An easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes by jane straus, lester kaufman, tom stern. Semicolons instead of commas this article is about semicolons instead of commas enjoy your reading. Colons are used before appositives that follow an independent clause. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma. If you have a sentence followed by a list, do you use a semicolon or a colon. With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb. You need a comma plus something to avoid a comma splice. The semicolon represents a break midway between a comma and a full stop, and is principally used to separate independent sentencelike clauses that are strongly related never use a lathe or any other machine in the workshop if you are feeling ill or tired. All it takes is the blue book of grammar and punctuation. It may be substituted for a period between two grammatically complete sentences that are closely connected in sense.
Thus, you only need semicolons to separate the units of the series from each other and not from the rest of the sentence. Test your knowledge of comma usage by reading back through this article. Choose from 335 different sets of grammar commas semicolons colons flashcards on quizlet. Today, we will discuss the comma, the oxford comma, and the semi colon in order to better understand their proper uses. Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and. No one writing handbook or grammar guide should suffice for careful writers, and though jane strauss the blue book of grammar and punctuation is less comprehensive than some other resources, its largeformat workbook approach provides a readerfriendly introduction to the intricacies of proper prose. Jan 01, 1997 the blue book of grammar and punctuation is filled with easytounderstand rules, realworld examples, dozens of reproducible exercises, and pre and posttests. With over 200,000 copies sold, this is one of the most highly trusted english language resources available.
Rule 1 to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. An easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes by jane straus. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is an easytouse reference guide and workbook and lives up to its description. The blue book of grammar and punctuation 11th edition pages. The fear of punctuation writing english proofreading and. Constitution but constitutional, the electoral college, department of agriculture. A misplaced comma can change your emphasis and sometimes your meaning. Semicolons and colons quiz 2 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation. When this happens, it is normal to use a comma before the conjunction.
The blue book of grammar and punctuation, eleventh edition. Learn grammar commas semicolons colons with free interactive flashcards. The standard comma on the most basic level, a comma is a punctuation mark, indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar. At their worst, misused punctuation marks commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation.
Today, we will discuss the comma, the oxford comma, and the semicolon in order to better understand their proper uses. Please note that the rules are not listed in any particular order, so the first rule is not necessarily more important or central than the fifth one, etc. The blue book of punctuation and grammar gives this example. Semicolons and colons quiz 2 the blue book of grammar. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas. A comma could also be used, but a colon is stronger. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences grammar and.
Be careful here not to confuse ly adverbs with adjectives as ly adverbs dont necessarily need commas after them. Also use the semicolon when you already have commas within a. How to use the comma and semicolon correctly pen and the pad. Alright, semicolons is that one punctuation mark, it looks like a period with a comma right underneath it and often times its used confusedly.
Strongcomma semicolons kathy steinemann on december 15, 2016 11. Use a comma inside quotation marks at the conclusion of a quote if you are adding attribution at the end. The same is true of periods, question marks, commas, and exclamation points. We are glad to hear that you find the blue book of grammar and punctuation helpful. Carla often participated in school plays, but she always ended up playing minor roles. Use a colon instead of a comma when you want to emphasize or call special attention to the appositive.
Dec 09, 2015 well, they can be used in multiple ways and they have different rules. Another way to look at it is to consider the simplest form of the sentence, which could be pam reid, a registered nurse, attended the meeting. When the phrases are short, a comma is preferable to the semicolon. This is why i wrote the blue book of grammar and punctuation and decided to. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is a concise, entertaining workbook and guide to english grammar, punctuation, and usage. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar and. With todays almostilliterate younger generation, i often wonder how much punctuation, grammar, and spelling they notice as they spew out improper theyre, there, their, and countless other stupidities. Semicolons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar. If the series is long and complex or any one element has a comma within it, separate each element of the series with a semicolon. The rules supplied here are mainly based on straus blue book of grammar and punctuation. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop.
