Punctuation: Difference between revisions

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* sometimes called "interrupters"
* sometimes called "interrupters"
** for lists and parenthetical uses
** for lists and parenthetical uses
* commas and "because"
** generally, "because" is an adverbial preposition that acts like a restrictive conjunction
*** i.e., it is not separated from the prior clause by a comma
*** the reason is that "because" established necessary (essential) causality for the sentence to make sense
*** ex. "''I opened the fridge because I was hungry"''
**** if we wrote "''I opened the fridge''" it would be an incomplete thought
** "because" can also act like a subordinating conjunction
** which would make the comma appropriate:
*** if the clause started by "because" acts as additional and not essential information, it can be separated by a comma
*** ex.,  "''I was hungry and went to the fridge, because I knew there'd be something good to eat"''
**** this example separates the two thoughts and thereby does not create a directly causal link between them
***** i.e., "because I knew"... adds non-essential information to the main clause
=== for lists ===
=== for lists ===
* = separates nouns, verbs and series of clauses
* = separates nouns, verbs and series of clauses

Revision as of 14:04, 21 April 2022

Punctuation is sub-category of Grammar

Note:

  • punctuation is used to set rules for recreating in writing human speech
    • such as hard pauses (periods, semicolons, colons, dashes and parentheses) and soft pauses (commas)
  • however, punctuation enables writing to go beyond verbal communication for complex expression and meaning

See:

[category: Grammar] [category: Language Arts] [category: SAT Verbal]]

Colon

  • must be preceded by an independent clause
  • can be followed by anything
    • except a conjunction
    • the reason is that conjunctions and colons do the same thing

comma[edit | edit source]

  • used to create a pause
  • used to separate ideas
  • the five uses of a comma:
    • joins independent clauses
    • joins phrases or dependent clauses with an independent clause
    • creates lists
    • parenthetical or bracketed information
  • sometimes called "interrupters"
    • for lists and parenthetical uses
  • commas and "because"
    • generally, "because" is an adverbial preposition that acts like a restrictive conjunction
      • i.e., it is not separated from the prior clause by a comma
      • the reason is that "because" established necessary (essential) causality for the sentence to make sense
      • ex. "I opened the fridge because I was hungry"
        • if we wrote "I opened the fridge" it would be an incomplete thought
    • "because" can also act like a subordinating conjunction
    • which would make the comma appropriate:
      • if the clause started by "because" acts as additional and not essential information, it can be separated by a comma
      • ex., "I was hungry and went to the fridge, because I knew there'd be something good to eat"
        • this example separates the two thoughts and thereby does not create a directly causal link between them
          • i.e., "because I knew"... adds non-essential information to the main clause

for lists[edit | edit source]

  • = separates nouns, verbs and series of clauses
  • the serial comma = comma following the 2nd to last word in a list and before the conjunction:
    • ex.: "one, two, or three bananas"
      • known as the "Oxford comma"
      • = the British convention (rule or typical use) is to place a comma after the 2nd to last word in a list
    • vs.: "one, two or three bananas"
      • both forms are correct
      • generally, American usage is to use the "serial comma" that comes before the conjunction

as conjunction for combining independent clauses[edit | edit source]

as conjunction for combining dependent and independent clauses[edit | edit source]

for pauses after introductory or subordinate phrases[edit | edit source]

for separating ideas or gaps[edit | edit source]

for parenthetical phrases or brackets[edit | edit source]