Colon, Semicolon, or Comma
Common Comma Errors
Guiding Light
You've got Style
100
She is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder (?) degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy (?) and heart disease, status-post myocardial infarction.
In this case, you can use commas or semicolons between the diagnoses, which will likely make them easier to read. She is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder; degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy; and heart disease, status-post myocardial infarction.
100
True or False When a sentence contains a list of three items, there will be at least three commas in the sentence?
False There will be at least two commas, unless semicolns are used to separate the items. For example: We took a sleeping bag, food, and wood camping.
100
On what page(s) of the Grammar Guide would you find the answer to a question to noun/pronoun agreement?
Pages 4 and 5
100
What is wrong with this sentence? In the law of defamation, slander "per se" refers to certain language that is actionable as slander in and of itself without proof of special damages.
The words "per se" should be italicized, not in quotes. Generally, latin words are placed in italics. Additionally, in law review articles, quotation marks are used when quoting, italics are used for emphasis.
200
We made a list for the grocery which included (?) milk, eggs, and tofu.
No punctuation is used unless the sentence preceeding the list is complete. For example: We visited many cities while traveling: Norway, Sweden, and Russia. Note: there are two spaces after the colon.
200
Where is/are the comma(s) placed in a sentence containing an independent clause?
Before and after the clause.
200
Where do you find our local rules?
The Style Guide or the Grammar Guide.
200
How many words does a block quote require?
50 or more
300
We like to go snowboarding (?) especially during the winter.
A comma would be used here. A semicolon would have been used if we were linking two independent clauses which were closely related. For example: We like to go snowboarding; Snowbowl has the best powder.
300
True or False Commas should be placed when there is a natural pause in the sentence.
Maybe This is not a good rule to go by, and will frequently result in over use of the comma. If you have a question about whether a comma should be placed, look at the rules. Or ask Andrew.
300
What is the difference between the Style Guide and the Grammar Guide (which now contains most of the information from the Style Guide).
The Style Guide is provided to authors and other third parties; the Grammar Guide is for staff editors.
300
During what round of the Grammar edits, should you be looking at style issues?
The last round is dedicated to style. This is to ensure that all changes are also formatted correctly.
400
Modify this sentence to make it correct: The woman was a doctor, a mother, and a wife.
The woman was a doctor, mother, and wife.
400
Give two examples of proper comma placement.
That is correct.
400
Who are the Articles Team editors?
Andrew Hanna Shawn Whiting Sheri Shudde Melissa Cain
400
True or false During the style edits, you should check for and correct any margin issues.
False If you see that there is an issue with the formatting of margins, please insert a comment, send an email to your team leader, or let one of the Articles editors know.
500
Modify this sentence to make it correct: We stayed at an expensive, summer resort.
We stayed at an expensive summer resort. If you would not place an and between the adjectives, there is no comma.
500
DAILY DOUBLE Rewrite this sentence with proper comma placement: In the end we were all thankful because as always Keri brought dinner.
In the end, we were all thankful because, as always, Keri brought dinner.
500
Who can you contact concerning questions about grammar and style?
Team leaders Articles editors Other team members Professor L. Miller The red book The blue book
500
DAILY DOUBLE What is the short form for Phoenix Law Review?
PhoenixLaw