In other circumstances, the final comma is optional. Make a list of the commas used and see if you can explain why they are there, according to the rules presented. Select the answer choice that corrects the punctuation errors. Among such rare grammar books is the one written by jane straus, named as the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Now in its tenth edition, the blue book is a masterpiece of clarity and usefulness. Well, they can be used in multiple ways and they have different rules. In the following fivepart exercise select true or false to indicate whether the sentence uses the appropriate comma or semicolon. If there is any possible confusion, use the final comma. Serialcomma rule red, white, and blue this article is about serialcomma rule red, white, and blue enjoy your reading.
Semicolons the blue book of grammar and punctuation. For guidance in proper citation format, you should consult the bluebook, our. So lets talk about the rules that rule when we use the semicolon. Use commas when an ly adjective is used with other adjectives. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of. Comma academic writing in english, lund university. Yes, it is a general rule that there should not be a space before a semicolon or colon. Comma or semicolon between independent clauses that have internal. Attractively designed and wellwritten, the book is indeed a good attempt to demystify the intricacies of grammar and punctuation. Learn about punctuation in a simple way with many example sentences using the contents from our english grammar book. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences. Handbooks on english grammar are too numerous, yet few are written with keeping in mind the usual problems of students. A revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide the blue book of grammar and punctuation is a concise, entertaining workbook and guide to english grammar, punctuation, and usage. Writers are often tempted to insert a comma between a subject and verb this way because speakers sometimes pause at that point in a sentence.
Francis april 6, 2016 january 2, 2017 comments off on semicolon, colon, or comma. Note that with only commas, that sentence is hopeless. The blue book of grammar and punctuation succeeds at a rare feat. The semicolon represents a break midway between a comma and a full stop, and is principally used to separate independent sentencelike clauses that are strongly related never use a lathe or any other machine in the workshop if you are feeling ill. The blue book of grammar and punctuation 11th edition. This userfriendly resource includes simple explanations of. Review the blue book of grammar and punctuation young. The blue book of grammar and punctuation is a combination reference book and workbook. The blue book of grammar and punctuation an easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes tenth edition jane straus 2. This handy workbook is ideal for teachers, students in middle school through college, esl students, homeschoolers, and professionals. It doesnt take a lifetime to master english grammar and punctuation. The blue book of grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and punctuation. A revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide.
By following a few simple rules, you can learn how to use the comma and semicolon correctly. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a. Use either a comma or a semicolon before introductory words such as namely, that is, i. The conference has people who have come from moscow, idaho, springfield, california, alamo, tennessee, and other places as well. That something can either be the right conjunction or the period that turns a comma into a semicolon. Feb 10, 2014 the blue book of grammar and punctuation. The three items, a book, a pen, and paper were on the table. Some writers seem to think that semicolons are fancy commas that create longer pauses that commas. I heard my teacher call my name, and everyone turned to stare at me. The blue book of grammar and punctuation an easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples, and reproducible quizzes tenth edition jane straus 3. Comma placement determines the grammatical, and therefore logical.
If semicolons can link independent clauses that would otherwise have a period or a conjunction between them, that means they can demonstrate contrast, too. Rumor has it that the rules about placing periods and commas inside quotation. May be used to practice, reinforce, or teach grammar and punctuation skills. This userfriendly resource includes simple explanations of grammar, punctuation, and usage. For each of the following, choose the sentence with the correct punctuation. The blue book of grammar and punctuation jane straus. English grammar 101 additional punctuation, lesson 3. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the.
In my essay editing work, i make a lot of corrections where people mix up the use of the comma, semicolon and colon. Its a refresher for experts, a reference for lay people, and a lesson plan for teachers. Feb 10, 2014 a revised and updated new edition of the bestselling workbook and grammar guide. Now, when the sentences themselves contain commas, it is possible to outrank those commas by using a semicolon before the conjunction instead of a comma. In business writing, media writing or even in writing personal letters and emails, proper grammar helps you portray your message clearly and projects intelligence on your part. Use a colon rather than a comma to follow the salutation in a business letter, even when addressing someone by his or her first name.