Transcript Other Punctuation notesx

VI. Other Punctuation
A. Use Semicolons To…
1. To join 2 independent clauses
 I went ice fishing last Saturday; we didn’t catch anything.
2. To join 2 independent clauses with a conjunctive
adverb
 however, finally, therefore, consequently, furthermore,
also, besides, etc.
 I enjoyed ice fishing last Saturday; consequently, I think I
will go again.
3. To separate items in a list IF the item is very long or
contains commas
 On vacation they went to Chino, California; Phoenix,
Arizona; and Kansas City, Missouri.
 I wrote to Dan, who lives in New Zealand; Mark, who
lives in England; and Joe, who lives in Holland.
B. Use Colons…
1. Before a list or an explanation that comes AFTER A
COMPLETE CLAUSE. ***Never split up a verb and a
DO***
 There is only one thing left to do now: confess while you
still have time.
 I needed the following items from the store: milk,
cheese, and butter.
2. To introduce a quotation
 The acting director often used her favorite quotation
from Shakespeare's Tempest: "We are such stuff as
dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a
sleep."
3. In Bible verses, time, business letters
C. Use Dashes…
1. To emphasize a point or set off an explanatory
comment (don’t overuse, though, or they lose
effectiveness).
 To some of you, my proposals may seem radical—
even revolutionary.
 I love dashes—they are so versatile.
2. For an appositive that already contains
commas.
 The boys—Jim, John, and Jeff—left the party early.
D. Use Italics…
1. To set off titles of complete works: magazines,
books, newspapers, journals, movies, TV
shows, & plays.
 For awhile last year, Jason and I watched Scrubs
every night from 10-11.
 One of my favorite books is My Antonia by Willa
Cather.
 Poems, story titles, and articles get quotation
marks, not italics!
VII. Subject/Verb
Agreement
and
Noun/Pronoun
Agreement
A. Subject/Verb Agreement
1. When the Subject is made up of two or more
nouns connected by the word “AND”, use a
plural verb.
•
Susan and her friends are at the fair.
2. When two or more singular nouns are
connected by “OR” or “NOR”, use a singular
verb.
•
Neither the book nor the pen is in the drawer.
3. When a singular and a plural noun are
connected by “OR” or “NOR”, the verb should
agree with the one CLOSEST to it.
•
•
My mom or my aunts call my grandma every day.
My aunts or my mom calls my grandma every day.
4. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes
between the subject and the verb.
•
•
•
One of the boxes is open.
The people who listen to Madonna are few.
The teacher, unlike her students, likes grammar.
5. Tricky singular words: each, each one,
neither, everyone, everybody, anyone,
anybody, nobody, somebody, someone, no
one. They require singular verbs.
•
•
•
Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
Either is correct.
6. Special Cases
•
•
•
Nouns like civics, mathematics, dollars, and news
require singular verbs.
Dollars: singular when referring to the amount of
money, plural when referring to the dollars
themselves.
Nouns like scissors and trousers require plural
verbs.
7. In sentences that begin with “There is…”
or “There are…”, the verb agrees with
what follows the verb.
•
•
There are many questions.
There is a question.
8. Collective Nouns: words that imply more than one
person but are considered singular and require a
singular verb. (group, team, committee, class,
family)
•
•
The team runs during practice.
The committee decides how to proceed.
9. Expressions such as “with,” “together with,”
“including,” “accompanied by,” ”in addition to,” or “as
well” do not change the number of the subject.
•
•
The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to India.
All of the books, including yours, are in that box.
B. Noun/Pronoun Agreement
1. Number
a. Singular noun needs a singular pronoun,
plural noun needs a plural pronoun
•
•
If a student parks in the parking lot, he or she needs
a parking permit hanging from his or her mirror.
If students park in the parking lot, they need a
parking permit hanging in their mirrors.
 Tricky words: everybody, anybody, anyone,
each, neither, nobody, someone, a person,
etc.—are singular
2. Person
a. Don’t switch between first, second, and third
•
•
When a person comes to class, he or she should have
his or her homework ready.
NOT: When a person comes to class, you should have
your homework ready.