SAT – 4SAT – 4thth Q. Q. PunctuationPunctuationSAT – 4SAT – 4thth Q. Q. PunctuationPunctuation

3/11 Comma #1• Use a comma to separate items in

a series of 3 or more:The sycophant told the bully that he

was strong, smart, and handsome in order to get on his good side.

3/12 Comma #2• Use a comma to separate the

digits in a # after each series of 3:876,543,210

3/13 Comma #3• Use a comma to separate the city

and state and country in an address that you are writing out as well as the day, month, and year in a date:

She lived in Pukalani, Hawaiÿi, for 10 yrs. Wednesday, October 31, 2007, is Halloween.

3/14 Comma #4• Use a comma to join 2 simple

sentences or 2 main/independent clauses that are about the same thing into a compound sentence. Be sure to include one of the following conjunctions: and, but, or , nor, for, so, and yet.

3/14 Comma #4 cont.I was able to track the moon to its

zenith, but the assignment asked me to find its nadir.

3/15 Comma #5• Use a comma to set off intro.

words or phrases (i.e. propositional phrase) from the rest of the sentence.

3/15 Comma #5 cont.1. Sorry, I can’t come.2. Sir, would you please help me?3. During the night, the lightening

was luminous.

4/1 Comma #6• Use a comma to set off dialog.Henry then bawled, “I won’t go to

the frivolous party!” then stormed out the room.

4/2 Comma #7• Add a comma to a parenthetical

expression.The conundrum, I believe, will never

be solved since it is too difficult.

4/3 Comma #8• You should include a comma

when using a noun of direct address

Kumu, I know that I am incorrigible, so I promise I will behave better.

4/3 Comma #9• Commas should always follow an

interjection.Well, I guess it’s time to fraternize

with the other students.

4/4 Comma #10• Use a comma with coordinate

adjectives that could have “and” in between them but do not. However, you cannot use a comma in place of “and” if it will change the meaning of the sentence.

4/4 Comma #10 cont.The torpid, taciturn boy did nothing

all day but play “World of War Craft.”

The torpid and taciturn boy did nothing all day but play “World of War Craft.”

4/5 Comma #11• Add a comma to nonrestrictive

phrases/elements that can be taken out of the sentence without changing the sentence’s meaning.

4/5 Comma #11 cont.Awakened by a cacophonous

disturbance, Tom became quite pugnacious with his loud neighbor in the wee hours of the morning.

4/8 Comma #12• Use a comma to set apart

parallel words, phrases, and appositives.

4/8 Comma #12 cont.Her money was given unstintingly

since she donated it to the Maui Food bank, for a memorial to the people of 9/11, and to the Toys-for-Tots Christmas program. (This is a series of prepositional phrases so commas are needed to separate the items.)

4/9 Comma #13• Include a comma in order to

prevent any misreading or to clarify the meaning of a sentence.

To Ms. Ka’awa, Kalani’s choice of costume during “Spirit Week” was unacceptable.

4/10 Comma #14• You also need to include a

comma for a conjunctive adverb that follows a semicolon.

Ha’aheo takes hula; however, Ulu takes ukulele.

4/11 Semicolons #1 • You need to use a semicolon to

join main (independent) clauses when a coordinating conjunction is not there.

Ha’aheo takes hula; Ulu takes ukulele.

4/15 Semicolons #2 • A semicolon needs to go before a

conjunctive adverb to join independent clauses together.

Ha’aheo takes hula; however, Ulu takes ukulele.

4/16 Semicolons #3 • Use a semicolon to separate

items in a series that already contains commas.

I packed my suitcase with cloying, expensive perfume; a whimsical, translucent dress; and a diamond tiara.

4/16 Semicolons #4 • Whatever you do, do not use

semicolons to separate unparallel items (such as one dependent clause and one independent clause).

4/16 Semicolons #4 cont.

Wrong: Before starting the race; the novice team did a pule.

Correct: Before starting the race the novice team did a pule.

4/17 Semicolons #5 Here is a list of transitional words

and phrases that use a semicolon when joining coordinating clauses:

4/17 Semicolons #5 cont.

• Accordingly, besides, eventually, however, otherwise, for example, afterwards, consequently, evidently, moreover, perhaps, for instance, again, doubtless, furthermore, nevertheless, therefore, and in addition.

4/18 Colons #1• Colons are mostly used to end a

main clause that then has additional information and modifications with it.

I had to go grocery shopping for food: milk, cheese, salad stuff, bread, and chips.

4/19 Colons #2• You can also use a colon in the

place of a comma when setting apart dialog.

Dan, a.k.a. The Troll, wailed in frustration: “I can’t believe I was killed again in ‘World of War Craft.’”

4/22 Colons #3• Colons link independent clauses

when the second modifies the first.

Keola learned a valuable lesson after finals: never wait until the last minute to study for your tests.

4/23 Colons #4• You can use a colon when writing

a business letter following the salutation.

Dear Mrs. Laepa’a:

4/24 Colons #5• Colons are used to separate the

title and the subtitle of something.

Studying for Finals: A Student’s Complete Guide

4/25 Colons #6• Colons are also used in a biblical

citation between the chapter and passage.

Genesis 1:1

4/26 Colons #7• You must have a colon in

between the city and publishing company when doing a sources cited list.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

4/29 No Colon Needed• Remember that a colon cannot

go inside a main clause.Wrong: John’s favorite movie is: The

Whale Rider.Correct: John’s favorite movie is The

Whale Rider.

4/30 Apostrophes #1• You need to use apostrophes

along with an “s” (‘s) to form the possessive of singular and plural nouns and indefinite pronouns that do not end in “s” or with an “s” or “z” sound.

4/30 Apostrophes #1 cont.

mother’s anyone’swomen’s

5/1 Apostrophes #2• You must add an “’s” to form the

possessive of singular nouns ending in “s” or with an “s” or “z” sound.

Chris’s Liz’s

5/2 Apostrophes #3• Add only an apostrophe to form

the possessive of plural nouns ending in “s” or with an “s” or “z” sound.

cats’ toys

5/3 Apostrophes #4• Use an apostrophe to form the

possessive of compound nouns. However, make sure that you add the “’s” to only the last word.

sister-in-law’s book

5/6 Dashes #1• “Use a dash to indicate an abrupt

change of thought or pause in a sentence.”

5/7 Dashes #2• “Use a dash to set off a long

explanatory statement that interrupts the main thought, to set off parenthetical expressions that show an abrupt break in thought, or to set off a summarizing from the rest of the sentence.”

5/8 Dashes #3• “Use a dash to set off an abrupt

thought/interruption in dialogue.”How to Torture Students – a satire

about teaching – is a book written by Mrs. Laepaÿa.

5/9 Hyphens #1• “Use a hyphen in compound

numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine, in fractions that are spelled out and used as adjectives, and in certain compound words.”

Eighty-four one-tenthmother-in-law

5/10 Hyphens #2• “Use a hyphen between words that

make up a compound adjective used before a noun and with some proper nouns and proper adjectives with suffixes and prefixes.”

button-down person pre-Revolution

well-known artist African-American