Punctuation Review

Punctuation Review

by Lauren Hill

​Commas: Connectors -> ,

​The comma CONNECTS things together: sentences, items in a list, etc.

​Know how to use the comma to do the following:

1. ​List 3 or more items

   1. ​HINT: You use one LESS comma than the number of items; if you have THREE items, you use TWO commas, etc.

   2. Example: I need seven hours of sleep, a cup of coffee, and sunshine to start my morning.

2. ​Connect complete sentences

   1. ​HINT: A comma ends one sentence, and a conjunction starts the next; you need BOTH to connect two sentences.

   2. ​Example: I woke up, and I got ready for school.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below correctly uses the comma to form a list? 

• I bought apples, oranges and pears.

• I bought apples, oranges, and pears.

• I bought apples oranges, and pears.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below correctly uses the comma to form a list?

• That student is kind, caring, compassionate, and smart.

• That student is kind caring, compassionate, and smart.

• That student is kind, caring, compassionate and smart.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below uses the comma to correctly combine sentences?

• I am smart and, I am capable.

• I am smart and I am capable.

• I am smart, and I am capable.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below correctly uses a comma to combine sentences?

• I am tired but, I am giving it my all.

• I am tired, but I am giving it my all.

• I am tired but I am giving it my all.

​Correcting Sentence Mistakes with Punctuation: Run-On Sentences, Comma Splices, & Fragments

​The period ( . ) comma ( , ) and semicolon ( ; ) can correct the following errors.

​1. Run-On Sentence: when you have multiple sentences running into each other without proper punctuation.

• ​Incorrect: I went home and I walked my dog.

• Correct: I went home, and I walked my dog OR I went home; I walked my dog.

​

​2. Comma Splice: when you randomly split a sentence with a comma but forget the conjunction.

• Incorrect: I went home, I walked my dog.

• Correct: I went home, and I walked my dog OR I went home; I walked my dog.

​

​3. Fragments: when you are missing part of your sentence; if you say the sentence to me in the hall, I should understand you completely.

• ​Incorrect: Went home to walk my dog.

• ​Correct: I went home to walk my dog.

Multiple Choice

Which Mistake is this? 

I studied really hard for the test but I didn't get the score that I was expecting. 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Which Mistake is this? 

I studied really hard for the test, I didn't get the score that I was expecting. 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Which Mistake is this? 

Studied really hard for the test. 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Which Mistake is this? 

She studied, and got the grade she wanted! 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Which Mistake is this? 

She studied and she got the grade she wanted! 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

Multiple Choice

Identify this sentence:

She studied, and she got the grade she wanted! 

• Run-On Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment

• Correct Sentence

​Fixing Sentence Mistakes: Period, Comma, & Semicolon

​"I studied for the test, I got a great grade!"

To fix a Run-On Sentence or Comma Splice, you can...

​1. Use a period to break it into smaller sentences.

​Correct: I studied for the test. I got a great grade.

​

​2. Use a semicolon without a conjunction to connect the sentences.

​Correct: I studied for the test; I got a great grade!

​

​3. Use a comma with a conjunction to connect the sentences.

​Correct: I studied for the test, and I got a great grade!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below uses the PERIOD correctly? 

• She tried her best. Her best was enough.

• She tried her best her best was enough.

• She tried her best. And her best was enough.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below uses the SEMICOLON correctly?

• She tried her best; and her best was enough.

• She tried her best; And her best was enough.

• She tried her best; her best was enough.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below uses the COMMA correctly?

• She tried her best, and her best was enough.

• She tried her best, and, her best was enough.

• She tried her best and, her best was enough.

​Hyphens: Connect words ( - )

​Compound Numbers: only numbers that require you to say two are hyphenated.

​Hyphenated: Twenty-two

​Not hyphenated: One hundred

​

Compound Nouns / Adjectives: when connecting words into one thing, you hyphenate them.

