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

  • 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

  • = 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

as conjunction for combining dependent and independent clauses

for pauses after introductory or subordinate phrases

for separating ideas or gaps

for parenthetical phrases or brackets

  • functions as parentheses to set aside additional information without interrupting the basic sentence

commas and coordinate or cumulative adjectives

  • an adjective is an essential or restrictive element, thus it is not separated from the noun it modifies by a comma
  • however, when there are multiple adjectives acting on the same noun, we sometimes separate them by a comma
  • when multiple adjectives are not separated by commas, they are called "cumulative" adjectives
  • when multiple adjectives are separated by commas, they are called "coordinate" adjectives

cumulative adjectives

  • = compound adjectives that modify a noun in a certain succession or cumulation
    • My big red balloon
      • = I have a big balloon that is red

coordinate adjectives

  • = compound adjectives that modify a noun distinctly from each other
    • My big, red balloon
      • = I have a balloon that is both big and red

see:

semicolon

  • > to do
  • example of literary use of a semicolon to separate combine distinct clauses within a single sentence:
The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time. 

from "Emma," by Jane Austen (1815)