Punctuation Formulas
PARALELLISM1. complete sentence conjunction (FANBOYS) inc (SEE #2)
EX: Eddie swam at the river every day this summer and ate at the Dairy Queen after every trip.
COMMAS
2. complete sentence , conjunction (FANBOYS) complete sentence
EX: Robert wears the same pair of socks to P.E. everyday, but he does not seem to mind the foul stench.
3. inc , complete sentence EX: Yesterday, I died.
4. complete sentence , inc EX: I died yesterday, which was unfortunate.
SEMICOLONS
5. complete sentence ; complete sentence
EX: The drive to the beach had been long and hot; the return home had not been any better.
COLONS
6. complete sentence : list , *quotation , word , *inc , *complete sentence (SEE #10)
EX: The old man complained of many flu symptoms, such as: fever, aching muscles, runny nose, and coughing.
7. complete sentence : list ; *quotation ; word ; *inc ; *complete sentence (SEE #10)
EX: The following people comprised the Fellowship of the Ring: Frodo, a Hobbit with the ability to resist the temptations of the Ring; Aragorn, a warrior who is avoiding his responsibility of being the King; Legolas , an elf who is an excellent archer; and Gandalf, a sagacious wizard and the spiritual leader of the group
CONJUCNTION (FANBOYS) EXCEPTIONS
8. complete sentence ; however , complete sentence (SEE #2)
9. complete sentence because complete sentence (SEE #2)
PUNCTUATING AND CITING QUOTES
10.
EX: After researching climate change for ten years, Al Gore said, “ The end is near ” (4) .
EX: In Of Mice and Men, when Lennie says , “Tell me about the rabbits, George” (Steinbeck 34) , the students usually smile.
inc = incomplete sentence FANBOYS = For And Nor But Or Yet So
↓ ↓
Because However
Grammar and Punctuation Rules:
1. Complete Sentence = Independent Clause
EX: The volume faded.
↑ ↑
Noun / subject Verb / Predicate
↓ ↓
EX: The teenager heard static.
2. Incomplete Sentence = Dependant Clause = Phrase = Fragment
EX: which smells like rotten eggs.
↑
Verb/ Predicate (There is no Noun/ subject performing the action.)
EX: with a team of soldiers, scientists, and volunteers.
(There is neither a Noun/ subject performing the action nor a Verb.)
3. A Conjunction and a comma connect two complete sentences together
For = because
And
Nor
But = however
Or
Yet
So
· Complete sentence + comma + conjunction + Complete sentence
EX: Robert wears the same pair of socks to P.E. everyday, but he does not seem to mind the foul stench.
EX: The volume faded, and the teenager heard static.
· Complete sentence + conjunction + Incomplete Sentence [Parallelism]
EX: Eddie swam at the river every day this summer and ate at the Dairy Queen
after every trip.
4. Commas ,
· Commas are used to divide a complete sentence from an incomplete sentence.
EX: Before I came to college, I worked at WalMart.
EX: Because Robert wears the same pair of socks to P.E. everyday, everybody suffers.
· Commas (with a conjunction) are used to divide two complete sentences.
EX: You will bring me your book report, and I will give you feedback tomorrow.
· Commas are used to divide verbs or things when making a list.
EX: Justin asked for markers, erasers, and flip charts.
EX: Tyler will start the car, put it in reverse, back-out of the garage, shift into first gear, press on the accelerator, and drive away.
5. Semi-colons ;
· A semi-colon is like a period. It is used when you have two complete sentences that mean basically the same thing.
EX: Things had gone too far for Michael; he decided to do something fast.
EX: The drive to the beach had been long and hot; the return home had not been any better.
· A semi-colon is a super-comma; it is a divider more powerful than a comma.
EX: Last year was our worst year; next year will be better.
· Use a semi-colon to avoid confusion when making a list or when a sentence has internal commas
EX: I cannot attend the staff meeting this morning; but I will send Mrs. Mohn, my obedient wife, who will tell me what happened.
