To punctuate correctly is to be understood… Or Commas and hyphens and colons, oh my! - Version A
Punctuation is how we navigate our readers through our writing so that they don’t get
lost or go off in the wrong direction. Without correct punctuation the poor reader is
more lost than Hansel and Gretel were without the breadcrumbs (and we know how that
turned out…).
Commas – the rules… (or most of them) - Commas are used in a sentence to clue-in
the reader that there should be a pause or separation between parts of a sentence. And
commas are some of the most misused of all of the punctuation marks… so let’s stop bullying
them and put them in the right places!
Commas as separators

Use commas to separate 3 or more items in a list (joined by a conjunction) in a sentence.
Or to put it into the language of our class… the 3 or more words have the same Job In
The Sentence.
o The best students in class were Billybob, Achmed Bob, and Sally Sue [the three
names have the same job in the sentence - predicate noun – so are in a list].
o My grandmother, grandfather, and dog ate the rest of the dinner [subject JIS].
o The big orange cat scratched himself, jumped onto the counter, and broke all of the
dishes [simple predicate JIS].


When two or more adjectives come before a noun, (usually) you use a comma after each
adjective except the last one (the official name for these adjectives is COORDINATE
ADJECTIVES). Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that have equal status when
describing the noun (okay – who knew that some adjectives are more powerful than other
adjective?! Well, that’s grammar for you, man!)
o Figuring out if the adjectives are coordinate or not is easy. Just ask two questions –
 Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written in the reverse order?
 Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written with an “and” or a
“but” between them?
 If the answer to both of these is YES – then YOU HAVE THE “COOL” COMMAS!
They are coordinate and SHOULD HAVE COMMAS BETWEEN THEM!
BUT there are occasions when something strange happens!!!
o You do NOT put a comma between two or more adjectives that come before the
modified noun if they (the adjectives) are NOT coordinate adjectives (handily known
as non-coordinate adjectives). Another way to think of this is that they aren’t part of
a list (which could have “and” or “but” between it) even though they work together.
o Examples of both coordinate and non-coordinate adjectives -
 The Titanic was a sleek, shiny, trim boat.
 Use commas because it could be sleek AND shiny AND trim…
 It could also be a “trim, shiny, sleek boat” or a “shiny, sleek, trim boat” or
a “trim, sleek, shiny boat” or a… well, I think you know what I mean.
 This means that these adjectives are coordinate and DO have commas.
 Ex. He is a proud, dignified person.
 Commas because proud AND dignified
 And because he could be a “dignified, proud person”
 Ex. Our house is the little green cottage.
 NO commas because you would not have little AND green
 Also – you would (hopefully) never say that the house is a “green little
cottage”!!
 CLUE – you didn’t pause between the adjectives in this situation.
 Ex.Look at the big round moon.
 Again no commas– no list for big AND round
 And please don’t say that it was a “round, big moon” in public… people might
blame ME!!
 Ex.The 1) relentless, 2) hot 3) summer sun melted all of our patio furniture.
 Mess with your head time – adjectives 1 and 2 ARE coordinate… adjective
3 is NOT!
o Use a comma when an -ly adjective (as part of the list of 2 or more adjectives) is used
with other adjectives.
 Clue - To test whether an -ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with
the noun. If it can, use the comma.
 Felix was a lonely, young boy.
 Felix is a “lonely boy” in this sentence so “lonely” is an adjective… and
there must be commas
 I get headaches in brightly lit rooms.
 Brightly is not an adjective because they are not “brightly rooms” (in other
words, in this sentence “brightly” is an adverb!); therefore, no comma is
used between brightly and lit.
o Use a comma near the end of a sentence to set off phrases that show contrast or a
shift in focus.
 Some say the world will end in ice, not fire. [“Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost]
 The puppies were cute, but messy.
 The chimpanzee seemed reflective, almost human.
 You're one of the senator's close friends, aren't you?
 He was merely ignorant, not stupid.


