Independent clauses
Comma
splice
The trees in the forest were doomed, they
had to be cut down.
The trees in the forest were doomed;
they had to be cut down.
Where was the truck going, which direction was it heading.
Where was the truck going? Which
direction was it heading?
Where was the truck going; which
direction was it heading?
He has
just finished his seventh mystery novel and he has yet to have one published, he just keeps on trying.
He has just finished his seventh mystery novel, and he has
yet to have one published; he just keeps on trying.
He has just finished his seventh mystery novel, and he has
yet to have one published. He just keeps on
trying.
Run-on sentences
Nobody knows the trouble
I’ve seen nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen;
nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows but Jesus.
I didn’t know of anyone
who went I didn’t go myself.
I don't know of anyone who went.
I didn't go myself.
I don't know of anyone who went;
I didn't go myself.
John
bought a cheap set of watercolors thinking one day he would be a great painter he just
wanted to be like Picasso.
John bought a cheap set of watercolors, thinking one day he
would be a great painter. He just wanted to
be like Picasso.
John bought a cheap set of watercolors, thinking one day he
would be a great painter; he just wanted to
be like Picasso.
Coordinate conjunctions
According
to my professor the world is absolutely flat and you
should never forget it.
According to my professor, the world is absolutely,
positively flat, and you should never forget
it.
According to my professor, the world is absolutely,
positively flat; you should never forget it.
My son
was born on
My son was born on
Joe
got a new computer which set his parents back a good bit
and hes been dying to tell everybody about it.
Joe got a new computer, which set his parents back a good bit, and he's been dying
to tell everybody about it.
Where
are the carpenters where are the bricklayers and most
of all where are the gardeners when we need them the most.
Where are the carpenters, where
are the bricklayers, and, most of all, where
are the gardeners when we need them the most?
The horse came loping into the barn but there was no food for them.
The horses came loping into the barn,
but there was no food for them.
He has just finished his seventh mystery novel and he has yet to have one published, he just keeps on trying.
He has just finished his seventh mystery
novel, and he has yet to have one published; he
just keeps on trying.
Appositives
The responsible reporter one who is scrupulously honest will still
encounter problems.
The responsible reporter, one
who is scrupulously honest, will still encounter problems.
Series and serial commas
Writing for the mass media takes much skill perseverance and hard
work.
Writing for the mass media takes much
skill, perseverance and hard work.
Attribution
According to my professor the world is
absolutely positively flat and you should never forget it.
According to my professor, the
world is absolutely, positively flat, and you should never forget it.
He couldn’t come to class today Jan said because he had the flu.
He couldn't come to class today,
Jan said, because he had the flu. DO NOT ADD
QUOTATIONS MARKS
There, I said it again, don't do that any more.
There, I said it again, don't do that any more. DO NOT ADD QUOTATIONS MARKS
Independent modifiers
According
to my professor the world is absolutely positively flat
and you should never forget it.
According to my professor, the world is absolutely, positively flat, and you should never
forget it.
Dates
My son
was born on No. 15 1980 It was a Saturday so I didnt get to go to the football game.
My son was born on
Contractions
My son was born on
Joe got a new computer, which set his parents back a good
bit, and he's been
dying to tell everybody about it.
Why don't you come over
to my place?
Wow, I couldn't think of
any place better to eat.
Non-restrictive clauses
Joe got a new computer, which
set his parents back a good bit, and he's been dying to tell everybody about it.
Question marks
Where are the carpenters, where are the bricklayers, and,
most of all, where are the gardeners when we need them the most?
Why don't you come over to my place?
Where was the truck going; which direction was it heading?
Parenthetical expressions
Where are the carpenters, where are the bricklayers, and, most of all, where are the gardeners when we
need them the most?
Introductory elements
Wow, I couldn't think
of any place better to eat. [Avoid
use of exclamation points.]
Subordinate conjunctions
Many are the times the farmer wished he had bought more land
because years ago it was cheap; it was
plentiful.
Many are the times the farmer wished he had bought more land
because years ago it was cheap and it was
plentiful.
Many are the times the farmer wished he had bought more land
because years ago it was cheap and plentiful.
Participle
John bought a cheap set of watercolors,
thinking one day he would be a great painter. He just wanted to be like
Picasso.
CORRECT
There, I said it again, don't do that any more.
The
He has an unusual hobby, he transplants trees, but he says
he likes doing it because it gives him a chance to get outside most of the
time.