Punctuation Marks & Commas(Coordinating

Conjunctions)

Mechanics

Punctuation marksTo use punctuation marks, a sentence must have an

independent clause.Independent clause: a group of words that contains a subject

and a verb and that can stand alone.E.g. New Year (subject) is celebrated (verb) every year.

[independent clause] New Year is celebrated. [independent clause] New Year is celebrated, and they have a party. [independent

clause]E.g. When New Year is celebrated in every year. [dependent

clause] (we do not know what happens when New Year is celebrated.) Celebrating a New Year eve. [dependent clause] (Celebrating is not a verb, it’s a gerund or participle)

Using commas: Coordinating ConjunctionsAre words that establish a relationship between two

independent clauses.

There are 7 : FANBOYSF – forA – andN – norB – butO – orY – yetS – so

E.g. They know a lot about nutrition, yet they eat

unhealthy food.If it doesn’t have a subject and verb, do not use

comma.Annie got up late and forgot to call her mother on

Mother’s day.However, it is not a good academic style of

using the coordinating conjunctions for begin the sentence. Non – academic style

We were going to go to the movie. But, we didn’t know what time it started.

Academic style We were going to go to the movie. However, we didn’t

know what time it started.However is a transitional word.

subordinating conjunctions after, although, as, because, before,

how, if, once, since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, while, etc)

No comma is used after subordinating conjunctions.

A subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate (dependent) clause to a main (independent) clauseE.g. Ram went swimming (independent

clause) although it was raining.(dependent clause)

Comma splices & run-on sentences

Mechanics

Comma SplicesIs an error that occurs when a comma by

itself is used between two independent clauses.

A comma is correct between two independent clauses, but only when it is followed by a coordinating conjunction.

E.g. : My dad hung a bird feeder in the backyard, he loves to watch the birds eat from it. (error)

4 ways to correct comma splices: Put a period in the place of the comma and capitalize the first

word of the next sentence.

My dad hung a bird feeder in the backyard. He loves to watch the birds eat from it.

Put a semicolon in the place of the comma.

My dad hung a bird feeder in the backyard; he loves to watch the birds eat from it.

Insert a coordinating conjunction.

My dad hung a bird feeder in the backyard, and he loves to watch the birds eat from it.

Change one of the clauses into a dependent clause by starting it with a subordinating conjunction

Since my dad hung a bird feeder in the backyard, he loves to watch the birds eat from it.

Run-on SentencesTwo or more independent clauses follow

each other without any punctuation.

E.g. : Cutting down the rain forests leads to the extinction of plants and animals their habitats are destroyed. (error)

3 common ways to correct run-on sentencesMake two separate sentences.

Cutting down the rain forests leads to the extinction of plants and animals. Their habitats are destroyed.

Add extra words.When their habitats are destroyed due to

cutting down the rain forests, many plants and animals become extinct.

Add a subordinating conjunction. Cutting down the rain forests leads to the

extinction of plants and animals because their habitats are destroyed.