SAT – 4th Q.
Punctuation
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’s
women’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-tenth
mother-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