Today, we will discuss the comma, the oxford comma, and the semi colon in order to better understand their proper uses. Feb 10, 2014 a revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide. If semicolons can link independent clauses that would otherwise have a period or a conjunction between them, that means they can demonstrate contrast, too. Use commas when an ly adjective is used with other adjectives. Another way to look at it is to consider the simplest form of the sentence, which could be pam reid, a registered nurse, attended the meeting. By following a few simple rules, you can learn how to use the comma and semicolon correctly. The blue book of grammar and punctuation 11th edition. Strongcomma semicolons kathy steinemann on december 15, 2016 11. Constitution but constitutional, the electoral college, department of agriculture. Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and. All it takes is the blue book of grammar and punctuation. In business writing, media writing or even in writing personal letters and emails, proper grammar helps you portray your message clearly and projects intelligence on your part. Oct 01, 2006 in the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the.
Rumor has it that the rules about placing periods and commas inside quotation. Use either a comma or a semicolon before introductory words such as namely, that is, i. Select the answer choice that corrects the punctuation errors. Semicolons instead of commas this article is about semicolons instead of commas enjoy your reading. See the entire contents of the blue book of grammar and punctuation. When the phrases are short, a comma is preferable to the semicolon. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of. An easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes by jane straus, lester kaufman, tom stern. Semicolons and colons quiz 2 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation. The fear of punctuation writing english proofreading and. This handy workbook is ideal for teachers, students in middle school through college, esl students, homeschoolers, and professionals. That something can either be the right conjunction or the period that turns a comma into a semicolon. Note that with only commas, that sentence is hopeless.
Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar. So lets talk about the rules that rule when we use the semicolon. The blue book of punctuation and grammar gives this example. An easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes by jane straus. The blue book of grammar and punctuation an easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes tenth edition jane straus 3.
The blue book of grammar and punctuation 11th edition pages. The blue book of grammar and punctuation succeeds at a rare feat. The standard comma on the most basic level, a comma is a punctuation mark, indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. Learn grammar commas semicolons colons with free interactive flashcards. The blue book of grammar and punctuation an easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes tenth edition jane straus 2. Choose from 335 different sets of grammar commas semicolons colons flashcards on quizlet. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is a concise, entertaining workbook and guide to english grammar, punctuation, and usage. The semicolon represents a break midway between a comma and a full stop, and is principally used to separate independent sentencelike clauses that are strongly related never use a lathe or any other machine in the workshop if you are feeling ill or tired. This userfriendly resource includes simple explanations of.
Semicolons and colons quiz 2 the blue book of grammar. Some writers seem to think that semicolons are fancy commas that create longer pauses that commas. How to use the comma and semicolon correctly pen and the pad. Also use the semicolon when you already have commas within a. Serialcomma rule red, white, and blue this article is about serialcomma rule red, white, and blue enjoy your reading. Francis april 6, 2016 january 2, 2017 comments off on semicolon, colon, or comma. Now in its tenth edition, the blue book is a masterpiece of clarity and usefulness. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar and. May be used to practice, reinforce, or teach grammar and punctuation skills. Learn about punctuation in a simple way with many example sentences using the contents from our english grammar book. For each of the following, choose the sentence with the correct punctuation. Use a comma inside quotation marks at the conclusion of a quote if you are adding attribution at the end. Now, when the sentences themselves contain commas, it is possible to outrank those commas by using a semicolon before the conjunction instead of a comma.
This is why i wrote the blue book of grammar and punctuation and decided to. Colons are used before appositives that follow an independent clause. Semicolons the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Make a list of the commas used and see if you can explain why they are there, according to the rules presented. If the series is long and complex or any one element has a comma within it, separate each element of the series with a semicolon. In other circumstances, the final comma is optional. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas. Use a colon instead of a comma when you want to emphasize or call special attention to the appositive. Comma academic writing in english, lund university. In my essay editing work, i make a lot of corrections where people mix up the use of the comma, semicolon and colon.
