Grammar Lesson
Introductory expressions require commas:
Every time "Well" is used at the beginning of a sentence it must be followed by a comma. A comma is used after an introductory expression such as yes, indeed or absolutely. Examples: Well, the rain has played its part in the outcome of this match.
Join two complete sentences with a conjunction followed by a comma:
Be careful not to over-use commas. A complete sentence should end with a period, not a comma. Commas cannot join two complete sentences unless you use a conjunction. For example: and, or, but, nor, yet, so, or for. Place a comma before the conjunction to combine two complete sentences.
Example: Positive reinforcers are rewards, negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.
Positive reinforcers (subject) are (verb) rewards (noun). This is a compete sentence. Negative reinforcers (subject) are avoiding or taking away (verbs) a bag thing (noun). Both are complete sentences with their own subject.
Or you could say “Positive reinforcers are rewards, while negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.
Use a semicolon when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words. For example:
I am going home; I intend to stay there. Or
“Positive reinforcers are rewards; negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.”
Or “Positive reinforcers are rewards; however, negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.” Or instead of “while” you could say “on the other hand” or “however.”
Example 2: “That’s all the time we have for today, thank you for talking to me.”
Should be “That’s all the time we have for today. Thank you for talking to me.”
Example 3: “Thank you. I’m really glad that we had you Professor Maxwell.”
Needs a comma: “Thank you. I’m really glad that we had you, Professor Maxwell.”
"Really! That was amazing. Did you do well before-- you know?--you lost your head or, in your case, your heart? HaHa, very funny. Anyway, yes. I was. But I had to figure out what pulled pangaea apart! So I hypothesized the theory of tectonic plates!"
Use an Apostrophe to Show the Omission of Letters in a Contraction
Use the apostrophe to form contractions:
I'm (I am)
you're (you are)
he's (he is)
she's (she is)
it's* (it is)
we're (we are)
they're (they are)
isn't (is not)
aren't (are not)
can't (cannot)
don't (do not)
who's (who is)
won't (will not)
Example 4: I’m going to save you!
***
Example 5: That’s very neat I couldn’t have done that, I've been told you have been named the 'Father of Chemistry” is that true? I did create my own chemical, I used to….”
Corrected: That's very neat. I couldn't have done that. I've been told you have been named the 'Father of Chemistry.' Is that true?" Notice that in English punctuation is always placed inside of quotation marks. Examples:
The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"
"I did create my own chemical. I used to…”
Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.
While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.
If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.
When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the driveway.
Ex 6: "If you haven't heard of it it's the formula to calculate how much space gas takes up." Corrected: "If you haven't heard of it, it's the formula…"
When to not use a comma:
Ex: Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years, and today he is an accomplished performer. Here use a comma because and is joining two independent clauses (has subject and a verb). The use of the comma applies when any of the seven coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) join two independent clauses. Notice in the next example that we do not use a comma before "and" because it does not join two independent clauses but merely joins two verbs. No comma is used if there is no subject after the word “and.” Ex: “Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years and today is an accomplished performer.”
Ex. “Thank you for traveling here today, and bye!” should be “Thank you for traveling here today and bye!”
Ex: "Oh, so like Gregor Mendel?" "Yes, well sort of. Unlike Gregor Mendel, who studied the sweet pea, I study corn and its characteristics."
Every time "Well" is used at the beginning of a sentence it must be followed by a comma. A comma is used after an introductory expression such as yes, indeed or absolutely. Examples: Well, the rain has played its part in the outcome of this match.
Join two complete sentences with a conjunction followed by a comma:
Be careful not to over-use commas. A complete sentence should end with a period, not a comma. Commas cannot join two complete sentences unless you use a conjunction. For example: and, or, but, nor, yet, so, or for. Place a comma before the conjunction to combine two complete sentences.
Example: Positive reinforcers are rewards, negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.
Positive reinforcers (subject) are (verb) rewards (noun). This is a compete sentence. Negative reinforcers (subject) are avoiding or taking away (verbs) a bag thing (noun). Both are complete sentences with their own subject.
Or you could say “Positive reinforcers are rewards, while negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.
Use a semicolon when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words. For example:
I am going home; I intend to stay there. Or
“Positive reinforcers are rewards; negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.”
Or “Positive reinforcers are rewards; however, negative reinforcers are avoiding or taking away a bad thing.” Or instead of “while” you could say “on the other hand” or “however.”
Example 2: “That’s all the time we have for today, thank you for talking to me.”
Should be “That’s all the time we have for today. Thank you for talking to me.”
Example 3: “Thank you. I’m really glad that we had you Professor Maxwell.”
Needs a comma: “Thank you. I’m really glad that we had you, Professor Maxwell.”
"Really! That was amazing. Did you do well before-- you know?--you lost your head or, in your case, your heart? HaHa, very funny. Anyway, yes. I was. But I had to figure out what pulled pangaea apart! So I hypothesized the theory of tectonic plates!"
Use an Apostrophe to Show the Omission of Letters in a Contraction
Use the apostrophe to form contractions:
I'm (I am)
you're (you are)
he's (he is)
she's (she is)
it's* (it is)
we're (we are)
they're (they are)
isn't (is not)
aren't (are not)
can't (cannot)
don't (do not)
who's (who is)
won't (will not)
Example 4: I’m going to save you!
***
Example 5: That’s very neat I couldn’t have done that, I've been told you have been named the 'Father of Chemistry” is that true? I did create my own chemical, I used to….”
Corrected: That's very neat. I couldn't have done that. I've been told you have been named the 'Father of Chemistry.' Is that true?" Notice that in English punctuation is always placed inside of quotation marks. Examples:
The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"
"I did create my own chemical. I used to…”
Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
a. Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.
While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class.
If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.
When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the driveway.
Ex 6: "If you haven't heard of it it's the formula to calculate how much space gas takes up." Corrected: "If you haven't heard of it, it's the formula…"
When to not use a comma:
Ex: Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years, and today he is an accomplished performer. Here use a comma because and is joining two independent clauses (has subject and a verb). The use of the comma applies when any of the seven coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) join two independent clauses. Notice in the next example that we do not use a comma before "and" because it does not join two independent clauses but merely joins two verbs. No comma is used if there is no subject after the word “and.” Ex: “Miguel took piano lessons for sixteen years and today is an accomplished performer.”
Ex. “Thank you for traveling here today, and bye!” should be “Thank you for traveling here today and bye!”
Ex: "Oh, so like Gregor Mendel?" "Yes, well sort of. Unlike Gregor Mendel, who studied the sweet pea, I study corn and its characteristics."