FIVE: GRAMMAR INSTRUCTION

Question 1

What are the “guidelines” regarding comma usage?

Answer 1

Guidelines about comma usage can vary within certain styles like CMS and AP.

Question 2

When it comes to using a style book, what is the first thing you must know about commas?

Answer 2

The first thing you must know about commas is whether the style book you are following dictates the use of the last comma in a series or list - the comma commonly known as “the serial comma.”

Question 3

What is the style book that dictates the use of a serial comma, and what is the style book that does not advocate the use of the serial comma?

Answer 3

CMS advocates the use of the serial comma while the AP does not.

Question 4

Why is this sentence “tricky” when it comes to using the comma after “white” and before “and”?

The flag is red, white, and blue.

Answer 4

The situation is tricky because both ways (using the comma or not using it) may be correct, depending upon the style book you are following.

Question 5

How is the comma also used for division?

Answer 5

The comma is also used to divide two parts of a compound sentence.

Question 6

The following sentence is an example of what?

Jill rode to town with Joe, but Lily drove herself.

Answer 6

This is a comma usage for dividing two parts of a compound sentence.

Question 7

Both halves of these sentences can do what?

Jill rode to town with Joe, but Lily drove herself.

Answer 7

Both halves of the sentence can stand on their own.

Question 8

Both halves of the sentence have what?

Jill rode to town with Joe, but Lily drove herself.

Answer 8

Both halves have two different subjects.

Question 9

In what instance would this sentence that’s a compound sentence not need a comma?

Jill rode to town with Joe, but Lily drove herself.

Answer 9

If the sentence contained to facts about Jill, there would be no need for the comma.

Question 10

In what instance would this sentence that’s a compound sentence not need a comma & therefore contain facts about only Jill?

Jill rode to town with Joe, but Lily drove herself.

Answer 10

A similar sentenced to the compound sentence, but instead of it being two subjects, it is two facts about the same subject:

“Jill rode to town with Joe but came back with Leo.”

Question 11

Why is the comma unnecessary in this sentence?

“Jill rode to town with Joe but came back with Leo.”

Answer 11

The comma before but is unnecessary because there are only two facts about one subject (two facts about Jill) as opposed to two different subjects in a compound sentence which requires a comma.

Question 12

A restrictive clause is essential to what?

Answer 12

It is essential to the meaning of a sentence.

Question 13

What ought never to occur with restrictive clauses?

Answer 13

They should never be set off with the use of a comma.

Question 14

The use of a nonrestrictive clause is not essential to what?

Answer 14

It is not essential to the meaning of the sentence

Question 15

What needs to occur with a nonrestrictive clause?

Answer 15

Nonrestrictive clauses need to be set off with a comma from the rest of the sentence.

Question 16

The following is an example of what?

Kim, who lives with George, took the train to Charleston.

Answer 16

This is a sentence with a nonrestrictive clause.

Question 17

What is the reason for why this sentence contains a nonrestrictive clause?

Kim, who lives with George, took the train to Charleston.

Answer 17

If you remove “who lives with George” the sentence still makes sense, therefore it is a nonrestrictive clause.

Question 18

The following sentence is an example of what?

Jennifer adopted the greyhound that won the big race in 1998.

Answer 18

A sentence with a restrictive clause.

Question 19

What is the reasoning for why this sentence contains a restrictive clause?

Jennifer adopted the greyhound that won the big race in 1998.

Answer 19

Since the this sentence conveys essential info. that specifies which dog: “that won the big race in 1998” it is a restrictive clause. Due to it being a restrictive clause, commas are not used.

Question 20

What are the three major uses involving the use of the comma?

Answer 20

1. The serial comma usage
2. To divide subjects in a compound sentence, use a comma.
3. The comma is used to set off nonrestrictive clause.

Question 21

What does the colon do?

Answer 21

The colon introduces a full sentence or list.

Question 22

When abiding by AP style with using a colon for a full sentence - what happens?

Answer 22

You will capitalize the first letter of the first word of the sentence that follows.

Question 23

When abiding by CMS with using a colon for a full sentence - what happens?

Answer 23

If you are using CMS, you will capitalize the first letter of the first word of the sentence that follows only if two full sentences follow.

Question 24

If a list follows the colon, what happens?

Answer 24

If a list follows the colon, the first word that follows the colon will be lowercase.

Question 25

This sentence is an example of what?

Answer 25

This is a CMS style of a colon for a full sentence in which there is only one sentence following the colon.

Question 26

This sentence is an example of what?

Answer 26

Question 27

This sentence is an example of what?

Amy chose three paint colors: sky blue, Navajo white, and sunset peach.

Answer 27

CMS style for a series of items in which the serial comma is present.

Question 28

This sentence is an example of what?

Amy chose three paint colors: sky blue, Navajo white and sunset peach.

Answer 28

This is AP style for a series of items in which the serial comma is absent.

Question 29

Semicolons are used to do what?

Answer 29

They are used to connect two full sentences that are closely related and not joined with a conjunction.

Question 30

Besides being used to connect two full sentences, what else are semicolons used for?

Answer 30

They are also used to divide a list that consists of at least one sub-list.

Question 31

This sentence is an example of what?

Samuel loved walking in the woods; he would grow up to be a true naturalist.

Answer 31

This is a semicolon being used to join two full sentences in both CMS & AP style.

Question 32

This sentence is an example of what?

I need to order pearls; charms; and jump rings, findings, and clasps.

Answer 32

The semicolon being used for only CMS style in which thre is a serial comma.

Question 33

This sentence is an example of what?

I need to order pearls; charms; and jump rings, findings and clasps.

Answer 33

This is an instance of the semicolon being used for only AP style in which there is no serial comma.

Question 34

CMS is used to edit what?

Answer 34

CMS is used to edit books, short stories, creative nonfiction, etc., you will want to focus on the Chicago style.

Question 35

AP is used to edit what?

Answer 35

If you plan to edit articles for newspapers and websites, you will want to focus on AP style.