Contractions
Meaning 'unable to', this contraction combines the single word 'cannot' into an even shorter word.
What is "can't"?
A relatively small mark, this punctuation typically accompanies an "s" to show possession.
What is an apostrophe?
Considered a grammatical error in most kinds of writing, this kind of sentence is characterized by clustering multiple complete sentences together without appropriate punctuation.
What is a run-on sentence?
The comma goes here in the following sentence:
"When I walk my dog he barks at the squirrels."
What is, between "my dog" and "he barks"?
Often confused with its differently-spelled homonyms (a contraction and a preposition for direction), this is the correct spelling of the word that signals a plural possessive adjective.
What is T-H-E-I-R?
No longer considered appropriate for formal language, this contracted form of "I am not" is frowned upon in academic papers.
What is "ain't"?
A stylized symbol, this mark is an abbreviation representing the word "and".
What is an ampersand?
Indicating current action, this "simple" tense sometimes ends in "-s" or even "-ing".
"She walks the dog."
What is the present tense?
Sometimes called a "super comma", this punctuation is often used to separate items in a list when said items ALREADY have commas in them.
What is a semicolon?
While its homophone means to receive, gain, or believe, this is the correct spelling of the word that means to exclude or omit.
What is E-X-C-E-P-T?
Often used as a "filler" word or to indicate a verbal pause at the beginning or end of a statement, this contraction requests or assumes the listener's knowledge.
What is "y'know"?
More often used in URLs, this punctuation symbol marks line-breaks when quoting poetry.
What is a forward slash [/]?
Typically used to connect elements of a sentence or even whole sentences themselves, this term describes words such as "and," "but," "because," "while," etc.
What is a conjunction?
The comma goes here in the following sentence:
"I hate to say this but I prefer cats over dogs."
What is between "say this" and "but I"?
Often confused for the similar-sounding noun meaning result or consequence, this is the correct spelling of the verb meaning to influence or to change.
What is A-F-F-E-C-T?
An informal version of "fixing to", this contraction indicates "going to" with an extra prepatory delay.
What is "finna"?
Sometimes used to show parentheses within parentheses, these symbols also show editorial notes or additions in quoted material.
What are brackets []?
Considered the bare minimum to create a complete sentence, these two elements are sometimes joined by a predicate.
What are a subject and verb?
An often bemoaned error in sentence structure, this grammar mistake tries to combine two complete sentences with only a comma.
What is a comma splice?
While also the past-tense form of the verb meaning to recline, this verb means to place or to put down [something] and requires an object, or thing being acted upon.
What is "to lay"?
Found regionally in the Southwestern PA area, this contraction is used to mean "all of you" or "yous ones."
What is "yinz"?
No longer used in modern print, this punctuation mark combined the exclamation point and the question mark.
What is the interrobang?
Often used to determine a suggestion or command, this tense also indicates an action in the hypothetical.
"They might like vanilla."
What is the subjunctive tense?
An optional style choice, this comma separates the penultimate item in a list from the "and" before the final item listed.
What is the Oxford Comma?
Usually mixed up with its closely-spelled homophone to praise, this is the correct spelling of the word meaning to enhance or to complete.
What is C-O-M-P-L-E-M-E-N-T?