Language Proficiency
Punctua0on The Comma, Colon, Semicolon, and Dash, : ;
Punctua0on Punctua0on less rigid than before Less punctua0on Comma to signal natural pauses; i.e. where you would make a slight pause when speaking the sentence. NB! This doesn t mean that punctua0on is completely without regula0ons.
Why Punctuate? The purpose of punctua0on is always to enable readers to see how your thoughts are structured, to assist them in reading the way you intended it. If unsure, keep it simple.
Why Punctuate? Do you see the difference in meaning between 1 and 2? 1. The sister, who had taken the course before, could lend Sophie her notes. 2. The sister who had taken the course could lend Sophie her notes.
Why punctuate? Restric0ve and non- restric0ve rela0ve (adjec0ve) clauses 1. The sister, who had taken the course before, could lend Sophie her notes. Non- restric0ve clause, i.e. it does not restrict the noun phrase the sister. The rela0ve clause could be omived and it wouldn t affect the meaning: The sister could lend Sophie her notes. (i.e. ONE sister)
Why punctuate? Restric0ve and non- restric0ve rela0ve clauses 2. The sister who had taken the course could lend her notes. The rela0ve clause restricts the meaning of the noun phrase; i.e. the meaning would be changed if we omived it. Here the clause specifies a selec0on, one of at least TWO sisters.
Independent clause (IC) and dependent clause (DC) Independent clause = a string of words that can func0on as a complete sentence in themselves. Must have subject + predicate. (main clause, simple sentence) Dependent clause = a string of words that can only func0on as part of another sentence; i.e. it func0ons as a clause element.(subordinated, embedded clause)
I walk. I walk. (IC) I struggle to make ends meet. I struggle (IC) to make ends meet (DC). (the whole sentence = IC) I know that you will lose. I know (IC) that you will lose (DC). (IC) That I will lose is highly unlikely. That I will lose (DC) is highly unlikely. (only the whole sentence = IC) When we came home to our place. When we came home to our place. (DC)
Iden%fying independent and dependent clauses is a good start in order to determine proper punctua%on.
The Comma (,) The comma is used to separate independent clauses joined by a coordina0ng conjunc0on (compound sentence).
Coordina0ng conjunc0ons (used to link ICs to each other and to indicate their rela0on) For And Nor But Or Yet So (Mnemonic: FANBOYS) E.g. He conceded the loss of the ba/le [IC], but [CC] he had no inten3on of losing the war [IC].
Subordina0ng conjunc0ons (used to link DCs to ICs and indicate their rela0on without comma) a8er, although, if, unless, so that, therefore, in spite of, despite, because, etc. I will not go to the party [IC] unless [SC] I can bring my stuffed parrot [DC].
The Comma (,) A comma splice is when a comma is used between ICs without a CC: You couldn t see a living soul around [IC], I had a very bad feeling about this [IC]. A run- on sentence (fused sentence) is when no comma or CC is used between ICs: You couldn t see a living soul [IC] I had a very bad feeling about this [IC].
The Comma (,) You couldn t see a living soul around. I had a very bad feeling about this. (IC. IC) You couldn t see a living soul around, and I had a very bad feeling about this. (IC, CC IC)
The Comma (,) The comma also has the following common uses, acer an introductory phrase or clause (op0onal): Nine months later, she gave birth to an eight- pound miracle. to set off non- essen0al elements (parenthe0cal use): The daughter, Nellie, became a priest twenty years later. between items in a series (serial, Oxford, or Harvard comma) last comma op0onal: Karlstad s main advantages are the beaches, the stores, and the bars. between coordinated adjec0ves: We entered a forest of tall, slender, straight pines. but not between cumula0ve adjec0ves: The old iron lock broke easily. Four small red cars raced the track.
