Rules of Punctuation
Punctuation questions assess your understanding of how and when to use various punctuation marks, which affect sentence clarity and meaning. Expect to be tested on the following:
Commas
- You’ll need to know the proper use of commas for separating items in a list, setting off non-essential clauses (e.g., “The cat, which was hungry, meowed loudly.”), and joining independent clauses with conjunctions (“I went to the park, and she followed me.”).
Semicolons
- Semicolons are used to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction (“I have a test tomorrow; I need to study tonight.”). You’ll need to know when it’s appropriate to use them versus other punctuation.
Colons
- Colons introduce lists, explanations, or quotations. For example, “She had one goal: to win.” You will be asked to use colons correctly in these contexts.
Apostrophes
- These are used for possession (e.g., “The dog’s bone”) and contractions (e.g., “don’t”). You’ll need to differentiate between possessive forms and plural forms (“dog’s” vs. “dogs”).
Quotation Marks
- Quotation marks are used to enclose direct speech or quotations. You may be tested on where punctuation belongs in relation to the quotation marks (e.g., “She said, ‘I’m happy.'”).
Deep Dive: Using Commas with Confidence
Commas are one of the most important punctuation marks in writing because they help clarify meaning and prevent confusion. However, they can also be tricky to use properly. Let’s go over key rules for comma usage.
How should we use commas?
In a List
- Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more.
- Example: “I need to buy apples, oranges, and bananas.”
- In this example, the comma before “and” is called an Oxford comma. While it’s optional in some contexts, it’s often preferred for clarity.
Before a Coordinating Conjunction
- Use a comma before conjunctions like “and,” “but,” “for,” “nor,” “or,” “so,” or “yet” when they connect two independent clauses.
- Example: “She wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.”
- The comma helps show that each part of the sentence is a complete thought.
After Introductory Elements
- Use a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses.
- Example: “After the meeting, we went out for lunch.”
- The comma separates the introductory phrase (“After the meeting”) from the main sentence.
For Nonessential Information
- Use commas to set off nonessential information or clauses.
- Example: “My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting next week.”
- The phrase “who lives in New York” adds extra information but isn’t necessary for the sentence to make sense. If the clause is essential to the meaning, commas should not be used.
With Dates and Addresses
- Use commas to separate parts of dates and addresses.
- Example: “We met on July 4, 2022, at the park in Orlando, Florida.”
- Commas help distinguish the different elements.
Key Tip: When in doubt, try reading the sentence aloud. If there’s a natural pause in your speech, there may need to be a comma. However, don’t overuse commas in places where no pause is necessary.
Key Tip: Focus on mastering comma usage, as it’s commonly tested. Remember to place commas after introductory elements, in lists, and before conjunctions when joining two independent clauses. Also, practice using semicolons between closely related independent clauses.