RULE 1 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1.The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but still ventured off unafraid.
2.The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but he still ventured off unafraid.
1.My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture, she should have remained a student.
2.My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture; she should have remained a student.
1.GREgor has not changed physically; but has given himself an excuse to separate himself from the pain of previous experiences.
2.GREgor has not changed physically; however, he has given himself an excuse to hide from the pain of previous experiences.
RULE 2 -- Use commas to enclose nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which are not essential to the sentence's meaning.
RULE 2 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roar decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field. 2. The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
1. My window as dirty as it is reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
2. My window, as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
1. King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson have electrified audiences all over the world.
2. King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson, have electrified audiences all over the world.
RULE 3 -- Do not use commas to bracket phrases that are essential to a sentence's meaning.
RULE 3 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. The man, who has too many ties , has too few necks.
2. The man who has too many ties has too few necks.
1. The cats, with six toes, are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
2. The cats with six toes are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
RULE 4 -- When beginning a sentence with an introductory phrase or an introductory (dependent) clause, include a comma.
RULE 4 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
2. After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread, he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
1. With this he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother and father.
2. With this, he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother
1. As she begins to gain independence it is natural for Grete to regard the idea of dependency as repugnant.
2. As she begins to gain independence, it is natural for Grete to regard the idea of dependency as repugnant.
RULE 5 -- To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an "s". Otherwise, the noun's form seems plural.
RULE 5 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. Though the lobsters claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
2. Though the lobster's claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
1. In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much as mine.
2. In a democracy, anyone's vote counts as much as mine.
1. There is a vast age difference between Victors mother and father.
2. There is a vast age difference between Victor's mother and father.
RULE 6 -- Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. If the introductory material is an independent clause, add the quotation after a colon. If the introductory material ends in "thinks," "saying," or some other verb indicating expression, use a comma.
RULE 6 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled: "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
2. Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled, "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
1. Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones, "You never fail to repulse me."
2. Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones: "You never fail to repulse me."
Incorrect -- Correct
1.The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but still ventured off unafraid.
2.The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but he still ventured off unafraid.
1.My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture, she should have remained a student.
2.My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture; she should have remained a student.
1.GREgor has not changed physically; but has given himself an excuse to separate himself from the pain of previous experiences.
2.GREgor has not changed physically; however, he has given himself an excuse to hide from the pain of previous experiences.
RULE 2 -- Use commas to enclose nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which are not essential to the sentence's meaning.
RULE 2 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roar decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field. 2. The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
1. My window as dirty as it is reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
2. My window, as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
1. King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson have electrified audiences all over the world.
2. King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson, have electrified audiences all over the world.
RULE 3 -- Do not use commas to bracket phrases that are essential to a sentence's meaning.
RULE 3 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. The man, who has too many ties , has too few necks.
2. The man who has too many ties has too few necks.
1. The cats, with six toes, are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
2. The cats with six toes are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
RULE 4 -- When beginning a sentence with an introductory phrase or an introductory (dependent) clause, include a comma.
RULE 4 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
2. After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread, he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
1. With this he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother and father.
2. With this, he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother
1. As she begins to gain independence it is natural for Grete to regard the idea of dependency as repugnant.
2. As she begins to gain independence, it is natural for Grete to regard the idea of dependency as repugnant.
RULE 5 -- To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an "s". Otherwise, the noun's form seems plural.
RULE 5 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. Though the lobsters claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
2. Though the lobster's claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
1. In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much as mine.
2. In a democracy, anyone's vote counts as much as mine.
1. There is a vast age difference between Victors mother and father.
2. There is a vast age difference between Victor's mother and father.
RULE 6 -- Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. If the introductory material is an independent clause, add the quotation after a colon. If the introductory material ends in "thinks," "saying," or some other verb indicating expression, use a comma.
RULE 6 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect -- Correct
1. Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled: "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
2. Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled, "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
1. Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones, "You never fail to repulse me."
2. Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones: "You never fail to repulse me."