How can I know how to punctuate?

1. How can I know how to punctuate? 1. Clauses

2. Clauses and Punctuation • Commas are necessary for comprehension. • In order to know when to use commas, it is important to understand clauses.

3. Understand Clauses • An independent clause can stand alone. • A dependent Clause needs an independent clause to be a sentence. • Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions • After, although, as, because, if, once, since, etc.

4. Examples of Independent Clauses • I went to class at 3:00. • Meet me at 8:00. • The doctor’s office was closed. • Why are these Independent clauses?

5. Examples of Dependent Clauses • When you went to the store • Considering the latest developments • Until you begin the task • Sometimes if the pegs aren’t in the right order • Why are these dependent clauses?

6. Which clause is dependent? • I traveled to Florida although I didn’t have much money. • What punctuation is needed? • Why?

7. What if there are two independent clauses? • I went to the store and I bought lots of groceries. What punctuation is needed? These two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and). Each independent clause can stand alone.

8. It is important to recognize a coordinating conjunction from a subordinating conjunction. • The library book that I checked out is due soon. • The library book is due soon and I think I owe a fine. • Kind of conjunction and Punctuation?

9. Subordinating ConjunctionsA subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate (dependent) clause to main (independent) clause • after how till ( or 'til) • although if unless • as inasmuch until • as if in order that when • as long as lest whenever • as much as now that where • as soon as provided (that) wherever • as though since while • because so that • before than • even if that • even though though

10. What do Relative Pronouns Have to do with punctuation? They introduce dependent clauses and relate to a noun already named in the sentence. • (That, which, what, who, whoever, etc.) • EX: Sometimes the classes that I want are full. • Is punctuation needed?

11. Remember-- • Subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns (That, which, what, who, whoever, etc.) make clauses dependent.

12. Restrictive (essential) vs. Non-Restrictive (essential) Clauses • A RESTRICTIVE/essential clause is a clause that restricts the meaning of the sentence. • EX: I looked at the car that had been in an accident and concluded an insurance appraisal was needed. • EX: Please take the package that hasn’t been opened with you to the office.

13. Non-Restrictive/Non-Essential Clauses • A non-restrictive/essential clause doesn’t restrict the meaning of the sentence. • EX: The officer, who lives in Lincoln, accepted the award. • EX: The book, which I read last year, is very good.

14. Punctuating Clauses • Restrictive/essential clauses do not have commas around them. • EX: The car that was $30,000 was sold off the lot. • Non-restrictive/essential clauses need commas. EX: The car that I bought, which has GPS, is parked in the driveway.

15. Punctuating Compound Sentences • How to determine a compound sentence Ask: Is there a coordinating conjunction and does the sentence contain at least two independent clauses? • 1. You would use a comma with a coordinating conjunction. • 2. You can sometimes substitute a semicolon for a coordinating conjunction.

16. Examples • She created the program and she led the team. • I think that the issue is clear it also may have multiple outcomes. What punctuation is needed?

17. Conjunctive adverbs in compound sentences • Clauses in compound sentences are often linked by the conjunctive adverb (consequently, however, moreover, besides, nevertheless, on the other hand, in fact, therefore, thus) If they are, you need a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb.

18. Example • The firm has had a change in management; therefore, we are not sure what we should do. • It is clear that we should fix the error; moreover, we are expected to do it.

19. Punctuating Complex Sentences • Complex sentences contain both an independent and dependent clause. • There may be no punctuation between the clauses, or they may be separated by a comma.

20. Examples EX: Although we don’t have to, we should correct the error. --An introductory clause with a subordinating conjunction is followed by a comma.

21. Restrictive/Essential Clauses • Restrictive/essential clauses are essential; they restrict the meaning of the term they modify. No comma is needed. • EX: Schools that let out early are diminishing student opportunities for learning.

22. Questions?

23. Non-Restrictive/essential Clauses • Non-Restrictive/essential clauses add additional information but do not restrict the meaning of the term it modifies. • EX: The detective, who was tall and handsome, took down my statement.

24. Punctuating Phrases, I • Series Commas • Series: A list in a sentence of 3 or more items • Separate by commas, • “and” preceding the final item • EX: Please put the cups, jars, and plates in the cabinet. • CMS—Comma should appear before conjunction.

25. Punctuating Phrases, II • More on serial commas • Serial comma important when one item includes conjunction • EX: Registering for classes includes knowing your major requirements, understanding the registrar’s rules and regulations, and making your appointment time.

26. Punctuating phrases II • Series Commas and Semicolons When would you use semicolons in a series? • When items in the series have parts that are separated by commas. (Also, CMS 6.21(internal punctuation or long, complex) • EX: Elected to the council were Mark Roberts, 19, a sophomore from Miami, Fla.; Suzanne Idley, 20, a junior from Nashville, Tenn.; and Alberto Greenberg, 21, a senior from Hartford, Conn.

27. Commas and Coordinate Adjectives • When adjectives in a series modify a noun— • Use a comma between the adjectives but not before the noun. • EX: The newer, more avant garde films are in vogue.