1. He lec the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened. 2. Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface. 3. Miss Marple is a highly intelligent gracious old lady. 4. Nice is a word with many meanings and some of them are contradictory. 5. The contractor tes0fied that the house was completed and that the work had been done properly. 6. Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for the creatures that must live in small cages. 7. Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some ci0es. 8. The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and dirty hats. 9. The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit. 10. Acer surviving this ordeal the trapper felt relieved. 11. Mark Twain's early novels I believe stand the test of 0me. 12. December 7 1941 will never be forgoven. 13. The field was safe enough wasn't it? 14. He replied "I have no idea what you mean." 15. Acer a good washing and grooming the pup looked like a new dog. 16. Because of their opposi0on to ins0tu0ons that force creatures to live in cap0vity some people refuse to go to the zoo. 17. Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authorita0ve on the subject of baldness. 18. Vests which were once popular have been out of vogue for several years. 19. As a celes0al goddess she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and controlled the alterna0ng seasons. 20. I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite.
Answers, 1-5 1. He lec the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened. (IC CC DC) 2. Oil, which is lighter than water, rises to the surface. (non- restric0ve rela0ve clause) 3. Miss Marple is a highly intelligent, gracious old lady. (coordinate + cumula0ve adj.) 4. Nice is a word with many meanings, and some of them are contradictory. (IC, CC IC) 5. The contractor tes0fied that the house was completed and that the work had been done properly. (IC CC DC)
Answers, 6-10 6. Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for the creatures that must live in small cages. (IC SC DC [DC]) 7. Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some ci0es. (restric0ve rela0ve clause) 8. The closet contained worn clothes, old shoes, and dirty hats. (serial comma) 9. The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit. (cumula0ve adj.) 10. Acer surviving this ordeal, the trapper felt relieved. (introductory adverbial [of 0me])
Answers, 11-15 11. Mark Twain's early novels, I believe, stand the test of 0me. (non- essen0al, parenthe0cal) 12. December 7, 1941, will never be forgoven. (conven0onal, alternately 7 December 1941. Choose one of the ways and be consistent) 13. The field was safe enough, wasn't it? (tag ques3on) 14. He replied, "I have no idea what you mean. (introducing quota0ons) 15. Acer a good washing and grooming, the pup looked like a new dog. (introductory adverbial [of 0me])
Answers, 16-20 16. Because of their opposi0on to ins0tu0ons that force creatures to live in cap0vity, some people refuse to go to the zoo. (introductory adverbial) 17. Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authorita0ve on the subject of baldness. (restric0ve rel. clauses, i.e. a selec3on of men, not all) 18. Vests, which were once popular, have been out of vogue for several years. (non- restric0ve rela0ve clause, i.e. all vests) 19. As a celes0al goddess, she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and controlled the alterna0ng seasons. (introductory adverbial [of manner], IC CC DC) 20. I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite. (IC DC)
Form of numbers Numbers are divided into thousands by commas: Ex. 3,000 or 3,000,000, etc. Excep0ons: years as dates (e.g. not in 1978, but in 15,000 years ago), phone numbers, zip codes, etc. In other words: just as in Swedish, but with comma instead of period.
The Colon (:) Colons are (:) used, acer an independent clause that introduces a series of items, A successful climbing expedi3on depends on three crucial elements: physical skill, psychological strength, and the element of luck. but NOT acer a linking verb or preposi0on, The items in my avc are: a box of chocolates, a pair of running shoes, and an old feather. I donated money to: the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders.
The Colon (:) The colon is also used to provide a further explana0on to a noun: The friend provided great support: she listened to my problems. (further explains support )
The Semicolon (;) The semicolon is used as a strong comma or weak full stop (Björk & Räisänen, Academic Wri3ng 260); e.g. when you want to indicate that two independent clauses, not coordinated by a conjunc0on, are closely related: It s becoming increasingly problema3c to prosecute copyright infringements when nearly everybody downloads; to what extent can normal behavior be regarded as illegal? or between two related independent clauses linked by an adverb or adverbial phrase: He s nice enough as long as everything s going his way; however, he s not pleasant to be around when it s not.
The Semicolon (;) Semicolons are also used, as serial comma between items that have internal punctua0on: The small reference library included a few current periodicals, those most o8en read; a set of encyclopedias (the Americana, I believe); several dic3onaries, both abridged and unabridged; and various bibliographical tools.
Dashes ( ) are used, The Dash ( ) to emphasize a nonessen0al element: The legacy of Adolf Hitler Europe s lingering headache has recently found new followers. to summarize a sentence: Like a gigan3c whale, a leviathan of aluminum and jet- fuel, it soars the skies of the globe the Boeing 747 is an awesome sight.