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
