OWL - Online Writing Lab: Punctuation

Remember the old saying that when you take a breath you should add a comma.

Not true!! There really are rules and none of them have to do with breathing.

Use a comma to

•  Set off an introductory word, phrase, or clause.
  
  "Haltingly, Jim answered the question in class."
  "Even though tired from lack of sleep, Sally made an A on her Greek test."
  
  
• Separate clauses in compound sentences (make sure you also use a coordinating conjunction).
  
  "Alan built a snowman yesterday, and he also shoveled the driveway."
  
  
• Set off nonrestrictive elements (clauses, phrases, and words that do not limit the words they modify).
  
  "Gene March, who attended Austin Seminary, is a wonderful professor and a great asset to LPTS."
  • "Who attended Austin Seminary" is not essential to the meaning of the sentence because it does not limit who it modifies.
  • If there were two Gene Marchs at LPTS then "who attended Austin Seminary" would be essential information distinguishing between the two Genes and the commas would not be added.
    
    
• Set off appositives (a noun or phrase that renames a nearby noun).
   "John Grisham's new book, Skipping Christmas, is an easy read about a middle age couple who decide to forgo all the social conventions of Christmas."
  
  
• Separate three or more items in a series (back to the "old" way of doing it!).
  
  "Spring semester I am taking Scripture II, HCE, and NT Exegesis.
• Introduce a quotation
  "Raymond Brown opines that, 'NT writing about Jesus and his disciples relate a story enacted on the stage of history.'

Writing well is a lot more than just correct grammar, but it is an important element.

Do you know the difference between colons ( : ) and semi-colons ( ; )? Here are the rules.

Use colons:

• between the hour and minutes-8:15
• after the salutation of a business letter-Dear Madam:
• to introduce a list, examples, a series of statements, or a long quotation. The only trick here is that the part of the sentence that comes before the colon must be a complete sentence. Correct-Jim took three courses last semester: Old Testament, Hebrew, and HCE. Incorrect: My favorite foods are: spinach, okra, and turnips.

Use semi-colons:

• between two clauses of a compound sentence when they are not connected by a conjunction. Correct: It's going to snow this weekend; I need to get out the shovels. Incorrect-It's going to snow this weekend; and I need to get out the shovels.
• between independent clauses which are joined by a conjunctive adverb such as therefore, hence, however, nevertheless, accordingly, then, and thus. Correct-I partied too hardy last night; consequently, I failed my Greek test.

Don't rely on the grammar checker on your computer. It often does not catch these. These are but a few of the rules for colons and semicolons. Check a grammar handbook for more details.

Remember that academic writing is extremely formal. This advice may not be true for other types of writing.

Parentheses 

• enclose material that is of minor or secondary importance to the sentence, use vary sparingly

"Since I am from Florida, I bought a winter coat before coming to Louisville (someone told me that they often have snow).

Dashes 

• insert a comment or highlights material-use only in moderation

  "Learning Greek in J-term-who wouldn't remember that experience-was a challenge."

• mark a sudden change in tone

  "Mother's suggestions were unsolicited-although helpful."

Slashes separates alternatives 

• The writer should try to circumvent the use of slashes as they are awkward to read and can be misleading.

  "We are going to the movies and/or to dinner."

• Shy away from the slash he/she when trying to avoid gender specific language. It is usually better to rewrite the sentence.

  "A student needs to study for many hours in order for him/her to earn an A." This construction is awkward. Usually the pronoun can be left out, or the sentence can be rewritten.