Test your knowledge of comma usage by reading back through this article. Feb 10, 2014 the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Thus, you only need semicolons to separate the units of the series from each other and not from the rest of the sentence. I heard my teacher call my name, and everyone turned to stare at me. The rules supplied here are mainly based on straus blue book of grammar and punctuation. With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb. At their worst, misused punctuation marks commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and. Semicolons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar. The blue book of grammar and punctuation jane straus.
Please note that the rules are not listed in any particular order, so the first rule is not necessarily more important or central than the fifth one, etc. The blue book of grammar and punctuation, eleventh edition. No one writing handbook or grammar guide should suffice for careful writers, and though jane strauss the blue book of grammar and punctuation is less comprehensive than some other resources, its largeformat workbook approach provides a readerfriendly introduction to the intricacies of proper prose. When this happens, it is normal to use a comma before the conjunction. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences. With over 200,000 copies sold, this is one of the most highly trusted english language resources available. Carla often participated in school plays, but she always ended up playing minor roles.
For guidance in proper citation format, you should consult the bluebook, our. Rule 1 to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. Be careful here not to confuse ly adverbs with adjectives as ly adverbs dont necessarily need commas after them. It may be substituted for a period between two grammatically complete sentences that are closely connected in sense. Following are two instances of the need for an appositive comma with one or more nouns.
But in writing, the comma only makes the sentence seem stilted. Today, we will discuss the comma, the oxford comma, and the semicolon in order to better understand their proper uses. Dec 09, 2015 well, they can be used in multiple ways and they have different rules. Attractively designed and wellwritten, the book is indeed a good attempt to demystify the intricacies of grammar and punctuation. Writers are often tempted to insert a comma between a subject and verb this way because speakers sometimes pause at that point in a sentence. Well, they can be used in multiple ways and they have different rules. If you have a sentence followed by a list, do you use a semicolon or a colon. This userfriendly resource includes simple explanations of grammar, punctuation, and usage.
Handbooks on english grammar are too numerous, yet few are written with keeping in mind the usual problems of students. A comma could also be used, but a colon is stronger. If there is any possible confusion, use the final comma. Comma placement determines the grammatical, and therefore logical. The three items, a book, a pen, and paper were on the table. Comma or semicolon between independent clauses that have internal. An easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes 11th by straus, jane, kaufman, lester, stern, tom isbn. The semicolon represents a break midway between a comma and a full stop, and is principally used to separate independent sentencelike clauses that are strongly related never use a lathe or any other machine in the workshop if you are feeling ill.
A revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is a combination reference book and workbook. These are a very few of the common errors i see in student writing. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop.
A revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide the blue book of grammar and punctuation is a concise, entertaining workbook and guide to english grammar, punctuation, and usage. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is an easytouse reference guide and workbook and lives up to its description. Its no accident that a semicolon is a period atop a comma. Yes, it is a general rule that there should not be a space before a semicolon or colon. You need a comma plus something to avoid a comma splice. The conference has people who have come from moscow, idaho, springfield, california, alamo, tennessee, and other places as well. Mar 18, 2014 buy the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Alright, semicolons is that one punctuation mark, it looks like a period with a comma right underneath it and often times its used confusedly. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a. Use a colon rather than a comma to follow the salutation in a business letter, even when addressing someone by his or her first name.
Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences grammar and. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma. Among such rare grammar books is the one written by jane straus, named as the blue book of grammar and punctuation. A misplaced comma can change your emphasis and sometimes your meaning. With todays almostilliterate younger generation, i often wonder how much punctuation, grammar, and spelling they notice as they spew out improper theyre, there, their, and countless other stupidities. We are glad to hear that you find the blue book of grammar and punctuation helpful. The same is true of periods, question marks, commas, and exclamation points. It doesnt take a lifetime to master english grammar and punctuation. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is filled with easytounderstand rules, realworld examples, dozens of reproducible exercises, and pre and posttests. Its a refresher for experts, a reference for lay people, and a lesson plan for teachers. Review the blue book of grammar and punctuation young. The blue book of grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and punctuation. In the following fivepart exercise select true or false to indicate whether the sentence uses the appropriate comma or semicolon. Jan 01, 1997 the blue book of grammar and punctuation is filled with easytounderstand rules, realworld examples, dozens of reproducible exercises, and pre and posttests.
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