Missing Punctuation
Honestly I didn’t expect her to win the competition.
Honestly, I didn’t expect her to win the competition.
Introductory phrase
DC + comma + IC
The bookstore sells fiction, nonfiction, and biographies.
Items in a list
I was tired yet; I stayed up late to finish the project.
I was tired, yet I stayed up late to finish the project.
It was hot humid and sunny as we started our
adventure.
A. NO CHANGE
B. It was: hot humid and sunny
C. It was hot, humid, and sunny
D. It was: hot, humid, and sunny
C. It was hot, humid, and sunny
The house on the corner which is painted blue has been sold.
The house on the corner, which is painted blue, has been sold.
Combining independent clauses with a comma
IC + conjunction + comma + IC
The cats' toys were scattered across the floor.
Plural Possessive
The horse slowed it's pace as it drew near.
The horse slowed its pace as it drew near.
In order to make our tour on time; we needed to be at the trailhead by 6:00 A.M.
F. NO CHANGE
G. our tour on time, we needed to
H. our tour on time: we needed to
J. our tour on time we needed to
G. our tour on time, we needed to
While jogging in the morning he saw his neighbors dog running loose.
While jogging in the morning, he saw his neighbor’s dog running loose.
singular noun possession
's or possessive pronoun (her, his, its)
The weather was beautiful; the sun was shining brightly.
Combining independent clauses WITHOUT a conjunction
For breakfast I had: eggs, toast, and, orange juice.
For breakfast I had eggs, toast, and orange juice.
The hunter stopped and raise his gun. Then we saw the coyote spot the hunters’ rifle, urging him to keep moving.
F. NO CHANGE
G. the coyote spot the hunter’s rifle,
H. the coyote spot the hunters’ rifle
J. the coyote: spot the hunter’s rifle
G. the coyote spot the hunter’s rifle,
Ouch Samanthas dog I dont like dogs bit me.
Ouch! Samantha's dog (I don't like dogs) bit me.
A sentence that uses parentheses appropriately
to set off explanations, definitions, examples, another IC; interrupts the flow of the sentence
Students who study diligently often score higher on exams.
Essential appositive phrase
The player was un-likely to score a goal (or so we thought)!
The player was unlikely to score a goal, or so we thought.
We saw a coyote (we could see no others) loping along the edge of the canyon.
F. NO CHANGE
G. coyote we could see no others loping
H. coyote we could see no (others loping)
J. coyote, we could see no others loping
F. NO CHANGE
I didnt realize that the students backpacks were left outside I decided to do them all a favor and bring them in
I didn’t realize that the students’ backpacks were left outside; I decided to do them all a favor and bring them in.
Items in a list that starts AFTER an independent clause (Hint: TWO types of punctuation are required)
IC + colon + items in a list separated by commas
Ms. Budnik asked, "How did the ACT go?"
Direct quote + quote is an actual question so "?" goes inside
"Its anyones guess what is going to be on the ACT" ,said Kate.
"It's anyone's guess what is going to be on the ACT," said Kate.
Then as we neared the park entrance we heard something.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Then as we neared the park entrance, we
C. Then! As we neared the park entrance we
D. Then, as we neared the park entrance, we
D. Then, as we neared the park entrance, we