The purpose of this mini-lesson is to teach, review,
reinforce and re-enlist the comma.
The Comma Splice
When you join two independent clauses with a comma
(sans conjunction)
Jose decides to take a census, Don Simon agrees with
him.
WRONG! READY YOURSELF FOR
ANIMADVERSION!
Jose decides to take a census; Don Simon agrees with
him.
However (the ultimate conjunctive
adverb)
This is the moment when you really start to use semicolons. Take it away Andrea Lee:
“I turned twelve, fifteen, then eighteen without being
baptized, a fact that scandalized some of the
congregation; however, my parents, who openly
discussed everything else, never said a word to me.”
OMG Andrea Lee! You’re making a sentence
maelstrom in my mind!
Other Conjunctive Adverbs
accordingly,
furthermore,
moreover,
similarly,
also, hence,
namely,
still,
anyway,
nevertheless,
then,
besides,
incidentally,
next,
thereafter, certainly,
indeed,
nonetheless,
therefore,
consequently,
instead,
now, thus,
finally,
likewise,
otherwise, undoubtedly,
further,
meanwhile.
But be careful…
However can also be used to interrupt an independent
clause/complete sentence.
Exp: Studying English, however, is more important than
breathing.
*The key is understanding what an ind. clause is and
how many you have in sentence.
The Subordinate Are Complex
When Miriam walks into the room, Mrs. H.T. Miller’s
emotions undulate.
or
“And when she came to a florist’s shop, the sound was
still with her.”
“The man, TruMAN Capote.”
-Red Hot Chili Peppers
Dependent Markers
after,
before,
in order to,
until,
whether
although,
even if,
since,
whatever,
while.
as,
as if, because,
even though,
if,
though,
unless,
when,
whenever,