ENG 102

APOSTROPHES, COM MAS, SEM ICOLONS,

COLONS

APOSTROPHES

APOSTROPHES
Use an apostrophe to indicate that a noun is possessive
The hat of Tim
Tims hat
The desk of the lawyers

The lawyers desk

The camper of Joyce and Greg
Joyce and Gregs camper
The memoir of my father-in-law
My father-in-laws memoir

APOSTROPHES
Use an apostrophe and s to indicate that a plural noun or
a noun ending in s is possessive

The bowl of the dogs

Technically The dogss bowl
But we say - The dogs bowl (means two dogs)
Same with Achilles heel
However, if the s is pronounced, write it: Zeuss lightening
bolt

APOSTROPHES
Use an apostrophe and s to indicate that an indefinite
pronoun is possessive (everyone, someone, no one,
something)
The raincoat of someone
Someones raincoat

APOSTROPHES
Use an apostrophe to mark omissions in contractions and
numbers
Its = it is
Its
_____ raining outside.
Each area had _____ own desk.
Use an apostrophe to mark omissions of the first two digits of a
year or years
The class of 08
The generation of the 60s (notice it isnt 60s)
The 60s generation
The 1960s generation

APOSTROPHES
Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of numbers,
abbreviations, and words mentioned as words
Do use an apostrophe to form the plural of letters
Oksana skated nearly perfect figure 8s.
The 1920s are known as the Jazz age.
He received two Ds for the first time in his life.
Beginning readers often confuse bs and ds.
Students with straight As earn high honors.

The Is in the sign are crooked.

Harriet has thirty DVDs on her desk.

APOSTROPHES
Avoid common misuses of the apostrophe.
Some outpatients have special parking permits.
The House on Mango Street was written by Sandra Cisneros,
whos work focuses on the Latino community in the United
States.

APOSTROPHE SONG
Watch the following video.
Write down examples of apostrophe misuse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2aSz9Ficw

COMMAS

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS

When do you use a comma?

COMMAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnl1O3NGJk

COMMAS
6 basic rules
1. Separate items in lists of 3+
2. Before a coordinating conjunction
3. Around information that is not essential to the
meaning of the sentence (this covers 9 rules)

4. Between consecutive adjectives

5. Omissions
6. Conventions

COMMAS
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining
independent clauses

*coordinating conjunctions = FANBOYS

The department sponsored a seminar on college survival
skills and it also hosted a barbecue for new students.
Do NOT use a comma to separate coordinate word groups
that are not independent clauses

A good money manager controls expenses, and invests

surplus dollars to meet future needs.
*not two complete sentences

COMMAS
Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase
When Irwin was ready to iron his cat tripped on the cord.

*an easy way to determine an introductory clause is if it can

be placed at end of sentence
His cat tripped on the cord when Irwin was ready to iron.
*no comma needed.
In no time we were at 2,800 feet.

We were at 2,800 feet in no time.

COMMAS
Use a comma between all items in a series
Bubbles of air leaves ferns bits of wood and insects are
often found trapped in amber.

*MLA uses the Oxford comma

*APA does NOT use the Oxford comma

COMMAS
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined
with and. Do not use a comma between cumulative
adjectives. (use the and test)
Roberto is a warm gentle affectionate father.
Three large gray shapes moved slowly toward us.

COMMAS
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive (nonessential)
elements (gives extra information)

The campers need sturdy shoes which are expensive.

How do the meanings of these two sentences differ because
of the commas?

The dessert made with fresh raspberries was delicious.

The dessert, made with fresh raspberries, was delicious.
In the first example, the phrase made with fresh raspberries
tells readers which of two or more desserts the writer is
referring to. In the example with commas, the phrase merely
adds information about the dessert.

COMMAS
Use commas to set off transitional and parenthetical
expressions, absolute phrases, and word groups
expressing contrast
*think of it as stuff that isnt needed in the sentence
Minh did not understand our language; moreover he was
unfamiliar with our customs.

As a matter of fact American football was established in the

mid-nineteenth century.

COMMAS
Use commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words
yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections

Forgive me Angela for forgetting your birthday.

Use commas with expressions such as he said to set off
direct quotations
If you learn the basic rules of commas, people will think you
are a writing genius Jeannine advised.

COMMAS
Use commas with dates, addresses, titles, and number
On December 12 1980 orders were sent out for the arrest of
Sitting Bull.

The security alert system went into effect on 15 April 2009.

Use a comma to prevent confusion
Patients who can walk up and down the halls every day.
To err is human; to forgive divine.

*avoid overuse

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS

When do you use a comma?

SEMICOLONS
COLONS

SEMICOLON

USED TO CONNECT MA JOR SENTENCE ELEMENTS OF EQUAL GRAMMATICAL

RANK

Use a semicolon between closely related complete

sentences not joined with a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS)
In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York
City to Chicago; in 1860, the trip by railroad took only two
days.

SEMICOLON
Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a
transitional expression
Many corals grow very gradually; in fact, the creation of a coral
reef can take centuries.
Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal
punctuation
Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock,
Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylons, and Star Wars, with Han
Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.
Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock;
Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylons; Star Wars, with Han Solo,
Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

SEMICOLON
Do not use a semicolon between an appositive and the word
to which it refers
WRONG - The scientists were fascinated by the species
Argyroneta aquatica; a spider that lives underwater.
Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list
WRONG - Some of my favorite foods include; pizza, fries,
and lobster.
Do not use a semicolon between sentences joined by
FANBOYS
WRONG - Five of the applicants had worked with
spreadsheets; but only one was familiar with database
management.

SEMICOLON RULES
Use a semicolon between closely related complete sentences not
joined with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)
Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a
transitional expression
Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal
punctuation

Do not use a semicolon between an appositive and the word to which it

refers
Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list
Do not use a semicolon between sentences joined by FANBOYS

COLONS

COLONS
USED PRIMARILY TO CALL ATTENTION TO WORDS THAT FOLLOW

Use a colon after an independent clause to direct attention

to a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a
summary/explanation
The daily routine should have included at least the following
items: twenty knee bends, fifty sit-ups, and five minutes of
running in place.

My roommate is guilty of two of the seven deadly sins:

gluttony and sloth.
What do these two sentences have in common? This is the
rule of thumb for colon usage.

COLONS
Use a colon according to convention
Dear Sir or Madam:

5:30 p.m.
In proportions 2:1

Title and Subtitle The Glory of Hera: Greek Mythology

and the Greek Family

COLONS
Avoid using a colon between a verb and its
object/complement
WRONG - Some important vitamins found in vegetables are:
vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, and vitamin C.
Avoid using a colon between a preposition and its object

WRONG The hearts two pumps each consist of: an upper

chamber, or atrium, and a lower chamber, or ventricle.
Avoid using a colon after such as, including, or for example
WRONG The NCAA regulates college athletic teams,
including: basketball, baseball, softball, and football.

UPCOMING DATES
Thursday 10/27 Conferences

Tuesday 11/1 Visual Argument Rough Drafts

Final copy due Tuesday 11/8
Annotated Bib mulligans due Tuesday 11/8 (last day
this assignment will be accepted, period!)