FYI - Some writers will leave out the comma that sets off a contrasting phrase
beginning with but.
Put a comma after introductory words, two or more introductory prepositional phrases, or
introductory subordinate clauses separating them from the main (independent) clause.
o Yes, I am the best in the world.
o For the love of animals, he glued on a tail and only meowed.
o As we passed his doghouse, the dog pooped on Billybob’s shoe.
Grammar Punctuation – page 2 A
 Use commas after the adverbs first, second, third, etc. when these adverbs introduce
items in a series.
o We had the following reasons for missing your party: first, we were tired; second;
we had no transportation; third, we had other things to do.

Use commas to set off (surround) words that interrupt the flow of thought/parenthetical
elements (meaning they could be removed from the sentence without changing the
meaning) in a sentence and appositives that are unnecessary to the sentence.
o Some questions to ask yourself to decide if the information is essential or not are as
follows:
 If you leave out the clause, phrase, or word, does the sentence still make sense
(and have the original meaning)?
 If you move the element to a different position in the sentence, does the
sentence still make sense?
 If the answer to either one is “yes” you have yourself one NONESSENTIAL
clause or phrase! It must be set up with commas!
o Some examples of nonessential clauses -
 My brother, after he gulped his food too quickly, got sick and threw up.
 Billybob, a newcomer to school, got lost in the bathroom and had to be rescued.

Use a comma after conjunctive adverbs like however, moreover, furthermore,
nevertheless and therefore.
o Our school enrollment has increased; therefore, we are building a new school.

Use commas to set off names used in direct address (speaking directly to someone)
o Billybob, you must stop picking your nose now.
o On your way out of the room, Suzysue, pick up your dirty socks.
[Practice - “Commas as separators” rules go with Exercise A – see page _5_]
Commas with Clauses
Compound Sentences
 Put a comma in front of the conjunction that joins the independent clauses of a compound
sentence. HOWEVER!! When you have two very short main/independent clauses joined by
and, you don’t need a comma. You ALWAYS need a comma with but and or.
o Grammar is important, and you must learn it to pass 6th grade.

Comma before the conjunction joining 2 indep/main clauses
o We came to the party, and they saw us standing at the front door.
o We came and they saw us.

No comma necessary (although you can put 1) because the clauses are so short.
o We came, but they ignored us.

Although the clauses are short, a comma is needed since the conjunction is “but”.
o They ignored us, or they forgot us.
Complex and Compound-complex Sentences
 Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. Do NOT use a comma before an
adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence.
o Unless she stops singing Christmas carols, we can’t continue with the
Beauty and the Beast performance. [introductory adverb clause]
o She enjoys herself whenever she is eating chocolate. [Adverb clause at the end
of a sentence.]

Use a comma to set off (surround) an adjective clause that is not necessary and simply
provides additional information. Do NOT use commas to set off essential adjective
clause (those clauses necessary to understanding the sentence). Remember the two
questions to help decide if the clause is necessary or not.
o The boy over there, whom I think you have met, said his name was Sue.
[nonessential adjective clause – so commas are needed]
o My brother who is older than me is much nicer than my younger brother.
[essential adjective clause – so you do NOT use commas]

Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses
beginning with that (relative conjunction). “That” clauses after nouns are always
essential. “That” clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.
o That clauses after nouns – they are essential so NO COMMAS
 The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.
 The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised.
o That clauses following a verb expressing mental action – again NO COMMAS
 She believes that she will earn an A on the quiz!
 They wished that warm weather would finally arrive so started wearing
shorts in the snow.
[Practice Sentences - “Commas with Clauses” rules - Exercise B – see page _5 (the back)_]
Commas with Titles, Addresses and Dates

Use commas before and after the year when it is used with both the month and the
day. Do NOT use commas if only the month and the year are given.
o My great-grandfather was born February 1st, 1841, in England.
o The famous, annual mud-puddle fight will be held in July 2011.

