to join two or more closely related independent clauses that are not connected with a coordinating conjunction
I did not call myself a poet; I told the people I wrote poems.

31. With Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Phrases
A semicolon is used before a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase (with a comma after it) when the word connects two independent clauses in a compound sentence.
I am faced with my imminent demise; therefore, life becomes a very precious thing.

32. Common Conjunctive Adverbs
Also, besides, finally, however, indeed, instead, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, still, then, therefore, thus

33. Common Transitional Phrases
after all, as a matter of fact, as a result, at any rate, at the same time, even so, for example, for instance, in addition, in conclusion, in fact, in other words, in the first place, on the contrary, on the other hand

34. To Separate Groups that Contain Commas
A semicolon is used to separate groups of words that already contain commas.
In the future, I will travel to Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; and New York, New York.

35. Colon

36. After a Salutation
Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
Dear Judge Parker:
Dear Governor Whitman:

37. Between Numerals Indicating Time
Use a colon between the hours, minutes, and seconds of a number indicating time.
8:30 p.m. 9:45 a.m.

38. For Emphasis
Use a colon to emphasize a word, a phrase, a clause or a sentence that explains or adds impact to the main clause.
The first letter after this colon should be capitalized.
His guest lecturers are local chefs who learn a lesson themselves: Homeless people are worth employing.

39. To Introduce a Quotation
Use a colon to formally introduce a quotation, a sentence, or a question.
A voice in the corner rang out loud and clear: “I’ve got him! I’ve got him!”
The supervisor's remark was to the point: He won't tolerate workers who show up late.

40. To Introduce a List A colon is used to introduce a list.
I have all the proper equipment: a notebook, a pencil, and my brain.

41. To Introduce a List, cont.
Do not use a colon between a verb and its object or between a preposition and its object.
Incorrect: Min has: a snowmobile, an ATV, and a canoe.
Correct: Min has plenty of toys: a snowmobile, an ATV, and a canoe.
Incorrect: I watch a TV show about: cooking wild game.
Correct: I watch a TV show about a new subject: cooking wild game.

42. Between a Title and a Subtitle
Use a colon to distinguish between a title and a subtitle, volume and page, and chapter and verse in literature.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Encyclopedia Britannica IV: 211
Psalm 23:1-6

43. Hyphens

44. In Compound Words Use the hyphen to make some compound words
maid-in-waiting
mother-in-law
three-year-old

45. To Create New Words
Use a hyphen to form new words beginning with the prefixes self-, ex-, all-, and half-.
self-contained
ex-governor all-inclusive
half-painted

46. To Create New Words, cont.
Also use a hyphen to join any prefix to a proper noun, a proper adjective, or the official name of an office.
pre-Cambrian
mid-December

47. To Create New Words, cont.
Use a hyphen before the suffix –elect.
president-elect
Use a hyphen to join the prefix great- only to the names of relatives.
great-aunt (correct) great-hall (incorrect)

48. To Form an Adjective
Use a hyphen to join two or more words that serve as a single adjective before a noun.
In real life, I am a large, big-boned woman.
Do not use a hyphen when words forming the adjective come after the noun
In real life, I am large and big boned.

49. To Form an Adjective, cont.
Generally, hyphenate a compound adjective that is composed of…
A phrase
off-and-on relationship
A noun + adjective
street-smart student
A noun + participle (ing or ed form of a verb)
bone-chilling story

50. To Join Letters and Words
Use a hypen to join a capital letter or lowercase letter to a noun or participle
T-shirt U-turn G-rated x-axis
Do not use a hyphen when a number or a letter is the final element in a single-thought adjective
class B movie

51. Between Numbers and Fractions
Use a hyphen to join the words in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine when it is necessary to write them out.
Use a hyphen between the numerator and denominator of a fraction but not when one or both of those elements are already hyphenated.
four-tenths seven thirty-seconds

52. In a Special Series
Use hyphens when two or more words have a common element that is omitted in all but the last term.
The ship has lovely two-, four-, and six-person cabins.

53. To Join Numbers
Use a hyphen to join numbers indicating the life span of a person or the score in a contest or a vote.
We can thank Louis Pasteur ( ) for pasteurized milk.
In the 2000 Rose Bowl, Wisconsin defeated Stanford 17-9.

54. To Prevent Confusion
Use a hyphen with prefixes or suffixes to avoid confusion or awkward spelling.
re-create (not recreate) the image
re-cover (not recover) the sofa

55. To Divide a Word
Use a hyphen to divide a word, only between its syllables, at the end of a line of print.
Always place the hyphen after the syllable at the end of the line—never before a syllable at the beginning of the following line.

56. Guidelines for Dividing Hyphens
Always divide a compound word between the basic units: sister-in-law, not sis-ter-in-law
Avoid dividing a word or five or fewer letters
Avoid dividing the last word in a paragraph
Never divide a one-syllable word

57. Guidelines for Dividing Hyphens, cont.
Never divide a one-letter syllable from the rest of the word: omit-ted, not o-mitted
When a vowel is a syllable by itself, divide the word after the vowel: epi-sode, not ep-isode
Never divide abbreviations or contractions: shouldn’t, not should-n’t
Never divide the last word in more than two lines in a row