EX: The following people comprised the Fellowship of the Ring: Frodo, a Hobbit with the ability to resist the temptations of the Ring; Aragorn, a warrior who is avoiding his responsibility of being the King; Legolas, an elf who is an excellent archer; and Gandalf, a sagacious wizard and the spiritual leader of the group
6. Colons :
· A colon introduces a list, a word, phrase, quotation or a complete sentence. A complete sentence must precede the colon.
EX: I need you to get the following things at the store: milk, butter, bacon, eggs, bread, cereal, and coffee.
EX: When you’re climbing up a ladder and you feel something splatter: diarrhea.
EX: In the end, there is only one thing that truly matters: The love of family.
EX: Before Larry the Cable Guy left the stage, he had one final comment: “Get ‘er done!”
EX: When faced with a defining moment, you have one of two choices: You can define the moment or let the moment define you.
EX: This is the point I’m trying to make: You need to learn how to use punctuation correctly.
7. Dash --
· Dashes are used to show a sudden break or interruption in a sentence.
EX: There is one thing—actually several things—that I find hard to
believe.
· Dashes are used to emphasize a word or series of words.
EX: High tech job—ones that require both technical education and on-the-
job-training—are extremely popular right now.
EX: I think that one of these career choices—computer science, computer programming, or systems analyst—is my ticket to employment in the future.
8. Parenthesis ( )
· Parenthesis are used around words that are included in a sentence to add information to help make an idea clearer.
EX: Cures for diseases (from arthritis to AIDS) may be found in plants in the rain forest. Fewer than 10 percent of the plant species in the world have been studied (a total of over 250,000 species.
9. Apostrophes ’
· Use apostrophes to show that one or more letters have been left out of a word.
EX: don’t = do not; can’t = cannot; I’m = I am; I’ll = I will
· Use apostrophes to show that a SINGULAR subject/ noun possesses or owns something.
EX: Dr. Smith’s theory is that the world’s population will double in 20 years.
EX: Texas’s oil is better than Alaska’s oil.
EX: Texas’ oil is better than Alaska’s oil.
EX: My boss’s office is very organized.
· Use apostrophes to show that a PLURAL subject/ noun possesses or owns something.
EX: The victims’ cars were destroyed in the accident.
(they have different cars)
EX: The Joneses’ map helped them find the Holy Grail.
EX: My bosses’ office is very organized.
(two share the same office)
10. Subject / Verb Agreement
· The subject is either a noun or a pronoun. The verb must be in agreement with the subject.
PRESENT SINGULAR (1) PRESENT PLURAL (2 or more)
Pronoun / Verb / Pronoun / VerbI / am; see / We / are; see
You / are; see / You All / are; see
He; She; It; Everyone / is; sees / They / are; see
PAST SINGULAR (1) PAST PLURAL (2 or more)
Pronoun / Verb / Pronoun / VerbI / was; saw / We / were; saw
You / were; saw / You All / were; saw
He; She; It; Everyone / was; saw / They / were; saw
FUTURE SINGULAR (1) FUTURE PLURAL (2 or more)
Pronoun / Verb / Pronoun / VerbI / will be; will see / We / will be; will see
You / will be; will see / You All / will be; will see
He; She; It; Everyone / will be; will see / They / will be; will see
11. Parallelism (or Parallel Structure)
· The list of verbs in the sentence must be in the same tense and match the subject/ noun in agreement.
EX: The doctor took her temperature, checked her heartbeat, and tested her reflexes. (Past Tense)
EX: Eddie swam at the river every day this summer and ate at the Dairy Queen after every trip. (Past Tense)
EX: Tyler will start the car, put it in reverse, back-out of the garage, shift into first gear, press on the accelerator, and drive away. (Future Tense)
EX: Tyler starts the car, puts it in reverse, backs-out of the garage, shifts into first gear, presses on the accelerator, and drives away. (Present Tense)
12. ACTIVE VOICE vs. Passive Voice
· A verb is in ACTIVE VOICE if the subject (noun or pronoun) is DOING the action in a sentence. WRITE using ACTIVE VOICE.