Use commas before and after the name of a state or country when it is used with the
name of a city. Do NOT use a comma after the state if it is used with a zip code.
o My cat moved to Durham, North Carolina, after I got a dog.
o If you want to visit him, his new address is 123 Circle Road, Durham, North
Carolina 27707.
[Practice Sentences - “Commas with titles…” rules go with Exercise C – see page 6]
Grammar Punctuation – page 3 A
Commas with Quotations

Use commas to set off the explanatory words of a direct quotation.
o Mark Twain said, “When in doubt, tell the truth.”
o “The last show is starting,” Jon said.

When the explanatory words interrupt the quotation, this is a divided quotation. Place
another comma after the last explanatory word in the quotation.
o “Try to get here early,” said Carol, “while it’s still light.”

When you rephrase the words of the speaker or writer, you are giving an indirect
quotation and you do NOT set these words off with commas.
o Mom said that you should come home now, Billybob.
[Practice Sentences - “Commas with quotations…” rules Exercise D – see page 6 [back] ]
Warning – upsetting information included!
Comma Abuse – A too-common American Pastime
Commas abuse has, sadly, long been practiced in the writing of American youth,
as well as that of many adults. The problem is that most of the world is not willing to concern
themselves with problems that are “not my business;” this shameful ignoring of crimes
against commas has led to decades of horrible misuse. Commas have been abused in all types
of writing – from casual fiction to formal papers to vocabulary sentences. We will fix all that!
Stop Comma Abuse NOW!!
Comma Abuse (or “using commas in the wrong place”!) can break the sentences into sections
that don’t make sense… causing the readers to pause in the wrong spots… causing confusion
misreading/misunderstandings of the text, and possibly world destruction.
 Abuse 1 – Don’t use a comma to separate the subject from the verb!
o WRONG – A 6th grader from Kestrel Heights, ate the world’s biggest banana.
o WRONG – The girl who has blond hair, is the new football quarterback.
o RIGHT – The girl, who has blond hair, is the new football quarterback.
 Abuse 2 – Don’t put a comma between two verbs in a compound simple predicate.
o WRONG - We learned about the test on Friday, and studied to do well.
o WRONG – The thief ran around the corner, and banged right into a police car.
 Abuse 3 – Don’t put commas between the two nouns in any noun job.
o WRONG – The cute little dog, and the ugly big cat are best friends.
FYI – there are a number of online Youtube videos about using commas and other
punctuation. Several seemed good – one suggestion is to go to Youtube and try for
“waysandhow” or Using Commas Correctly. Keep track of any good websites to share!
Using Semicolons and Colons
Semicolons

Use a semicolon to join the independent clauses of a compound sentence when a
coordinating conjunction such as and, or, nor, or but is not used.
o Dinner smelled wonderful; I ate it very happily.

Use a semicolon to join the independent clauses of a compound sentence when the main
clauses are long and subdivided by commas, even if these clauses are already joined by
a coordinating conjunction.
o Some of the most important scientific advances of the twentieth century are
telecommunications, computer technology and space travel; but no scientific
research, not even these three areas, is finished changing!

Use a semicolon to separate main clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb such as
consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless or therefore.
o It was raining heavily; therefore, I got wet when I went outside.
o She made me a wonderful cake for my birthday; however, she ate the whole
thing before anyone else got to the party.
Colons

Use a colon to introduce a list of items that ends a sentence. Use a phrase such as
these, the following or as follows before the list. Do NOT use a colon immediately
after a verb or a preposition.
o These students should sit on their hands: Billy, Bobby, Barry and Bonzo.
o The situation will be handled as follows: anyone caught eating my cookies will
be tickled until they pee in their pants.
[Practice Sentences - “Semicolons” and “Colons” rules go with exercise E on page 7_]
And the Apostrophe




