Punctuation

Commas , Click to expand

Separate two independent clauses (you must have a comma + a conjunction)
Separate independent and dependent clauses (when the dependent clause comes first)
Separate items in a series
To set off appositives

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Note: An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence

"The sun shines brightly." (Subject: sun, Verb: shines)
"She baked a chocolate cake." (Subject: She, Verb: baked)

"They went to the market." (Subject: They, Verb: went)

Using commas to connect independent clauses requires the addition of a coordinating conjunction:

Time:

3:00 / 6:45 / 2:15

Titles:

Proofreading: A Teacher's Meltdown Over Student Spelling

This Quote Shows: The Phrase That Sent Him Over the Edge

To announce, introduce, or direct attention to a list, a noun or noun phrase, a quotation, or an example/explanation.

Lists/series:

We covered many of the fundamentals in our writing class: grammar, punctuation, style, and voice.

Noun/noun phrase:

My roommate gave me the things I needed most: companionship and quiet.

Quotation:

Shakespeare said it best: “To thine own self be true.”

Example/explanation:

Many graduate students discover that there is a dark side to academia: late nights, high stress, and a crippling addiction to caffeinated beverages

To join sentences. You can use a colon to connect two sentences when the second sentence summarizes, sharpens, or explains the first. This is very uncommon.

Life is like a puzzle: half the fun is in trying to work it out.

In that instant Brandon made a decision: he would fly to Toronto and propose to Sean.

Silvia slumped in her chair and closed her eyes: she had never felt so dejected.

1. To help separate items in a list, when some of those items already contain commas.

I bought shiny, ripe apples; small, sweet, juicy grapes; and firm pears.

2. To join two sentences.

Semicolons can be used between two independent clauses when it suggests that there may be a close relationship between the two clauses—closer than you would expect if there were a period between them.

I went to the grocery store today; I bought a ton of fruit.

I bought a ton of fruit; apples, grapes, and pears were all on sale.

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