Common Sense Structure & Punctuation Patterns
Note: These reference guides do not take the place of assignment guidelines
1.
Independent clause; [related] independent clause.
Semicolons can be used to join two closely related independent clauses (complete thoughts).
EX: Jamar enjoys longboarding; he rides a medium-length, bamboo board.
2.
Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent clause.
Coordinating Conjunctions tell the reader that the independent clause following will add to,
contradict, offer alternatives, or complicate the previous independent clause. It may be
helpful for writers to use the acronym FANBOYS to remember all seven coordinating
conjunctions.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
provides a reason or reasons why something must be
adds additional things to discuss/consider
an additional reason as to why not (“not” must be used first)
contradicts either part or the whole of the preceding statement
offers an alternative
“despite the previous statement”
precedes the next logical step in reasoning given previous statements
EX: Jamar enjoys longboarding, and he takes care of his longboard like it is a part of him.
3.
Independent clause; transition, independent clause.
Transition words preceded by a semicolon marking the beginning of a subsequent
independent clause must be followed by a comma. Transitions mark shifts or evolutions in
logic or argument and perform a function similar to those of coordinating conjunctions. There
are numerous transitions, so the list below is by no means comprehensive.




therefore
however
further/furthermore
regardless
EX: Jamar enjoys longboarding; therefore, he takes good care of his longboard.
FGCU WRITING CENTER • LIBRARY WEST 202 C • UPDATED OCTOBER 2014
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Common Sense Structure & Punctuation Patterns
Note: These reference guides do not take the place of assignment guidelines
4.
Dependent clause or phrase, subordinating conjunction independent clause.
Commas can serve, among other functions, to separate dependent clauses (incomplete or
unfinished thoughts containing at least a subject and a verb) or phrases (incomplete thoughts
containing at least a verb but no subject) from independent clauses.
Subordinating conjunctions signal a dependent clause or phrase; these conjunctions create a
condition or incomplete thought that requires an additional independent clause to finish or
fulfill. A few subordinating conjunctions are listed below.







while
although
if
when
before
after
since
EX: While he was longboarding around town, Jamar found a new coffee shop.
EX: Before buying a coffee, he inspected the pastries.
5.
Independent clause subordinating conjunction dependent clause or phrase.
Independent clauses and dependent clauses do not need commas to glue them together when
the independent clause comes first and is followed by a subordinating conjunction.
Jamar longboarded around town until he found a new coffee shop.
6.
Participial phrase, independent clause.
Participial phrases that begin with a participle (a form of a verb) are a type of dependent
phrase and modify the subject of the sentence. Unlike independent clauses containing a
participle, participial phrases do not contain a subject.
Pumping as hard as he could, Jamar seemed to fly over the street on his longboard.
7.
Independent clause, participial phrase.
Jamar longboarded around town, searching for a good hill to ride down.
FGCU WRITING CENTER • LIBRARY WEST 202 C • UPDATED OCTOBER 2014
ACEBOOK.COM/FGCUWRITINGCENTER • FGCU.EDU/WRITINGCENTER •
@FGCUWRITING