Use an apostrophe and an s (‘s) to form a possessive of a singular noun OR a plural
noun that does not end in s.
o Box + ‘s = box’s
o James + ‘s = James’s
o Men + ‘s = men’s
o Child + ‘s = child’s
Use an apostrophe alone to form the possessive of a plural noun that ends in s.
o Wolves + ‘ = wolves’
o Boys + ‘ = boys’
Do NOT use an apostrophe in a possessive pronoun (his, theirs, ours, etc).
o The smelly shoes are his.
Use an apostrophe and an s (‘s) to form the plurals of letters, figures and words when
they refer to themselves.
o Mind your p’s and q’s.
o No if’s, and’s or but’s.
o four 2’s
Grammar Punctuation – page 4A
 Use an apostrophe to replace letters that have been omitted in a contraction (when
you combine two words to make one).
o Do + not = don’t
o Is + not – isn’t
[Practice Sentences - Do Exercise F with “And the Apostrophe” on page 7 (back)]
Using the hyphen and the dash
The Hyphen


Use a hyphen to show the division of a word at the end of a line. Always divide the
word between syllables.
Use a hyphen in compound numbers (from twenty-one through ninety-nine) and in
certain compound nouns.
o Examples






Sixty-four birds,
twenty-one points,
sister-in-law,
great-grandmother,
commander-in-chief
Use a hyphen in a fraction that is used as a modifier. Do NOT use a hyphen in a
fraction used as a noun.
o The gym was nine-tenths full for the Kestrel basketball game. [modifier]
o Almost one half of the cars were bright orange. [noun – the subject]

Hyphenate a compound adjective only when it proceeds (comes before in the sentence)
the word it modifies. Do NOT use a hyphen when the modifier comes after.
o That was a well-done hamburger!
o That hamburger was well done.

Use a hyphen after the prefixes all-, ex-, and self-. Use a hyphen to separate any
prefix from a word that begins with a capital letter.
o
o
o
o
all-star
ex-president
self-conscious
mid-Atlantic
The Dash

Use a dash or dashes to show a sudden break or change in thought or speech.
o Martin’s dog Waldo – he’s normally such a nice dog – ate your bunny rabbit
yesterday. Sorry.
o At our staff meeting yesterday – incidentally, you were supposed to come –
we decided to fire all of the students.
[Practice Sentences - Do Exercise G with “Hyphen” and “Dash” rules on page 7 (back)]
Quotation Marks
Quotes

Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation. An indirect quotation does not need
quotations. Reminder – place the quotation marks before the first word and after the
last word of a direct quotation.
o Direct (use quote marks) - My teacher said, “I can teach you punctuation, but
you have to study.”
o Indirect (no quote marks) - My teacher told me that she could teach me
punctuation, but I would have to study.

Always begin a direct quote with a capital letter.
o Ms. Ottley said, “Only the best students will be going on the field trip.”

When a direct quotation is divided by explanatory words, begin the second part of the
quotation with a lowercase letter. HOWEVER if the second part of the quotation is a
complete sentence, the first word of this sentence will be capitalized.
o “If this is the situation,” said Billybob, “count me out.”
o “Well, I am leaving now,” said Sallysue. “Turn off the lights when you
leave.”

Place question marks and exclamation points inside the quotation marks if they belong
to the quotation. Place them outside if they do not belong to the quotation.
o Barneyjoe asked, “Whose backpack is sitting in the water fountain?”
o Did she already say, “I don’t know”?
o “When did she say that?” Barney asked.
o “Well, don’t shout at me!” yelled Joey.

