Punctuation Flashcards
What are the 3 marks of TERMINAL PUNCTUATION
- PERIOD
- EXCLAMATION POINT
- QUESTION MARK
What are the three kinds of sentences you will find a period at the end of?
- Statements - This is a sentence
- Commands - Do your homework
- Implied Content - Who’s there? Sarah.
Name the 3 types of statements you’ll find an exclamation point at the end of.
- Emotionally intense statements
- Commands (that are stronger than period)
- Interjections
What kind of question requires a question mark?
a DIRECT QUESTION
Have the kids eaten yet?
When is a question mark NOT used?
for INDIRECT QUESTIONS–these are STATEMENTS not questions.
- I wonder if it will rain.*
- I asked if the kids had eaten*
What is INFLECTION?
the variation or change of form that words undergo to mark distinctions of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, voice, comparison
When are periods used outside of terminal punctuation?
- Courtesy Titles: Mr. Dr. Ms. Pres.
- Initials: J. R. R Tolkein (note the spaces)
- Latin Terms: e.g. (not the lack of spaces)
and as a matter of style…
- Places - U.S.A
- Degrees - Ph.D.
- Acronyms - F.B.I.
What are the 7 most common uses for a comma?
- to signal a short pause in a sentence
- to clarify meaning
- to separate a list of items
- in dates and locations
- in Latin abbreviations
- with introductory phrases
- to set off dialogue tags
What is an Oxford/serial comma?
The comma preceding the coordinating conjunction and in a list of three or more items.
What is the argument for the serial comma?
The absence of the final comma can invite confusion by suggesting an unintended closeness/relationship.
- This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.*
- “…encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector”*
What is the difference between a restrictive vs nonrestrictive appositive in these sentences?
- My husband, Rob, is an English professor.*
- Her sister Susan has blue eyes.*
Place commas around nonrestrictive appositives–ie, those which a sentence can stand without.
One-of-a-kinds are nonrestrictive (commas)–there is only one husband
What is the number one test of whether a clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive?
Is the information necessary to the sentence?
Add commas where needed to the following sentences:
The house an old Victorian sold for a hundred dollars.
The house on the corner sold for a hundred dollars.
The answer of course is obvious. You therefore have figured it out.
The house, an old Victorian, sold for a hundred dollars.
The house on the corner sold for a hundred dollars.
The answer, of course, is obvious. You, therefore, have figured it out.
What are dialogue tags? When should commas appear?
Dialogue tags are used for DIRECT SPEECH, e.g.,
“No, probably not,” Dale said.
“Tell me,” I said, “why do you want to do that?”
what is the difference between a clause and a phrase?
a clause can stand on its own; it has a subject and verb
a phrase cannot stand on its own
What do ADVERBIAL PHRASES do?
they modify the verb (like an adverb)
- On Tuesday, I bought some pens.
- With baited breath, I awaited the conclusion.
How do participial phrases function in a sentence?
often as an ADJECTIVE
- Invented by Thomas Edison, the lightbulb had a huge impact on…
- Rushing ahead, Margot didn’t see the banana peel.
What is an ABSOLUTE PHRASE?
a NOUN + PARTICIPLE PHRASE (w optional modifiers and/or object) that modifies an entire sentence
Absolute phrases are set of by commas.
- Lip quivering, the child awaited the punishment.
- We devoured Aunt Barbara’s cake, our fingers scraping the leftover frosting from the plate.
How are commas used to separate clauses?
Commas are used to separate subordinate (dependant) clauses from the main (independant) clause…
…when the subordinate clause PRECEDES the independent clause.
So…
- Since the child came home, the parents have been more strict.*
but. .. - The parents have been more strict since the child came home.*
Name the 3 primary uses for a semi-colon.
- to provide a stronger break than a comma
- for clarity in a long series with internal commas
- to connect closely related main clauses when a period would imply too much of a pause.
What do COLONS do?
- introduce a list
- separate title and subtitle
- introduce a block quote
- introduce a SUMMARY STATEMENT (AKA a POINTING COLON)
Colons inroduce what kinds of statements?
Summary or explanatory statements.
She can’t pay the bills: she has no money.
A three-point ellipsis indicates…
- a pause or trailing off of speech
- material that has been omitted.
Order hyphens and dashes by size…
- hyphen
- en dash
- em dash
Hyphens are used for what part of speech?
compound adjectives.
