Lindakugel punctuation Rules: Colons, semicolons, and commas

colon rule 1 (C1)

• to introduce a list

• to introduce a quotation

• to introduce another sentence or summary

• after an opener

colon rule 2 (C2)

• to introduce a list

• to introduce a quotation

• to introduce another sentence or summary

• set off interupter

colon rule 3 (C3)

• to introduce a list

• to introduce a quotation

• to introduce another sentence or summary

• to separate an independent clause and a dependent clause

semicolon rule 1 (SC1)

• use a semicolon AND conjunctive adverb to join two independent clauses

• use a semicolon to join two independent clauses

• to separate items in a series

• to introduce a quote

semicolon rule 2 (SC2)

• to separate items in a series

• sue semicolons to introduce a list

• use a semicolon AND a conjunctive adverb to join two independent clauses

• to join two independent clauses

Semicolon rule 3 (SC3)

• Use a semicolon to introduce a quote.
• Use a semicolon to separate closely related independent clauses.
• Use a semicolon before a conjunction in a sentence.
• Use a semicolon to separate items in a series

comma rule 1 (CM1)

• Use commas to separate items in a list.
• Use a comma after an opener

• Use commas before conjunctions in every sentence.
• Use commas to join independent clauses.

comma rule 2 (CM2)

• Use commas to set off an interrupter

• Use commas to join independent clauses.
• Use commas to indicate pauses in speech.
• Use commas before conjunctions in every sentence.

comma rule 3 (CM3)

• use commas before a closer

• Use commas before conjunctions in every sentence.
• Use commas to indicate pauses in speech.
• Use commas to separate items in a list.

comma rule 4 (CM4)

• Use commas to separate items in a series.

• Use commas to connect independent clauses.
• Use commas before conjunctions in compound sentences.
• Use commas to indicate pauses in speech.