Use single quotation marks to enclose one quotation within another. If the quotation
within the quotation ends the sentence, use both the single and the double quotation
marks after the last word of the quotations.
o I testified, “I heard you say, ‘Use ketchup’ when you attacked her.”
o I testified, “When you attacked her, I heard you say, ‘Use ketchup!’ ”
Punctuating Dialogue


There is one very easy rule to remember when you write dialogue. The rule is to begin a
new paragraph each time you quote a different speaker.
Example -
I wandered into the restaurant where I was to meet my friends but was surprised
when I was passed by my buddy Barneyjoe running out of the restaurant in tears.
I saw that Billybob was still at the table.
“What did you say to him?” I asked
“I just said that he smelled bad,” Billybob indignantly replied, “and then he
went off all irritated and angry.”
“Good grief!” I exclaimed in irritation and concern. “What did you think he
would do after you told him that?”
“Order dinner, maybe?” Billybob said with a too-innocent look on his face.
Grammar Punctuation – page 5A
“Oh, well, that was a possibility,” I said after I thought about it for a moment,
“but I guess he chose not to. Want to share the French fries?”
I decided that I could call Barneyjoe later since I was hungry right now. Besides,
Billybob was right; Barneyjoe does sort of smell like used kitty litter.
Punctuating Titles
Use quotation marks to enclose the titles of poems, short stories, songs, reports,
articles and chapters of books.
 Underline titles of books, plays, magazines, newspapers, television series, works of art,
musical compositions, and movies.
[Practice Sentences - Do Exercise H with “Quotation mark” rules on page 8]

