by: Kristina Burgess

Punctuation “A simple punctuation rule applies to nearly all

the compound pairs of words, phrases, and clauses that occur within the sentence: We use no comma with the conjunction” Kolln 223.

The example sentences in your book, on page 223, use and, either – or, and both –and.

Also note that “when conjunctions connect all the elements, we use no commas” Kolln 224.

The baby giggled and cried and pulled her mother’s hair.

Can you think of any exceptions to the punctuation rule? (Hint: Look on page 224.)

The conjunction but. He left early this morning, but he should be

back tomorrow. To give special emphasis to the second

element in a coordinated pair. The new car is too small, and ugly.

Use commas with a series of three or more elements. That couple’s new favorite activities are

parenting, eating, and sleeping.

There are “three methods of joining independent clauses to produce compound sentences: using coordinating conjunctions (and, or,

but); using the semicolon; and, for limited situations, using the colon” (Kolln 229).

“Between the sentences in a compound sentence we do use a comma with the conjunction…

example: The lights turned off, and the moviegoers settled in their seats.

When the clauses of a compound sentence are quite short and closely connected, however, we sometimes omit the comma” (Kolln 230).

example: She talked and I listened.

“When a semicolon connects two coordinate clauses, the conjunction can be omitted” (Kolln 230).

example: The lights turned off; the moviegoers settled in their seats.

“The colon makes an announcement of sorts: It means ‘namely’… It promises to complete the idea set up in the first clause” (Kolln 231, 232).

We named the new animals: The Queen, Baby, and Rock.

Your mother-in-law called: She’s staying for a week.

Kolln, Martha, Robert Funk. “Chapter 9: Coordination.” UnderstandingEnglish Grammar. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2006.

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