Proper Usage of Colons, Semicolons, and Commas in Writing
Understanding when to use colons, semicolons, and commas correctly is crucial for effective writing. Colons should be followed by a complete sentence, semicolons link related independent clauses, and commas help clarify lists and separate non-restrictive elements. This guide provides clear examples and explanations for proper punctuation usage.
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COLONS To the left of the colon, you must have a complete To the left of the colon, you must have a complete sentence/independent clause. sentence/independent clause. I need to purchase the following items: parsnips; I need to purchase the following items: parsnips; carrots; bread, both rye and wheat; and lettuce. carrots; bread, both rye and wheat; and lettuce. Don t put a colon if there s a verb to the immediate Don t put a colon if there s a verb to the immediate left because that guarantees that you don t have a left because that guarantees that you don t have a sentence to the left. sentence to the left. INCORRECT: I need INCORRECT: I need to purchase to purchase: : INCORRECT: My favorites INCORRECT: My favorites are are: :
SEMICOLONS To the left and right of the semicolon, you must have To the left and right of the semicolon, you must have complete sentences/independent clauses. complete sentences/independent clauses. My son, Samuel, is an amazing mathematician; My son, Samuel, is an amazing mathematician; however, I am terrible at math. however, I am terrible at math. My son, Samuel, is an amazing mathematician; I am My son, Samuel, is an amazing mathematician; I am terrible at math. terrible at math. Use semicolons to separate items in a series if even one Use semicolons to separate items in a series if even one item has a comma. item has a comma. I need to purchase the following items: parsnips; I need to purchase the following items: parsnips; carrots; bread, both rye and wheat; and lettuce. carrots; bread, both rye and wheat; and lettuce.
COMMAS IN A SERIES Ex. Ex. Jack bought a cute and fluffy and sweet Jack bought a cute and fluffy and sweet puppy. puppy. Jack bought a cute, fluffy and sweet puppy. Jack bought a cute, fluffy and sweet puppy. BUT . . . BUT . . . Jack bought a seven Jack bought a seven- -month (The puppy is not seven, and month and old.) (The puppy is not seven, and month and old.) month- -old puppy. old puppy.
COMMAS WITH NON-RESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS Ex. Ex. Patricia Garza, my accountant, is on Patricia Garza, my accountant, is on vacation. vacation. ( My accountant is not necessary to clarifying ( My accountant is not necessary to clarifying who Patricia Garza is. Patricia Garza is who Patricia Garza is. Patricia Garza is sufficiently specific. ) sufficiently specific. ) Ex. Ex. My oldest sister, Susan, is my best friend. My oldest sister, Susan, is my best friend. ( Susan is not necessary to clarifying who my ( Susan is not necessary to clarifying who my oldest sister is. I can only have one oldest oldest sister is. I can only have one oldest sister.) sister.)
COMMAS WITH RESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS Ex. Ex. Accountants who rob their clients should not be able Accountants who rob their clients should not be able to go on vacation. to go on vacation. ( who rob their clients IS necessary to clarifying which ( who rob their clients IS necessary to clarifying which accountants we re discussing. Not ALL accountants, accountants we re discussing. Not ALL accountants, but rather only those who rob their clients. We cannot but rather only those who rob their clients. We cannot frame this clause with commas.) frame this clause with commas.) Ex. Ex. Sisters in the Effinger family are often best friends. Sisters in the Effinger family are often best friends. ( In my family IS necessary to clarifying which sisters ( In my family IS necessary to clarifying which sisters we re discussing. Not ALL sisters.) we re discussing. Not ALL sisters.)
COMMAS WITH CITY AND STATE Ex. Ex. I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where my family still lives. my family still lives. (Place a comma after the city AND the state.) (Place a comma after the city AND the state.)
COMMAS WITH INTRODUCTORY PHRASES/CLAUSES Ex. Ex. When our taxes are due, we have to file our When our taxes are due, we have to file our returns. returns. ( When our taxes are due is an introductory ( When our taxes are due is an introductory clause that needs to be set off from the main clause that needs to be set off from the main sentence ( sentence (subj subj: we and verb have. ) : we and verb have. ) ( When our taxes are due is a dependent ( When our taxes are due is a dependent clause, and we have to file our returns is an clause, and we have to file our returns is an independent clause, so DC, IC.) independent clause, so DC, IC.)
