1.

Coach Espinoza who took her team to the Final Four last year might take a job with
Notre Dame.
Espinoza who took her team to the Final Four last year, might
Espinoza, who took her team to the Final Four last year might
Espinoza, who took her team to the Final Four last year, might
no punctuation needed
The modifying clause (who took her team to the Final Four this year) is a
parenthetical element. It can be removed without changing the essential meaning
of the sentence. Such parenthetical elements should be set off by commas. To see if
part of a sentence is parenthical, try removing it. If the sentence still makes sense
you should probably put commas around that element.

The UConn women's basketball program is among the nation's best however they play in
one of the weaker conferences.
best; however, they
best, however, they
best, however; they
no punctuation needed
We can use a semicolon here (along with the transitional expression) to separate
the two independent clauses. A typical pattern is semicolon + transitional
expression + comma.

3. Phuong wasn't worried at all about the exam because she had prepared so well over the
break.
exam because, she
exam because, she
exam, because she
no punctuation needed
4. After UConn won the national championship in 1995 the coach found recruiting much
easier.
in 1995, the coach

no punctuation needed
The first part of the sentence (ending with 1995) is an adverb clause. When an
adverb clause begins a sentence, it should be separated from the independent
clause by a comma.

The best production facilities are in Atlanta Georgia Boston Massachusetts and Phoenix
Arizona.
in Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, and Phoenix, Arizona.
in Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; and Phoenix, Arizona.
in Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts and; Phoenix, Arizona.
no punctuation needed
Use a semicolon to separate the elements of a "monster list" -- a list in which the
elements themselves contain commas.

6. Raoul earned three A's last semester but his one downfall was Advanced Algebra.
semester but, his
semester, but, his
semester, but his
no punctuation needed
We use a comma plus a little conjunction -- in that order -- (and, but, for, nor, yet,
so) to connect two independent clauses.

7. He told his customers what they wanted to hear that he would stand behind his product.
what they wanted to hear, that he
no punctuation needed
what they wanted to hear: that he
what they wanted to hear; that he
When the sentence comes to a complete halt (after what could be an independent
clause) and an explanation or list will follow, use a colon.

8. His favorite television programs are Homicide NYPD Blue ER and Chicago Hope.

are Homicide, NYPD Blue, ER, and Chicago Hope

are: Homicide NYPD Blue ER and Chicago Hope
are; Homicide NYPD Blue ER and Chicago Hope
no punctuation needed
This sentence doesn't come to a complete halt before the list, so it is not
appropriate to use a colon here. However, we do need those commas to separate
the elements of our list.

9. "My Old Kentucky Home a tune by Stephen Foster, is Kentucky's state song.
Home" a tune
Home", a tune
Home," a tune
no punctuation needed
In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks. And we need
a comma here to set apart a parenthetical element. ("A tune by Stephen Foster" can
be removed from the sentence without changing the essential meaning of the
sentence.)

11. The Computer Services Department spent most of its money on upgrading old
computers and installing new machines in the Learning Assistance Center.
computers, and installing
computers, and, installing
computers and, installing
no punctuation needed
A little conjunction can connect two things by itself; no comma is necessary. Two
things do not constitute a list.