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Use commas for clarity

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Try these exercises!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A semi colon inserts a pause

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Can you use a colon correctly?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Punctuation Part 2
Contents

Part 1

 

Part 2

THE COMMA ( , )
THE SEMI-COLON ( ; )
THE COLON ( : )

Part 3

THE APOSTROPHE ( ' )

 
THE COMMA

This marks a natural pause during a sentence. It is only a short pause, and should not be confused with the longer full stop pause. Don't fall into the trap of using commas instead of full stops to end your sentences!

Don't use too many commas, as they can make your writing jerky and disjointed. If in doubt, leave out!

Sometimes commas are essential to make the meaning of a sentence clear to the reader. The following guidelines should help you.

Use commas:

In a list.

Example: We bought apples, bananas, pears and grapes. (Note: no comma before "and" in a list of single items)

To separate adjectives (describing words) - unless the words "go together".

Examples: She had long, thick, wavy hair. (But: She had very dark brown hair.)

To prevent the reader from connecting words that do not properly belong together.

Example: While I cooked the baby played nearby. (While I cooked, the baby played nearby.)

To separate parts of a long sentence which contains "but" or "and".

Example: The manager has given the instruction, and the staff must obey it.

To enclose anything which interrupts the flow of the sentence.

Example: I hope, of course, that they'll come.

To enclose the name of a person or their position/job, if both are mentioned.

Example: The coach, Bob Jones, was given an award.

To separate direct speech from the rest of the sentence.

Example: "Go away," she said.

To separate an introductory expression of time from the rest of the sentence.

Example: Three months later, it was all forgotten.

ACTIVITY

Insert commas where necessary.

1. The house was cold damp small and inconvenient.
2. When he fired the bullet hit the target accurately.
3. Bill said "The train is late."
4. Andre the world famous clown is a Frenchman.
5. Before we left we checked to make sure we'd turned off the computer.

6. I insist on eating Grandfather before we leave the house.
7. Wilma Fred's wife lived near the river.
8. Jim will arrive sometime tonight but I don't know exactly when it will be.



ACTIVITY

Some of the examples below need to be two sentences, instead of one sentence with a comma. Change the commas to full stops where necessary.

1. The rain began to come down heavily, we were soon wet through.
2. We ran down the road, and soon found shelter in a doorway.
3. We waited for about an hour, but the rain would not stop.
4. At three o'clock my friend drove by, he offered us a lift home.
5. When we arrived home our house was flooded, we stayed with friends for the night.


THE SEMI-COLON

A. The semi-colon is used in a sentence when there is a pause which is longer than a comma, but shorter than a full stop. A semi-colon can be used instead of a full stop when the two parts of the sentence are too closely related in meaning to be put into separate sentences.

Examples:
1. We did not go into the theatre before our friends arrived; instead, we waited outside.
2. I don't know who my grandfather was; I am more concerned to find out who his grandson will be. (Abraham Lincoln)
3. The room looked most attractive; the addition of the new furniture had made a big difference.

 

B. Semi-colons can also be used between items on a list, when the items consist of a number of words, or when the use of commas alone would be confusing.

Example:
The committee consisted of Carol Jones, the staff representative; Bill Johnson, the boss; Terry Smith, the local doctor; Murray Todd, the fisherman; and Mary Renshaw, the cook.

ACTIVITY A

Put semi-colons in the correct places in the following sentences.

1. He and his dog spent all their time together he had no other friends.
2. She arranged to meet Tom inside the football ground she wanted to avoid paying his entry fee.
3. I left the movie early I was not feeling well.
4. The rain fell all day the carnival had to be called off.

ACTIVITY B

Write the following list of people in two different ways: one using just commas, and one using a combination of commas and semi-colons.

In our gang we had Joe my brother Billy his best mate Troy the doctor's son and Bob.


THE COLON

The colon can be used to:

introduce a list of things
Example: Yesterday I had an enormous meal: onion soup, a dozen oysters, a pile of potatoes and apple pie and ice cream.

introduce something which is written in quotation marks
Example: Remember the old proverb: "More haste, less speed."

make two statements in the same sentence say something of equal value (one may be an explanation of the other).
Example: Mary is a regular world traveller: every year she visits many countries.

ACTIVITY

Correctly insert colons into the following sentences.

1. These meals will be dropped from this week's menu hamburgers, soup, tacos and vegetable pies.

2. In his article, Bill Jones feels we should be firmer with our children "Let them know who's boss! Don't be weak!"

3. Jane plays these instruments the trombone, the piano, the clarinet and the guitar.

4. Jane is a talented musician she has the ability to play any instrument you can name.

5. I always listen to my mum's motto "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

6. There are various reasons for the types of vegetation in this area the soil type, the climate and the closeness to the ocean.

[ON TO PART 3]

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