Exercises – for you to practice and be smart!!
Exercise A – complete the following sentences by adding necessary commas. Write which
rule/reason the commas were necessary. You might need to add more than one comma. If the
sentence is correct write a “C” in the space.
Ex ___ - For thousands of years [,] people have enjoyed making music.
Reason: You use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases
1. ___ Strings woodwinds brass and percussion are the four families of instruments.
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___ Yes the vibrating string makes the sound.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ The harp an ancient instrument is often used in an orchestra.
Reason: _____________________________________________
4. ___ Clarinets and saxophones are played with a single reed; however oboes and
bassoons are played with two reeds fastened together.
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. ___ Sallysue why is the flute called a woodwind?
Reason: _____________________________________________
6. ___ Since they lacked a reed flutes were originally made of wood.
Reason: _____________________________________________
7. ___ Of all of the instruments in an orchestra the brass ones are the most powerful.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ Trumpets and cornets their cousins are the highest pitched brass instruments.
Reason: _____________________________________________
8.
9. ___ Percussion instruments are struck pounded or beaten; therefore it isn’t wrong to
think of the piano as a percussion instrument.
Reason: _____________________________________________
10. ___ My home is a lovely green island.
Reason:____________________________________________
___ Open your book turn to page 40 and read that page.
Reason: _____________________________________________
12. ___ You must take the three steps to being a better student: first study hard;
11.
second listen hard; third work hard.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ Since, it is a holiday, schools in New Orleans are closed during Mardi Gras.
Reason: _____________________________________________
14. ___ The long, sleek, black, limousine pulled out into traffic and hit the fire hydrant.
Reason: _____________________________________________
15.
___Are you feverish shivery or achy?
Reason: _____________________________________________
13.
Exercise B – Complete each sentence by adding commas where necessary, use the delete
symbol ( ) to eliminate commas used incorrectly or leave the correct commas alone. Make
sure to say which comma rule you are following. If the sentence is correct, write a C in the
blank, and say why the commas are correct.
Ex. ___ While you’re visiting San Francisco [,] be sure to ride on a cable car.
Reason – You use a comma after an introductory adverbial clause
1. ___ Make sure you’re not late, so that we can get started on time.
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___ Jeremy enjoys camping and hiking and Kevin, his best friend also loves it.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ Because she wanted to be considered for the job, Ellen filled out an application.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ He made dinner but she ate it.
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. ___ Her older brother whom I’ve never met goes to Georgetown University.
Reason: _____________________________________________
4.
Grammar Punctuation – page 6A
6. ___ Where the snow covers the ground during the winter animals have difficulty
finding food.
Reason: _____________________________________________
7. ___ They thought that they had arrived too early but I explained that they hadn’t.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ We drove to the lake, and camped there.
Reason: _____________________________________________
9. ___ Any team, that makes the playoffs, has to be good!
Reason: _____________________________________________
10.
___ Before she started on the test Maya took several deep breaths to relax.
Reason: _____________________________________________
11. ___ The woman whom you contacted about the park seemed very nice.
Reason: _____________________________________________
12.
___ When the announcer called my name I was embarrassed, so my face
8.
turned as red as an apple.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ Do you like plays or do you prefer movies?
Reason: _____________________________________________
13.
Exercise C – Place a C beside the sentence in each group that is correct. Make sure you
explain the rule(s) that makes that the correct sentence.
Ex:
___ Walt Whitman lived in Brooklyn New York
_C_ Walt Whitman lived in Brooklyn, New York.
Reason: You use a comma before the name of a country when it is used with the name of a city.
1. ___ Billybob’s birthday is January 12 1982.
___ Billybob’s birthday is January 12, 1982.
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___ Contest entries should be sent to 8340 South Avenue, Chicago IL, 60617.
___ Contest entries should be sent to 8340 South Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617.
___ Contest entries should be sent to 8340 South Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60617.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ When she was in the army, my mother was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, and
Biloxi, Mississippi.
___ When she was in the army, my mother was stationed in Frankfurt Germany and
Biloxi Mississippi.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___The train left Durham, North Carolina, on July 15, 2010.
___The train left Durham, North Carolina on July 15, 2010.
___The train left Durham, North Carolina, on July 15 2010.
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. ___ The first performance of the show was on October 13, 1899.
___ The first performance of the show was on October 13 1899.
Reason: ____________________________________________
6. ___ Did you know that Cairo, Illinois is named after the city of Cairo, Egypt?
___ Did you know that Cairo, Illinois, is named after the city of Cairo, Egypt?
Reason: ____________________________________________
7. ___ The new model started production in September, 1991.
___ The new model started production in September 1991.
Reason: _____________________________________________
4.
Exercise D - Add commas where necessary. Use the delete symbol (
) to eliminate
commas used incorrectly. Be sure to explain which rule applies. If the sentence is correct,
write a C in the blank.
___Julius Caesar said “I came. I saw. I conquered.”
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___Carlton told us that his family was moving to Tennessee.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ “Has my watch stopped “ Anne asked “or is that the time?”
Reason: _____________________________________________
4. ___ Billybob said, “Sallysue has a great idea for a field trip – skydiving!”
