Download Punctuation Cheat Sheet and more Exercises English in PDF only on Docsity!
Mr. Hazeltine
English / Writing Lab
Righteous Cheat Sheet
(Punctuation)
Source: the following information is borrowed from the work of Lynne Weber, St. Mark’s School of Texas, 2010.)
Comma/Punctuation Cheat Sheet
I. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.
An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence; like any clause, it has both a subject and a verb.
A coordinating conjunction is one of the following words:
for and nor but or yet so
- There are three ways to connect two independent clauses.
Below are two independent clauses.
Alex is a good writer. He writes vividly about his experiences.
The first way is to insert a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the two clauses.
Alex is a good writer, and he writes vividly about his experiences.
The second way is to insert a semicolon between the two clauses.
Alex is a good writer; he writes vividly about his experiences.
The third way is to insert a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb like “however” or “therefore” or “thus,” and a comma between the two clauses.
Alex is a good writer; moreover, he writes vividly about his experiences.
3. After an introductory group of words and before the subject of the main clause, use a comma.
Insert a comma between an introductory subordinate clause and the subject of the next independent clause.
Note: a subordinate clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb, but it begins with a subordinating conjunction like “because,” “although,” or “since,” and so it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Because Alex is a good writer, he writes vividly about his experiences. Although Poindexter broke his glasses, he was still able to complete the test. Although the elephant had lost its tooth, it still ate Albert.
Insert a comma after two or more consecutive prepositional phrases.
In the castle of the monster with the enormous shoes, a beautiful goldfish wept bitterly.
Insert a comma after an introductory participial phrase.
Shivering with anticipation, Poindexter entered the palace of video games.
Insert a comma after a long introductory element of any kind!
Notes on Types of Sentences
Simple sentence: One independent clause.
The silly goldfish swirled stylishly around the frozen pond.
Compound sentence: Two or more independent clauses
Albert burped; he had eaten fourteen pieces of pizza, and he had violent indigestion.
Johann entered the arena ready to rumble; he had his favorite Frisbee in his hand.
Complex sentence: ONLY one independent and AT LEAST one subordinate clause.
When Poindexter saw the math test in the teacher’s hand, he leapt into the air with joy because he loved competing with his classmates.
Although Brenda was unattractive, she was extremely amusing.
Compound-Complex Sentence: At least TWO independent clauses and at least ONE subordinate clause.
If you want to be an astronaut, you must learn calculus, and you must also be physically fit.