28. Punctuation and Parallelism • Parallelism--related items share a grammatical structure. • EX: The responsibility of the cook is creating the recipe, cooking the food, and supervising the staff.

29. Faulty Parallelism • When the structure of items in a series shifts • EX: She spent the day visiting all the tourist shops and watched the children on the beach, and then she went back to the hotel for a late lunch. • What will improve this sentence?

30. Introductory & Interrupting Phrases • Introductory Phrases are usually followed by a comma unless they are quite short. EX: For those with permission statements, the rules are fairly easy. • Whenever you open with an introductory clause, you should consider using a comma. With a short introductory phrase, the comma is often omitted. • EX: After dinner the children returned to the yard.

31. Apostrophes • What do they do? • Show possession or contraction • EX: Dawn’s thesis • EX: They’re the wrong kind. • Common Confusion: • It’s (contraction of “It is” & Its (possessive pronoun) • Plural Possessives: “the companies’ rules”

32. More on Apostrophes • Remember: The plurals of years, abbreviations and some proper names don’t take apostrophes (Also CMS 7.15): • 1940s • FBIs • CMS lists the following holidays as singular possessives: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day. Plural possessive is used for Presidents’ Day

33. What about hyphens? • A hyphen shows that two words function as a unit. • En dash—used where a hyphen addresses editorial or typographic confusion (CMS 6.80) • Because of inconsistencies (cross section/cross-reference), you often need to consult a dictionary or style manual to see if the phrase uses a hyphen.

34. CMS Helpful Guide on Hyphens • 7.90 arranges the guide by: • Type • Compounds formed with specific terms • (use of “all”– all out, all-American) • Words formed with prefixes • (minivan)

35. General Hyphen Advice:Noun forms of hyphens • Noun forms of compound terms tend to be open or solid (no hyphen). • EX: problem solving, bookkeeping • CMS: pgs. 299-300 offers some help, such as inserting a hyphen when it makes for easier reading (7.85).

36. Hyphens with noun- adjective combinations, Pt. 1 • --Noun forms that are formed by a noun and an adjective are more likely to be hyphenated or solid. • EX: Self-treatment, self-service • But there are exceptions. • EX: patient services • If unsure, check dictionary or style manual. (CMS suggests dictionary first.)

37. Hyphens with Adjective Pt. II • Compound adjectives are hyphenated if they precede the word modified and if they are formed in these ways: • Adjective or noun + past participle • EX: green-tinted glass • Noun + present participle • EX: interest-bearing account

38. Hyphens w/ Adjectives, Pt III • Compounds • With all, half, high, low(low-rise apartments) • With well if they precede noun (well-done paper) • Numerals • Compound adjectives when they precede the noun they modify (two-story house)

39. Hyphens w/Adjectives, Pt IV • When a number is part of a compound adjective, hyphenate it when it precedes the modifying noun. • EX: “four-course meal” BUT not for predicate adjectives. • EX: The road is two miles long. • Hyphenate spelled-out fractions. • EX: two-thirds of the students

40. Hyphens w/Adjectives, Pt V • Color terms • Does the color term modify another color? • EX: Reddish brown sunset (No hyphen) • Are the color terms equally important? • EX: mauve-brown color scheme (hyphenate) • Is there a combination term that works together as a unit? • EX: black-and-white photo

41. Bottom Line: • If unsure about hyphen use, consult dictionary or style manual.

42. Dashes • Can show a break in thought, • Or provide emphasis. • Dashes also signal to the reader additional information at the end of a sentence, helping the reader to interpret the significance of the primary information in a sentence.

43. Dashes • Em dash— • Length of 2 hyphens w/out space around them • 1. Can substitute for parentheses • 2. Show a break in thought • 3. Provide emphasis • 4. Can signal additional information at end of sentence

44. Dashes—substitute for parentheses • An em dash—the length of two hyphens without space around them-- can substitute for parentheses, a break in thought, or provide emphasis. • Above sentence –dash substitutes for parentheses.

45. Parentheses • When parentheses enclose an entire sentence, include ending punctuation— • EX: They finally said (why couldn't they • have admitted it earlier?) that she had been there. • When parentheses enclose only part of a sentence, punctuations goes outside. • EX: Some of the local store owners (Mr. Kwan and Ms. Lawson, for example) insisted that the street be widened

46. Quotation Marks • Quotation marks should go outside a comma or period but inside a semicolon or colon. • EX: She told the attendant she was “completely satisfied,” according to her recollection. • EX: She told the attendant she was “completely satisfied”; although, she later filed the lawsuit.

47. Ellipsis Points • Three spaced periods • Indicate some words have been omitted • EX: The First Amendment provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting . . . the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." • Also see CMS: 11.51-11.61.

48. Ellipses--CMS—3 dot vs. 5 dot • Three-Dot Method (legal works, textual commentary & works that require frequent reference to quoted material. • Appropriate for most general works & many scholarly works. • In this method 3 dots indicate an omission within a quoted sentence. • 4 dots mark the omission of one or more sentences.

49. Questions?

50. Signaling Additional Information EX: Some state prison systems apply the policy of risk-group screening for AIDS only to pregnant women—a very small number of inmates.