COMMAS WHEN JOINING TWO COMPLETE SENTENCES WITH A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or yet, so ( yet, so (FANBOYS) FANBOYS) Ex. Ex. O Our taxes are due, ur taxes are due, so so we have to file our returns. returns. Ex. Ex. Our taxes are due, Our taxes are due, and and we have to file our returns. returns. we have to file our we have to file our
APOSTROPHES Ex. Ex. The children s toys are not exclusively boys The children s toys are not exclusively boys toys or girls toys, but they are everyone s toys. toys or girls toys, but they are everyone s toys. The toys of the children = children s toys The toys of the children = children s toys The toys of the boys = boys toys The toys of the boys = boys toys The toys of the girls = girls toys The toys of the girls = girls toys The toys of everyone = everyone s toys The toys of everyone = everyone s toys
QUOTATION MARKS Question marks and exclamation marks go inside & outside quotation Question marks and exclamation marks go inside & outside quotation marks, depending on the context. marks, depending on the context. Joe asked, Where are the flowers? Joe asked, Where are the flowers? Where are the rug rats ? Where are the rug rats ? Periods and commas go inside quotation marks. Always. Periods and commas go inside quotation marks. Always. According to Smith, we should wear our notions of identity lightly. According to Smith, we should wear our notions of identity lightly. You are not the baby s father, Felicia said, nor am I the baby s You are not the baby s father, Felicia said, nor am I the baby s mother. mother. Semicolons and colons go outside quotation marks. Always. Semicolons and colons go outside quotation marks. Always. My grandmother always said, success depends on hard work ; when My grandmother always said, success depends on hard work ; when life gives you lemons, make lemonade ; and stop whining and get to life gives you lemons, make lemonade ; and stop whining and get to work. work.
HYPHENS Hyphenate compound adjectives Hyphenate compound adjectives adjectives you have built by joining two or more words. joining two or more words. Joe bought a seven Joe bought a seven- -month month- -old puppy. old puppy. Joe bought a six Joe bought a six- - to seven to seven- -month month- -old puppy. The task must be done by him The task must be done by him- - or herself. Do not hyphenate adverbs modifying adjectives. Do not hyphenate adverbs modifying adjectives. The clothing we donated was lightly worn. The clothing we donated was lightly worn. Hyphenate numbers between twenty Hyphenate numbers between twenty- -one and ninety Next Thursday, my grandmother will be eighty Next Thursday, my grandmother will be eighty- -nine. For an eighty eighty- -nine nine- -year year- -old woman, she is quite spry. old woman, she is quite spry. adjectives you have built by old puppy. or herself. one and ninety- -nine. nine. nine. For an
DASHES Dashes are used to set off parentheticals. As such, they Dashes are used to set off parentheticals. As such, they usually come in pairs. usually come in pairs. I love writers I love writers Hemingway and Faulkner, among Hemingway and Faulkner, among others others because their work brings me such pleasure. because their work brings me such pleasure. Do not include the second dash if the sentence ends Do not include the second dash if the sentence ends where the second dash would go. where the second dash would go. I love writers I love writers Hemingway and Faulkner, among Hemingway and Faulkner, among others. others.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #1: Dogs #1: Dogs who do not have their up who do not have their up- -to to- -date shots should not be allowed in the dog date shots should not be allowed in the dog park and their owner(s) should be fined. park and their owner(s) should be fined. A. A. Place Place a comma after "dogs." a comma after "dogs." B. B. Remove Remove the hyphens in "up the hyphens in "up- -to to- -date." date." C. C. Place Place a comma after "park." a comma after "park." D. D. Correct Correct as written. as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #2: Dr #2: Dr. Wilson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on a dark and stormy night, but . Wilson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on a dark and stormy night, but she now lives in San Marcos, Texas, where "the sun always shines, and everyone she now lives in San Marcos, Texas, where "the sun always shines, and everyone is happy". is happy". A. A. Remove Remove the commas after "Oklahoma" and " the commas after "Oklahoma" and "Texas." Texas." B. B. Insert Insert a comma after "dark." a comma after "dark." C. C. Place Place the period inside the quotation mark. the period inside the quotation mark. D. D. Correct Correct as written. as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #3: Betsy #3: Betsy Roof, painter extraordinaire, has produced her greatest masterpiece to Roof, painter extraordinaire, has produced her greatest masterpiece to date: a seascape featuring dolphins, whales, and manatees, all frolicking date: a seascape featuring dolphins, whales, and manatees, all frolicking together together-- --like children playing like children playing-- --in the moonlight. in the moonlight. A. A. Remove Remove the colon after "date." the colon after "date." B B. Replace the commas after dolphins, whales, and manatees with semicolons. . Replace the commas after dolphins, whales, and manatees with semicolons. C C. Replace the dashes with . Replace the dashes with comma. comma. D D. CORRECT AS WRITTEN. . CORRECT AS WRITTEN.