1. after the closing of a letter 1. comma 2. after initials

1. After the closing of a letter

1. comma

2. After initials

2. period

3. After the greeting of a business letter

3. colon

4. To replace omitted letters in

contractions

4. apostrophe

5. At the end of a politely worded

question

5. period

6. Between independent clauses when no conjunction

is used

6. semicolon

7. To show possession in proper nouns

7. apostrophe

8. To set off the name of the person

spoken to

8. comma

9. To separate the minutes and hours when writing time

9. colon

10. To enclose titles of poems, articles, and chapters of books

10. Quotation marks

11. After the salutation of a friendly letter

11. comma

The Comma

1. Does a pressure cooker have a

safety valve Clara?

1. Does a pressure cooker have a

safety valve, Clara?

2. Changes in pressure can be quite dangerous.

2. Changes in pressure can be quite dangerous.

correct

3. One of the first places a diver feels pressure changes

Teresa is the eardrum.

3. One of the first places a diver feels pressure changes,

Teresa, is the eardrum.

4. I’ve heard Clara that divers hold their noses and blow when they

start to feel pain in their ears.

4. I’ve heard, Clara, that divers hold their noses and blow when they

start to feel pain in their ears.

5. Yes swallowing also helps to

equalize pressure.

5. Yes, swallowing also helps to

equalize pressure.

6. Air pressure exerts a different amount of

force on the filling than on the tooth and

Clara under severe conditions it can cause a tooth to

collapse.

6. Air pressure exerts a different amount of

force on the filling than on the tooth, and, Clara, under

severe conditions it can cause a tooth to

collapse.

7. Oh I know the definition of esprit de corps a French phrase meaning “team spirit.”

7. Oh, I know the definition of esprit de corps, a French phrase meaning “team spirit.”

8. No this machine a recent model does not use as much electricity oil and water as the older

model.

8. No, this machine, a recent model, does not use as much electricity, oil, and water as the older model.

9. School alterations a large item in the

budget are necessary because of the

inadequate cafeteria facilities and the

undersized auditorium.

9. School alterations, a large item in the

budget, are necessary because of the

inadequate cafeteria facilities and the

undersized auditorium.

10. Mr. Wortham, trying not to

chuckle, offered to help us clean up

the mess.

10. Mr. Wortham, trying not to

chuckle, offered to help us clean up the

mess.correct

11. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin who won a

1964 Nobel Prize determined the

molecular structure of vitamin B12.

11. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, who won a

1964 Nobel Prize, determined the

molecular structure of vitamin B12.

12. Species of turtles, that live in regions with harsh

winters, must hibernate.

12. Species of turtles, that live in regions with harsh

winters, must hibernate.

13. Speleologists are scientists, who

study caves and the organisms that

live in them.

13. Speleologists are scientists, who

study caves and the organisms that

live in them.

14. The puppy excited to see its owner wagged its

tail vigorously.

14. The puppy, excited to see its

owner, wagged its tail vigorously.

15. By explaining the refraction of light

through water I can give sensible reasons

for these strange appearances.

15. By explaining the refraction of light

through water, I can give sensible reasons

for these strange appearances.

16. Ascending the tree one branch at a time

Mrs. Weinberg eventually reached the stranded kitten.

16. Ascending the tree one branch at a time,

Mrs. Weinberg eventually reached the stranded kitten.

17. While I was working at the gas station I learned a

lot about cars.

17. While I was working at the gas station, I learned a

lot about cars.

18. Chasing a fly ball in center field Armand stepped in a hole and sprained

his ankle.

18. Chasing a fly ball in center field, Armand stepped in a hole and sprained

his ankle.

19. If people object to my suggestions let them state their

reasons.

19. If people object to my suggestions, let them state their

reasons.

Semicolons and Colons

20. My mom is reading Shadow and Act it is a

collection of essays by Ralph Ellison.

20. My mom is reading Shadow and Act; it is a collection of essays

by Ralph Ellison.

21. The largest urban areas in Southeast Asia are centered around the

cities of Manila, Philippines Jakarta,

Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand.

21. The largest urban areas in Southeast Asia are centered around the

cities of Manila, Philippines; Jakarta,

Indonesia; and Bangkok, Thailand.

22. Ships on the Caribbean Sea might carry sugar from the

West Indies coffee from Colombia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala or bananas

from Panama.

22. Ships on the Caribbean Sea might carry sugar from the

West Indies; coffee from Colombia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala; or bananas

from Panama.

23. The Abeita family has three dogs, a cat,

and a parrot and Jaime, Miguel, and Julia have

been asking for a horse.

23. The Abeita family has three dogs, a cat,

and a parrot; and Jaime, Miguel, and Julia have been asking for a

horse.

24. The reviewer praised the special

effects however, she criticized the screenplay.

24. The reviewer praised the special

effects; however, she criticized the screenplay.

25. The letter began, “Dear Dr. Garcia Thank you for considering my application for kennel

attendant at your clinic.”

25. The letter began, “Dear Dr. Garcia: Thank you for considering my application for kennel

attendant at your clinic.”

26. Katrina wrote her book report on The

Golden Gate A Novel in Verse by Vikram

Seth.

26. Katrina wrote her book report on The

Golden Gate: A Novel in Verse by Vikram

Seth.

27. The play doesn’t start until 800 p.m. however, we should plan to arrive early.

27. The play doesn’t start until 8:00 p.m.; however, we should plan to arrive early.

28. The lecture begins at 200 Dr. Durand

will be discussing the literary elements of

Psalm 104 1-50.

28. The lecture begins at 2:00; Dr. Durand

will be discussing the literary elements of

Psalm 104: 1-50.

29. Mrs. Hershey has visited several cities in

Canada Toronto, Ontario Edmonton, Alberta and Halifax,

Nova Scotia.

29. Mrs. Hershey has visited several cities in

Canada: Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; and Halifax,

Nova Scotia.