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. ___ “Please don’t bother me when I’m writing “I said.
Reason: _____________________________________________
6. ___Kate told us, that the party had been canceled.
Reason: _____________________________________________
1.
Grammar Punctuation – page 7A
Exercise E - Add semicolons or colons where necessary… or occasionally some other
punctuation. Use the delete symbol ( ) to eliminate semicolons and colons used incorrectly.
Be sure to explain which rule applies. If the sentence is correct, write a C in the blank.
Ex. Glass is a useful material [;] it is made from inexpensive raw materials.
Reason - Use a semicolon to join the parts of a compound sentence when a coordinating conjunction is
not used.
1. ___ Glass can take these forms fine like a spider web, heavy like a telescope lens,
stronger than steel, or more fragile than paper.
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___ The first human-made glass was used as a glaze on ceramic vessels; it is not
known when, where, or how people first learned the glass-making process.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ Explained very simply, to make glass, use a mixture of sand, soda, and lime then
cook and cool.
Reason: _____________________________________________
4. ___ The result is: a solid with the properties of a liquid that can be blown, molded,
spun, or drawn into endless shapes.
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. ___ There are many kinds of glass each possesses a special quality.
Reason: _____________________________________________
6. ___ Flat glass, optical glass, and decorative glass were used prior to this century
however, many special type of glass have been invented since 1900.
Reason: _____________________________________________
7. ___ The shaping of glass can be accomplished by these four methods blowing,
pressing, drawing and casting.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ The temperature was only 5 degrees nevertheless, my car still started.
Reason: _____________________________________________
9. ___ Matt’s speech was interesting Pat’s speech was boring.
Reason: _____________________________________________
8.
Exercise F – write a possessive form of each word. Make sure to say which rule applies.
Add an appropriate noun for the new adjective to modify.
Ex. Jogging shoes
Answer: Jogging shoes’ laces
Reason: Use an apostrophe alone to form the possessive of a plural noun that ends in s
1. women ___________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. anyone ___________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. princesses _________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
4. Jacksons __________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
5. boss _____________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
6. children ___________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
7. lion ______________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
8. princess __________________________________________
Reason: _____________________________________________
Exercise G – add hyphens where necessary. Make sure to explain which rule applies. If
the word or phrase is correct, write C in the blank.
Ex. ___
Great [-] grandfather
Reason – use a hyphen in certain compound nouns
1. ___ three fifths majority
Reason: _____________________________________________
2. ___ self cleaning oven
Reason: _____________________________________________
3. ___ one half of the students
Reason: _____________________________________________
4. ___ all American city
Reason: _____________________________________________
Grammar Punctuation – page 8A
5.
___ When the Erie-Canal was done, it was three hundred and sixty four miles long
and was a well built canal which is still important today.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ The canal had eighty three locks; it took eight-and-one-quarter years to build.
Reason: _____________________________________________
7. ___ The canal linked Lake Erie and the Hudson River, two important waterways in the
6.
still expanding nation.
Reason: _____________________________________________
8.
___ General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American army, had
seen the need to improve navigation.
Reason: _____________________________________________
___ In the 1800’s, rock-strewn trails of mud became impassable in bad weather.
Reason: _____________________________________________
10. ___ An east west canal, it was agreed, would allow for the speedier delivery of people
9.
and much needed supplies.
Reason: _____________________________________________
11.
___ Principal workers on the Erie-Canal were the Irish-immigrants, who worked
under back-breaking conditions.
Reason: _____________________________________________
12. ___ Workers’ wages varied from thirty-seven-and-one-half cents to one-half dollar a
day.
Reason: _____________________________________________
Exercise H - add quote marks and appropriate punctuation where necessary.
Make sure
to explain which rule applies. If the sentence is correct, write C in the blank.
1.
___Theodore Roosevelt said the only man who makes no mistakes is the man who
never does anything.
Reason: _____________________________________________
2.
___Is it true that Jimmy Carter said I can get up at nine and be rested, or I can get
up at six and be President ?
Reason: _____________________________________________
___”Always take the job, but never yourself, seriously,” said Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Reason: _____________________________________________
3.
4.
___Let me assert my firm belief said Franklin D. Roosevelt, that the only thing we
have to fear is fear itself.
Reason: _____________________________________________
5.
___I will now quote President Grant, said Halleysue, who said, Let us have peace, in
his acceptance letter.
Reason: _____________________________________________
All together now… exercises A – F (or all rules now!) –
correct the following
paragraph by adding all necessary punctuation and removing all unnecessary punctuation. You
MAY NOT change, remove, or add any words to this paragraph.
June 12 2011
Community Zoo
1000 Lincoln Avenue
Durham North Carolina, 27713
To Whom It May Concern:
After reading the article Helping Zoos Care for Their Babies in this months Zoo
Magazine I decided to offer you my help. I love animals, helping them is important to me. I
have in fact a collection of stray pets that includes the following, a baby raccoon four
kittens, two puppies, and an old dog. In addition I sometimes care for a friends rabbit. Also I
feed the ducklings in the springtime. So a friend of mine said to me Sallysue you should write
to that zoo and offer them your assistance. Since I agreed that my friend had a good idea I
am writing to you now.
If you would like my help please let me know as soon as possible. I am eager to hear
from you?
Sincerely
Sallysue Stanley