EX: Mayra cannot concentrate in class.
noun verb
EX: She dreams of going to galaxies light-years from Earth.
pronoun verb
EX: Mayra giggles out-loud when she thinks of something funny.
noun verb pronoun verb
· A verb is in Passive Voice if the subject (noun or pronoun) is RECEIVING the action instead of personally doing the action. HINT: The word “by” is almost always in a sentence using the Passive Voice
EX: Usually, her daydreams are shattered by reality.
pronoun verb
Active Voice: Usually, reality shatters her daydreams.
EX: San Francisco was shaken by an earthquake.
noun verb
Active Voice: An Earthquake shook San Francisco.
EX: Yesterday, we were invited by our neighbors to attend their party.
pronoun verb
Active Voice: Yesterday, our neighbors invited us to attend their party.
EX: Alex was attacked yesterday. (Q: Who did the attacking?)
↑ ↑
Noun verb
Active Voice: Maggie attacked Alex yesterday.
13. Transition Words or Phrases
· Transitions are used to connect or tie ideas in a sentence or paragraph together
Add information and Clarify / additionally, again, along with, also, and, and then, another, as well as, besides, equally important, finally, first, for example, for instance, further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, last, moreover, next, other, second, still, tooCompare two things / also, as, in the same way, like, likewise, similarly, while
Contrast two things / although, and yet, at the same time, but at the same time, despite that, even so, even though, for all that, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, though, yet, whereas
Concession / granted, naturally, of course
Emphasize a point / again, certainly, especially, for this reason, indeed, in fact, of course, to emphasize, to repeat, to reiterate, truly, undoubtedly
Example or Illustration / after all, as an illustration, even, for example, for instance, in conclusion, indeed, in fact, in other words, in short, it is true, of course, namely, specifically, that is, to illustrate, thus, truly
Summary / all in all, altogether, as has been said, basically, essentially, finally, in brief, in conclusion, in essence, in other words, in particular, in short, in simpler terms, in summary, lastly, on the whole, over all, that is, therefore, to put it differently, to summarize
Time sequence / after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, as soon as, at last, at length, at that time, before, besides, during, earlier, eventually, finally, first, formerly, further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, in the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, next, now, presently, second, secondly, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, still, subsequently, then, thereafter, today, tomorrow, too, until, until now, when, yesterday
Transitions: Moving from one idea to another
For the beginning quotes…
TRANSITIONS TO CLARIFYfor example / for instance / in other words / put another way
seems clear from this / simply stated / stated differently / that is
to clarify / to illustrate the point
For secondary quotes…
TRANSITIONS TO COMPARE ITEMSaccordingly / also / as / comparable to
in the same way / in the same manner / in conjunction with this / just as
like / likewise / similarly / sometimes
TRANSITIONS TO EMPHASIZE A POINT
again / another key point / first thing to remember
for this reason / frequently / important to realize
indeed / in fact / key point
most compelling evidence / most important information / must be remembered
on the negative side / on the positive side / point often overlooked
significant that / surprising / surprisingly enough
to emphasize / to point out / to repeat
truly / with this in mind
TRANSITIONS TO CONTRAST ITEMS
although / as opposed to / but / conversely / counter to
even so / even though / however / in spite of this / in the meantime
nevertheless / on the contrary / on the other hand / otherwise / sometimes
still / whereas / yet
TRANSITIONS TO ADD INFORMATION
additionally / again / along with / also / and
another / as well / besides / equally important / finally
for example / for instance / further / furthermore / in addition
likewise / moreover / next / together with
For circle sentences and conclusions…
TRANSITIONS TO CONCLUDE OR SUMMARIZEaccordingly / all in all / as a result / consequently
due to / finally / in closing / in conclusion
in short / in summary / in the last analysis / lastly
logical conclusion is / therefore / thus / hence
Yet some more…
TRANSITIONS TO ENUMERATEThese transitions are to be used as sets; more transitions can be added to each set as needed.
§ first
§ second
§ third
/ one important
equally important
most important
/ a significant
another significant
of greatest significance
/ first
next
last
/ in the beginning
toward the middle
at the end
/ one
also
in addition