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #4: Despite #4: Despite the delay due to bad weather, the volunteers from San Marcos, Texas, the delay due to bad weather, the volunteers from San Marcos, Texas, finally delivered to the victims of the Moore tornado a donation of lightly used finally delivered to the victims of the Moore tornado a donation of lightly used children's toys, to which the children exclaimed, "Thank you, Texas"! children's toys, to which the children exclaimed, "Thank you, Texas"! A. A. Hyphenate Hyphenate "lightly used." "lightly used." B. B. " "Children's" should be " Children's" should be "childrens childrens.'" .'" C. C. The The exclamation point should go inside the quotation mark. exclamation point should go inside the quotation mark. D D. Correct as written . Correct as written
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #5: Whenever #5: Whenever I am writing five long papers for my courses, I wish professors who I am writing five long papers for my courses, I wish professors who require twenty require twenty- -five five- -page papers could be required to write their own; however page papers could be required to write their own; however taxing that may be. taxing that may be. A. A. Place Place commas after "professors" and "papers commas after "professors" and "papers. . B. B. Remove Remove the hyphen between "five" and "page the hyphen between "five" and "page. . C. C. Remove Remove the the semicolon. semicolon. D. D. Correct Correct as written. as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #6: My mother #6: My mother- -in in- -law Charlene, is coming for a visit on July 4, 2013, but no one in my law Charlene, is coming for a visit on July 4, 2013, but no one in my household, except me, will be there, so I, and I alone, must now think of fun household, except me, will be there, so I, and I alone, must now think of fun activities that do not require going outside, spending money, or eating spicy food. activities that do not require going outside, spending money, or eating spicy food. A. A. Place Place a comma after "law a comma after "law. . B. B. Remove Remove the comma after "2013 the comma after "2013. . C. C. Remove Remove the comma after "there the comma after "there. . D. D. Correct Correct as written. as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #7: At #7: At the neighborhood party, the wind blew so hard that the ladies' hats flew away, the neighborhood party, the wind blew so hard that the ladies' hats flew away, the children's kites broke their lines, and everyone's day was ruined. the children's kites broke their lines, and everyone's day was ruined. A. A. " "Ladies'" should be "Lady's" Ladies'" should be "Lady's" B B. "Children's" should be " . "Children's" should be "childrens childrens' ' C. C. "everyone's" should be " "everyone's" should be "everyones everyones'" '" D D. Correct as written . Correct as written
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #8: Even #8: Even in the twenty in the twenty- -first century, some people continue to own old, outdated and first century, some people continue to own old, outdated and fuel guzzling cars that pollute the air, waste fuel and waste money, but these fuel guzzling cars that pollute the air, waste fuel and waste money, but these idiots do not seem to care; I, however, find their actions reprehensible. idiots do not seem to care; I, however, find their actions reprehensible. A. A. Place Place a hyphen between "first" and "century a hyphen between "first" and "century. . B B. there should be a hyphen between "fuel" and "guzzling." . there should be a hyphen between "fuel" and "guzzling." C C. The semicolon after "care" should be a period. . The semicolon after "care" should be a period. D D. Correct as written. . Correct as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #9: The #9: The requirements for becoming a member of the requirements for becoming a member of the Kiwanas $200 dues, which is reduced to $150 after a five $200 dues, which is reduced to $150 after a five- -year membership; attendance at the orientation that is always scheduled for the first week of August; and a at the orientation that is always scheduled for the first week of August; and a recommendation from another recommendation from another Kiwana Kiwana. . Kiwanas are: payment of the are: payment of the year membership; attendance A. A. Remove Remove the colon after "are." the colon after "are." B B. Replace the semicolons with . Replace the semicolons with commas. commas. C C. Place a comma after "orientation." . Place a comma after "orientation." D D. Correct as written. . Correct as written.
PUNCTUATION QUIZ #10: Wrestlers #10: Wrestlers, who bite their opponents, should be fined; however, the sport, as , who bite their opponents, should be fined; however, the sport, as well as the wrestlers themselves, is so popular that no one enforces the rules, well as the wrestlers themselves, is so popular that no one enforces the rules, and the violence continues. and the violence continues. A. A. Remove Remove the comma after "wrestlers." the comma after "wrestlers." B B. Remove the commas after "wrestlers" and "opponents." . Remove the commas after "wrestlers" and "opponents." C C. Replace the semicolon with a comma . Replace the semicolon with a comma. . D D. Correct as written. . Correct as written.
