Mastering Commas and Semicolons:

Become a Grammar Champion

What is a comma?
A comma is a mark of punctuation used for indicating a division
in a sentence, as in setting off a word, phrase, or clause,
especially when such a division is accompanied by a slight pause
or is to be noted in order to give order to the sequential elements
of the sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/comma

When do we use Commas?

Commas are used to combine two independent

clauses connected by a coordinating
conjunction. (Independent clauses contain a
subject, verb, and express a complete thought.)
o E.g.) Seven men were arrested on the east
side, and ten more were taken into custody
six hours later.
They are also used to separate items in a list or
multiple adjectives, take the place of
parentheses, and they are used in introductory
elements/ prepositional phrases.
o I brought my computer, textbook, bookbag,
and my favorite pen for my chemistry class
today.
o My dog has huge, adorable, brown eyes.
o Before I go home today, I must go and pick
up my little brother from middle school.

Commas should go before coordinating

conjunctions.
o I love science, but I absolutely hate
physics.

Source:www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3988084.pdf
?acceptTC=true&jpdconfirm=true

Correct

vs.

Comma used with coordinating

conjunction
Jill was very excited when she
bought a cat from the pet store,
but later she decided she paid
too much money.

Incorrect
Comma splice
Jill was very excited when she
bought a cat from the pet store,
later she decided she paid too
much money.

What is a semicolon?
A semicolon is a mark of punctuation that indicates a major
division in a sentence where a more distinct separation is felt
between clauses or items on a list than is indicated by a comma,
as between the two clauses of a compound sentence.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/semicolon

When do we use
Semicolons?

Separate two independent clauses

without creating two sentences
o Dogs are my favorite type of
pets; I have a dog named Koji.
To separate items on a list when they
already contain commas.
o I have lived in New York City,
New York; North Brunswick,
New Jersey; Macungie,
Pennsylvania; and now
Charlotte, North Carolina.

Combine clauses connected by

conjunctive adverbs or transitional
phrases to connect similar ideas
o Some students will use google
docs for their project; others will
use powerpoint or prezi.
To separate long clauses and clearly
distinguish between different clauses

o Most students in the class

use their computers as their
journals; I however, prefer to
use my notebook as my
Sources: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semi-colonsjournal.
colons-and-dashes/
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html

Correct

vs.

Using a semicolon to separate all

items in a list with descriptive qualities

Incorrect
Only using a semicolon to separate
one item on the list

At the zoo I saw a loud, scary

lion; a big, grey elephant; and an
excited monkey.

At the zoo I saw a loud, scary

lion, a big, grey elephant; and an
excited monkey.

Semicolon use with two separate, but

related independent clauses
Jill was very excited when she
bought a cat from the pet store;
later she decided she paid too
much money.

Semicolon use with two separate, but

unrelated independent clauses.
Jill was very excited when she
bought a cat from the pet store;
Bob said hi to her earlier that
day.

Punctuation Fluctuation!
I hope that my psychology final is easy but I doubt that it will be.

I hope that my psychology final is easy, but I doubt that it will

be.
Even though we dont have assigned seats we all sit in the same
place everyday.
Even though we dont have assigned seats, we all sit in the
same place every day.
I paid attention to the first 30 minutes of class I think I deserve
to goof off for the next 45.
I paid attention to the first 30 minutes of class; I think I deserve to goof off

Punctuation Fluctuation!
I stayed up late to do homework for a class I ended up sleeping right
through it.
I stayed up late to do homework for a class; I ended up sleeping right
through it.

I find it really dumb how I bought a $450 parking pass and UNCC keeps
making me move my car somewhere else in lot 27.
I find it really dumb how I bought a $450 parking pass, and UNCC keeps
making me move my car somewhere else in lot 27.
This geology classroom smells like Waffle House its not helping my
severe hunger.
This geology classroom smells like Waffle House; its not helping my severe
hunger.

Last Chance!
My finance advisor Jill told me that in order to receive the pell grant I need
to fill out the FAFSA I really hope I qualify for the pell grant.
My finance advisor, Jill, told me that, in order to receive the pell grant, I
need to fill out the FAFSA; I really hope I qualify for the pell grant.
A coronal mass ejection which is a massive burst of solar winds and magnetic
fields rising above the solar corona and being released into space is actually
the science behind what happens in a solar flare a coronal mass ejection is
also responsible for the aurora borealis.

A coronal mass ejection, which is a massive burst of solar winds and magnetic
fields rising above the solar corona and being released into space, is actually
the science behind what happens in a solar flare; a coronal mass ejection is
also responsible for the aurora borealis.

sources
"comma." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 21 Sep. 2014. <Dictionary.com

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/comma>.
Dawson, J H. Helpful Hints for Technical Writing: The Comma. Allen Press, 1996. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
<www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3988084.pdf?acceptTC=true&jpdconfirm=true>.

"semicolon." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 21 Sep. 2014. <Dictionary.com

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/semicolon>.
"Semi-colons, colons, and dashes." The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill, 2010. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.

<http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semi-colons-colons-and-dashes/>.
"Using Semicolons." The Writer's Handbook. University of Wisconsin Center, 29 Aug. 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
<http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html>.