Commas
Where does the comma(s) go? I love ice cream pizza and cake.
I love ice cream, pizza, and cake.
Where does the semi-colon go? Stewart finished the marathon first he passed out from lack of water.
Stewart finished the marathon first; he passed out from lack of water.
Where does the colon go? There are three things I love family, food, and travelling.
There are three things I love: family, food, and travelling.
Essential or nonessential clause
The oboe is the only instrument that I can play well.
Essential
Parallel Structure or not? John spent his summer swimming, biking, and running.
Parallel Structure
Where does the comma(s) go? Eventually Marie will stop spending all her money at the mall.
Eventually, Marie will stop spending all her money at the mall.
Where does the semi-colon go? Vanessa went to her locker she quickly ate some popcorn.
Vanessa went to her locker; she quickly ate some popcorn.
Where does the colon go? Sasha took home three gold medals the 400 meter, 200 meter, and 100 meter runs.
Sasha took home three gold medals: the 400 meter, 200 meter, and 100 meter runs.
Essential or non-essential clause
Emil, who can play many instruments, taught me how to play the oboe.
Non-essential
Parallel Structure or not?
The teacher collected the tests, scantrons, and grabbed the extra pencils.
Not Parallel Structure
Where does the comma(s) go? Stewart watched the soccer game Anabell played the saxophone and Chase ate pizza.
Stewart watched the soccer game, Anabell played the saxophone, and Chase ate pizza.
Where does the semi-colon go? Chemistry can be difficult however, if you study hard you can pass.
Chemistry can be difficult; however, if you study hard you can pass.
Where does the colon go? Whenever I hear these lyrics I get goosebumps "Scar tissue that I wish you saw.."
Whenever I hear these lyrics I get goosebumps: "Scar tissue that I wish you saw..
Essential or non-essential phrase
Players breaking training will be dismissed from the team.
Essential phrase
Fix the sentence so that it's parallel structure.
The process of evaluating a television documentary includes watching, listening, and to take notes.
...and taking notes.
Where does the comma(s) go? After slipping on the ice Michael quickly got up and tried to play it cool.
After slipping on the ice, Michael quickly got up and tried to play it cool.
Where does the semi-colon go? Martha forgot to take out the trash therefore, she was grounded and couldn't go to the movies with her friends.
Martha forgot to take out the trash; therefore, she was grounded and couldn't go to the movies with her friends.
Where does the colon go? After a very long search, the police finally narrowed down the suspects Sarah the artist, Brian the janitor, or Monica the cashier.
After a very long search, the police finally narrowed down the suspects: Sarah the artist, Brian the janitor, or Monica the cashier.
Essential or nonessential phrase or clause:
She returned all the clothes that she had borrowed from her sister.
Essential Clause
Identify if the following sentence is parallel structure or not. If not, fix the sentence.
The travelers decided that hiking into the Grand Canyon would be good exercise and that driving by it would be boring.
It's correct
Where does the comma(s) go? Since Johhny loves swimming playing soccer and bowling he is busy with sports the whole year.
Since Johhny loves swimming, playing soccer, and bowling, he is busy with sports the whole year.
Where does the semi-colon go? At the concert yesterday, Susan accidentally sang the wrong note she was so embarrassed that she cried.
At the concert yesterday, Susan accidentally sang the wrong note; she was so embarrassed that she cried.
Where does the colon go? Trying to save face, Ricky made up excuses about how the broken window wasn't his fault; he blamed everyone else the dog, the next door neighbor, and his little sister.
Trying to save face, Ricky made up excuses about how the broken window wasn't his fault; he blamed everyone else: the dog, the next door neighbor, and his little sister.
Essential or nonessential phrase or clause:
Sarah training for the marathon ran at least five miles every day.
Non-essential Phrase
Identify if the following sentence is parallel structure or not. If not, fix the sentence.
In our class discussion of The Scarlet Letter, we discussed the imagery, the symbolism, and where the novel was set.
Incorrect -- ...and the setting.