- evidence-based practice*
- follow-up appointment*
What 2 instances call for an EN DASH?
- a number series: scores, time ranges, pp. 12-59
- joining compounds Middle School-High School Science Fair; Gay-Straight Alliance; New York-Based Artist
Identify 3 uses for the EM DASH.
- to signal an INTERRUPTION or an abrupt break in speech (“We cannot allow–” Then the phone went dead.”)
- to set off an appositive or parenthetical
- to signal an abrupt shift in thought or meaning
Name two uses for apostrophes
-
Posession
* The KING’S English* -
Omission
* I CAN’T stand it. The class of ‘89. Yes, ma’am.*
Use DOUBLE QUOTATION MARKS for:
- dialogue
- quoted material
- air quotes
- shorter works, such as articles, song titles …
Only use single quotation marks for:
quotes within quotes
What does a comma do?
It separates words, clauses, or phrases within a sentence.
Think of the comma as a:
soft pause
A comma should never…
separate subject from verb
Compound subject or objects are separated by a comma. True or false?
False. Do not separate two nouns that appear together as a subject or object.
Cleo and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
EXCEPTION: If the second item is parenthetical.
Compound predicates are separated by a comma. True or false?
False. Do not separate the verbs in a compound predicate with commas.
Cleo will sing and play banjo.
What is a compound predicate?
When the subject of a sentence is doing more than one thing, i.e., is the subject of multiple verbs.
Cleo will sing and play banjo.
What is the most common mistake when punctuating a compound predicate?
Use of a comma when the predicate is made up of a long verb phrase.
- INCORRECT: I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show, but ran out of time.
- CORRECT: I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show but ran out of time.
What is the exception for comma use in compound predicates?
when there’s a chance of a misreading.
Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved.
What is a COMMA SPLICE?
When two independent clauses are joined by a comma (and w/o a conjunction)
A comma is not strong enought to join two independent clauses.
What is required to join two independent clauses?
either a comma + conjunction or a semi-colon
Use comma after what kinds of introductory phrases?
-
Participial phrases
Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house.
Confused by the lights, he staggered out of the house. -
Adverbial Phrases
After the ballgame, they went out to dinner.
Commas must follow introductory phrases except:
for adverbial phrases shorter than four words (this is optional)
What is an INTERRUPTER?
A little thought that pops up in a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis.
It was, sadly, the last day of camp.
What is a parenthetical?
a PHRASE that ADDS extra information to a sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.
How do you punctuate question tags?
Use a comma before.
- You know what to do, don’t you?*
- You know what I mean, right?*
- I’m right, no?*
When addressing another person by name…
set off the name with a comma.
This is known as DIRECT ADDRESS.
- MOM, I can’t find my shoes.*
- Hello, Chester.*
What is an appositive?
A word or phrase that restates or refers to another noun in the same sentences.
Appositives often provide further information about the noun or help to distinguish it.
- My mother, ANGELA, is a wonderful cook.*
- Edgar Allen Poe’s poem The Raven is a classic.*
Appositives fall into two categories. Name and distinguish them.
- Essential/Restrictive – appositive cannot be removed w/o altering meaning of sentence – NO COMMAS
* Edgar Allen Poe’s poem The Raven is a classic.* - Nonessential/Nonrestrictive – you can remove the appositive w/o changing the meaning of the sentence – USE COMMAS
* My mother, Angela, is a wonderful cook.*
What is the exception to the comma rule in dates?
Month + year does not need a comma
July 2014
How do you tell if adjectives are coordinate?
Try switching the order of them: if the sentence still sounds natural, they are coordinate.
What are coordinate adjectives?
adjectives that modify a noun to an equal degree.
How do you punctuate coordinate adjectives?
separate them with a COMMA. Otherwise, do NOT use a comma.
- COORDINATING: That man is a pompous, arrogant, annoying idiot.
- NON-COORDINATING: The adorable little boy was eating ice cream.
What is a nonrestrictive clause?
A clause that adds information about something mentioned but does is not essential to identify that thing.
Posey’s Cafe, which Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
Are nonrestrictive clauses separated by commas?
yes
My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant physicist.
Nonrestrictive clauses commonly begin with these two words …
which
who
What is a RESTRICtIVE CLAUSE?
A clause that adds essential information to a sentence.
The cafe that Chester recommended is an excellent restaurant.