grammar slammer

The colon is used in the following incidences:

. after an independent clause that leads to listing or defining 2. between hour and minutes 3. to indicate the ratio of two numbers (1:3) 4. between title and subtitle 5. between book number and verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:31) 6. after an independent clause that introduces a quotation 7. follows the salutation in a formal letter.

MLA format

1" margins, Times New Roman, 12 Point Font, Double Space, In text citations are written using the author's last name and page number.

Place a comma after an introductory phrase that is 4 or more words long. If the phrase is _____ words or fewer, you do not need a comma after it.

3

A.) Denise prefers to eat chicken or fish; I'm a vegetarian. B) Denise prefers to eat chicken or fish: I'm a vegetarian. C) Denise prefers to eat chicken or fish, I'm a vegetarian.

A Explanation: a semicolon may be used between closely related independent clauses.:

A) While visiting the beach, we saw pelicans, stingrays, and iguanas. B) While visiting the beach, we saw: pelicans, stingrays, and iguanas. C) While visiting the beach: we saw pelicans, stingrays, and iguanas.

A Explanation: no semicolons or colons are called for in this sentence.

A) Roberto can't decide among three careers: dentist, veterinarian, or physical therapist. B) Roberto can't decide among three careers: dentist; veterinarian; or physical therapist. C) Roberto can't decide among three careers; dentist, veterinarian, or physical therapist. D) A, B, and C are all correct.

A Explanation: use a colon to introduce a series of items.

A) The girls on the team will have quite a few expenses: uniforms, shoes, equipment, and camp fees. B) The girls on the team will have quite a few expenses: uniforms; shoes; equipment; and camp fees. C) The girls on the team will have quite a few expenses, uniforms; shoes; equipment; and camp fees.

A Explanation: use a colon to introduce a series of items.

Commas around Appositives

A Slim Jim's second ingredient, "mechanically separated chicken," may intimate its ability to sicken.

introductory clause

A dependent clause that introduces an independent clause., main clause + subordinating conjunction

prepositional phrase

A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

noun

A person, place, thing, or idea

participle

A verb form that can be used as an adjective

adjective

A word that describes a noun

Preposition

A word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word

pronoun

A word that takes the place of a noun (he, she, they)

conjunction

A word used to join words or groups of words

when not to use a comma

After a brief prepositional phrase. (Is it a single phrase of fewer than five words?) After a restrictive (essential) appositive phrase. (See our document on appositives.) To separate the subject from the predicate.

When to use a comma

After an introductory clause. After a long introductory prepositional phrase or more than one introductory prepositional phrase. After introductory verbal phrases, some appositive phrases, or absolute phrases. If there is a distinct pause. To avoid confusion.

verb

An action word

A) Please give me some time I do not want to be rushed. B) Please give me some time; I do not want to be rushed. C) Please give me some time, I do not want to be rushed.

B Explanation: a semicolon may be used between closely related independent clauses.

A) They were missing a few things on their camping trip, namely; they forgot sunscreen, towels, and firewood. B) They were missing a few things on their camping trip; namely, they forgot sunscreen, towels, and firewood. C) They were missing a few things on their camping trip, namely: they forgot sunscreen, towels, and firewood.

B Explanation: use a semicolon before certain introductory words ("namely") that precede a complete sentence.

The centerpieces had her favorite flowers. Roses, carnations, and daisies. B) The centerpieces had her favorite flowers; roses, carnations, and daisies. C) The centerpieces had her favorite flowers: roses, carnations, and daisies. D) A, B, and C are all correct.

C Explanation: use a colon to introduce a series of items.

A) I would like to leave early in the morning, therefore: I am going to bed soon. B) I would like to: leave early in the morning; therefore, I am going to bed soon. C) I would like to leave early in the morning; therefore, I am going to bed soon.

C Explanation: use a semicolon before certain introductory words ("therefore") that precede a complete sentence.

A) On our last trip we stayed in: Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida. B) On our last trip we stayed in Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida. C) On our last trip we stayed in Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida.

C Explanation: use semicolons to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas.

A) Estella landed her dream summer job: She'll be an intern in a senator's office. B) Estella landed her dream summer job: she'll be an intern in a senator's office. C) Estella landed her dream summer job; she'll be an intern in a senator's office. D) A, B, and C are all correct.

D Explanation: the three sentences are each consistent with the rules of semicolons and colons.

adverb

Describes a verb

conjunction examples

FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

blocked off quote

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented ½ inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing.

_________________________; ___________,_________________________________.

Grammer is sexy, however, I swallowed my retainer.

Interjection examples

Hey! Wait for me. Ouch! That hurt. Wow! That's cool. Darn! We lost.

examples of the colon

I awakened eager for the day because of one beautiful event: the Grammar Slammer. e.g. There are many ways to order hash browns at the Waffle House: smothered, covered, diced, chunked, capped, and peppered.

Introductory Clause Example

If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day. (if they want to win)

_________________________; ___________,_________________________________.

Independent Clause, Conjunction, independent clause.

MLA Running Header

Juarez, page number

MLA heading

Name Teacher Class Date (day, month, year)

Commas and Appositives

Phrases, usually separated by commas, that describe a noun or pronoun that precede them. Ex: Mrs. Barnhart, our English teacher, says we're intelligent.

Oxford Comma Example

The author thanked her parents, Bob Dylan and Maya Angelou.

Oxford comma

The comma used to set off the item in a list that precedes the 'and' before the last item in the list. (e.g., the comma that follows 'oranges' in the following list: apples, oranges, and grapes.

article example

The fox is cute. (The; definite)

Preposition Example

The plane went over the cloud.

when to use a semicolon ;

Used to connect two independent clauses. both have to be able to stand alone. Use a semicolon when you want to form a bond between two statements, when they are related or contrast with one another.

commas in a list

We will be testing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

When to use a colon

When a sentence contains an expression such as following or as follows or is followed by

Interjection

a word thrown into a sentence or conversation

article

a, an, the

participial phrase

contains a participle and acts as an adjective; examples: They arrested the man DRIVING THE CAR.

Parenthetical Citations for Prose and an Epic Poem

in the Works Cited entry, you start with the poet's name, followed by the title of the poem in quotation marks. Then include details of the source where the poem was published. Usually you will follow the format of an MLA book citation or an MLAwebsite citation.

CD, tape, album title

italicized

TV show title

italicized

anthology

italicized

artwork titles

italicized

court cases

italicized

epic poem title

italicized

movie title

italicized

newspaper, magazine, or journal title

italicized

novel title

italicized

novella title

italicized

play

italicized

titles of ships or planes

italicized

When your introductory phrase contains two or more __________________, use a comma.

prepositional phrases

article

quotation marks

chapter title

quotation marks

episode

quotation marks

essay

quotation marks

one-act

quotation marks

poem

quotation marks

short movie

quotation marks

short story

quotation marks

song

quotation marks

yes or no? Always place a comma after a dependent clause that opens a sentence (leads to the independent clause). An introductory clause has a subject and a verb. Example: When it is raining, I get hungry.

yes