Semicolons, Colons, and Commas

Semicolons, Colons, and Commas

By Curtis Tolan and Zayana Katamara

This topic was chosen because semicolons, colons, commas can be seen often, but their use is easily misunderstood.

Semicolon Use

• combine two sentences that are closely related
• The final piece was in place; the project was finished.
• use with conjunctive adverb to show close relationship between two complete sentences
• The final piece was in place; however, the project was not yet finished.
• separate series of phrases or lists that include punctuation, such as commas
• Carrots are edible roots; are colored orange, white, or purple; and contain many essential vitamins.
• use with coordinating conjunctions for two sentences if comma would cause confusion
• I still have many old books, newspapers, and magazines; and, if I ever feel the need, I will read them again.

Colon Use

• signal series of words, phrases, or clauses following a sentence
• There were only three people left in the contest: Will, Pat, and Sue.
• signals the following sentence explains the preceding sentence
• It was clear as day: the man showed us the way.
• used to emphasize a name or description following a sentence
• There is only one person who could have possibly done it with such deft and swagger: George Washington.
• introduce a long quotation after a sentence
• As a politician once said in a famous speech that moved a generation:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

• in non-sentences:
• after salutations in letters
• Dear Sue:
• heading of business memo
• To: Will
• From: Pat
• between hour and minutes for time
• The time is not 1:30.
• between chapter and verse in the Bible
• The Bible starts with Genesis 1:1.
• separate title and subtitle
• Rambo 12: No More Stallone
• in bibliography between location published and publisher name
• New York City: New York Times, 2000.

Comma Use

Introductory elements often require a comma, BUT not always

Commas are needed….

After an introductory clause

After a long introductory prepositional phrase or more than one introductory prepositional phrase

After introductory verbal phrases

If there is a distinct pause.

Some introductory elements don't require a comma

Sometimes the subject of a sentence looks like an introductory element… but isn't

Do not use a comma in the following cases:

After a brief prepositional phrase

After a restrictive appositive phrase

To separate the subject from the predicate

 

Tricky examples:

Preparing and submitting his report to the committee for evaluation and possible publication[,] was one of the most difficult tasks Bill had ever attempted.

To start a new business without doing market research and long-term planning in advance[,] would be foolish.

Extracting the most profit for the least expenditure on labor and materials[,] is the primary goal of a capitalist.

 

More info about the comma:

After introductory clauses, phrases, or words that come before the main clause

Common starter words: after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while

Examples:

While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.

Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.

If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.

When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the driveway.

 

In a compound sentence: A compound sentence is a sentence that has 2 independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought.

            In a compound sentence we use comma before: and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet to join two independent clauses that form a compound sentence.

            Example:

            -Linda ate a hamburger, but her friend played basketball.

            -John talked to the professor, and he agreed with him.

 

Attention! The compound sentence has to have two independent clauses, if not that will not work.

 For example:

Alpha read the paper but didn’t agree with the thesis.

In that sentence we don’t have any comma because the sentence after “but” is not an independent clause. If we want to have a comma we say:

 Alpha read the paper, but he didn’t agree with the thesis

 

In a complex sentence: A complex sentence is sentences that have one independent clause and one dependent clause joined together.

In a complex sentence we use a comma after a dependent clause which is preceded by a dependent marker.

Examples of dependent marker: because, before, since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.

 

Here is an example of a complex sentence which has a comma:

- Because doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma, they have called for more research into its causes.

In a Restrictive vs Non restrictive

Restrictive relative clauses are not set off by commas, while nonrestrictive clauses are.

As a general rule, the pronoun “that” should be used for restrictive relative clauses, and “which” should be used for nonrestrictive relative clauses.

 

If a relative clause adds parenthetical, non defining information, it is nonrestrictive.

A non restrictive element is set off  by commas.

Example: Mr. Smith, who is a well-respected lawyer, has just retired from active practice.

The Mall of America, which is located in Minnesota, is a great place for Christmas shopping.

 

When the relative clause limits or restricts the noun substitute it modifies, it is restrictive.

It is not set off by commas.

Example: My brother that lives in Arizona is named Mehdy.

 

References Used

• LEO: Semicolon Rules—accessed 2012/09/17
• LEO: Colon Rules—accessed 2012/09/17
• LEO: Semicolon and Colon—accessed 2012/09/17
• Guidelines for Using Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes—accessed 2012/09/17
• http://www.writingcenter.emory.edu/resources/grammar_resources/commas.html  — accessed 2012/09/17
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02 — accessed 2012/09/17