Many of you have been asking for help with punctuating between sentences. You want to know when you should use a comma and when you need a semicolon. Here are a few rules with examples that I hope you find very helpful.

Commas

Rule: Use a comma between two complete, long clauses (two subject and verb pairs) when conjunctions such as and, or, but, for, nor connect them.

Example: I have painted the entire house, but she is still working on sanding the floors.

Rule: If the clauses are short (your call), then leave out the comma.

Example: I painted and he sanded.

Rule: If you have only one clause (one subject and verb pair), do not use a comma in front of the conjunction.

Example: I have painted the house but still need to sand the floors.
This sentence has two verbs but only one subject, so it has only one clause.

Semicolons

So when does the semicolon get to have its time in the spotlight?

Rule: Use the semicolon if you have two clauses you are connecting without a conjunction.

Example: I have painted the house; I still need to sand the floors.

Rule: Also, use the semicolon when you have commas for smaller separations, and you need the semicolon to show a bigger separation.

Example: We had a reunion with family from Salt Lake City, Utah; Los Angeles, California; and Albany, New York.

Click here for previous tips and e-newsletters:

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
#1 on Amazon’s Grammar Reference Bestseller List!

An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, home-school families, editors, writers, & proofreaders.

The 10th Edition, published by Jossey-Bass, is now available! Click to order.

View entire contents online

* Confusing Words & Homonyms
* Grammar Rules
* Punctuation & Capitalization
* Rules for Writing Numbers
* More than Two Dozen FREE Quizzes in interactive format with answers

Discounts available for schools, bookstores, and multiple copies.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

**Donation of Blue Books to New Orleans Public Schools
I have donated 150 copies of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation to James Weldon Johnson Elementary School. Assistant Principal Kim Nance was very grateful and wanted everyone to know that the New Orleans schools need more textbooks as well as mental health professionals to work with the kids and families there. You may contact Kim directly at 5-40-861-7718 if you can be of service.
To read more about my work with Katrina survivors, visit my latest blog at StopEnduring.com.

** I am offering my subscription area quizzes free to One Laptop Per Child, a nonprofit organization that makes and donates laptops to children in developing countries worldwide. This will provide hundreds of thousands of children the English skills they so desperately want and need. I encourage you to check out OPLC at Laptop.org to learn how you can participate in their buy one/give one program.
Remember, you already have the opportunity to buy a subscription and give one FREE to your favorite teacher/school.

________________________________________
Jane’s English Usage Videos

Watch Jane deliver helpful usage tips at a book signing for her 10th Edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation!

Watch Jane’s video on Subject and Verb Agreement.
________________________________________
Valuable Link
Click here to read excerpts from Jane’s other wonderful book, Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life and listen to her podcasts. Learn more about Jane’s personal coaching work, speaking engagements, and articles that will inspire you to thrive. 10 Keys to an Extraordinary Life on Yahoo! Video or by joining mypathtv.com where you will also find Jane’s weekly advice column, “Ask Jane.”

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 9:30 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.