​Hyphenated: Over-used six-year-old

​Not hyphenated: really old firetruck

​

​Prefixes: some prefixes are hyphenated when changing the meaning of the second word.

​Hyphenated: Pro-life

​Not hyphenated: professional

Multiple Choice

Which option below is correct for hyphenated numbers?

• One-hundred and thirty five

• One hundred and thirty-five

• One-hundred and thirty-five

Multiple Choice

Which option below is using a hyphen correctly for nouns / adjectives? 

• Birds-of-prey

• Daughter in-law

• Sea-food

Multiple Choice

Which option below correctly uses the hyphen for prefixes?

• Un-happy

• Anti-hero

• Anti-war

​Colons: Introducing important elements ( : )

Colons are used to introduce various elements such as lists, salutations, or sayings.

TIP: you do not use a colon after a verb!

​

​LISTS: it's best to use either "the following" or "as follows."

​Correct: I need to buy the following: apples, pears, and oranges.

Incorrect: I need to buy: apples, pears, and oranges.

​Correct: I need to buy the following food: apples, pears, and oranges.

​

​SALUTATIONS: you may use the colon in your letters.

​Correct: Dear sir or madam:

​

​SAYINGS: you may use colons to introduce important sayings or information..

​Correct: Nike said it best: "Just do it."

Incorrect: Nike said: "Just do it."

​Correct: Warning: Iceburg ahead!

Multiple Choice

Which option below uses the colon correctly with a list? 

• The student is said to be: kind, thoughtful, and caring.

• The student is as follows: kind, thoughtful, and caring.

• The student is: kind, thoughtful, and caring.

Multiple Choice

Which option below correctly uses the colon with quotes?

• It's Batman's famous catchphrase: "I'm Batman."

• Batman said: "I'm Batman."

• Batman whispered: "I'm Batman."

Multiple Choice

Which colon below correctly introduces important information?

• The sign read: Caution Road Work Ahead

• Caution: Road Work Ahead

• Caution, the sign read: Road Work Ahead

​Apostrophes: Showing Possession or Contractions ( ' )

​POSSESSION: an apostrophe can show ownership (it is not used with possessive pronouns)

​Correct: Mrs. Hill's dog.

​Incorrect: That dog is her's.

​

​CONTRACTIONS: an apostrophe can help blend two words together.

​Correct: It's time for us to go.

​Incorrect: Its time for us to go.

Multiple Choice

Which option below correctly uses the apostrophe to show possession? 

• That is her's.

• That is Alice's cat.

• It's hers.

Multiple Choice

Which option below correctly uses the apostrophe to show a contraction? 

• That's his.

• Its his.

• That is Dexter's hamster.

​Quotation Marks: surround said materials ( " " )

​Use Quotation Marks around anything that you copy from another source.

​Use Quotation Marks around anything that was said or spoken by someone else.

​TIPS:

• ​Punctuation usually goes INSIDE the quotations.

• ​The speaker is connected to what is spoken by using a comma.

• ​After a speaker is mentioned once, you do not have to mention it again.

​

​Mrs. Hill asked, "Who studied?"

​"Who studied?" Mrs. Hill asked.

​"I studied?" Mrs. Hill asked. "Those who study will do better."

​"I don't know what you mean," Mrs. Hill said, "but I can find out for you."

Multiple Choice

Which option below uses quotation marks correctly in one saying? 

• "I don't know the answer," Bob said, "but I can look it up." 

• "I don't know the answer," Bob said. "but I can look it up." 

• "I don't know the answer." Bob said. "But I can look it up." 

Multiple Choice

Which option below uses quotation marks correctly with punctuation?

• He asked, "Who didn't study"? 

• He asked: "Who didn't study?" 

• He asked, "Who didn't study?"

Multiple Choice

Which option below uses quotation marks correctly with a speaker?

• "After you," he said.

• He said: "After you."

• He said, "After you".