Using commas, semicolons, colons,

and dashes
Important Rules

Rule 1: Surround appositives and non-essential phrases with

commas.

What Is an Appositive?

An appositive is a descriptive phrase that doesn’t include a verb. Like a

non-restrictive clause, an appositive can be removed without changing the
meaning of the sentence. Here’s an example sentence with the appositive
underlined:

Torsha, a fan of celebrity gossip, loves watching The Wendy Williams Show.

If we get rid of the appositive, the sentence still has the same meaning:

Torsha loves watching The Wendy Williams Show.

If you’re unsure if a phrase is an appositive, eliminate the phrase. If the

meaning of the sentence is unchanged, the descriptive phrase is an
appositive that should be surrounded by commas.

Rule 2: Use commas to separate items in a list.

You’re probably familiar with this comma rule: in lists of three or more items,
you must place a comma after every item except the last. Check out this
example:

During spring break, my days will consist of eating, watching Netflix, and
sleeping.
The three items on the list are “eating,” “watching Netflix,” and sleeping.
Because there are three items, there are commas after the first two. The last
comma in the list before “and,” known as the Oxford comma, is technically
optional, and you won’t be marked on whether or not you use it. However, we
recommend you do.

Here’s another example:

Participation in sports teaches many important values, including

perseverance, teamwork, and dedication.

The three items on this list are “perseverance,” “teamwork,” and “dedication.”

Incorrect: Participation in sports teaches many values, including,

perseverance, teamwork, and dedication.

Incorrect: Participation in sports teaches many values, including

perseverance, teamwork, and, dedication.

Correct: Participation in sports teaches many values, including

perseverance, teamwork, and dedication.

Rule 3: Don’t use commas to separate complete thoughts

Using a comma to separate two complete thoughts creates a grammar

error known as a comma splice. Here’s an example of a comma splice:

Dorothy failed her test, it was extremely difficult.

The clauses before and after the comma are complete thoughts that could
stand alone as sentences. There are a few ways to correct a comma splice. You
can put a conjunction after the comma:

Dorothy failed her test, but it was extremely difficult.

Also, you can put a relative pronoun after the comma:

Dorothy failed her test, which was extremely difficult.

Finally, you can use a semicolon or colon to correctly separate two complete
thoughts:

Dorothy failed her test; it was extremely difficult.

Dorothy failed her test: it was extremely difficult.

Rule 4: Don’t Use a Comma Between an Adjective and a Noun

You can’t place a comma between an adjective and a noun. Check out this
example sentence:

Incorrect: Trista bought a blue, truck.

Correct: Trista bought a blue truck.

Here are a couple of other examples:

Incorrect: I enjoy reading the books of acclaimed writer, Malcolm Gladwell.

Correct: I enjoy reading the books of acclaimed writer Malcolm Gladwell.

Many people incorrectly assume there should be a comma; however, in this

sentence, “writer” is describing Malcolm Gladwell, and you can’t place a
comma between an adjective and a noun.

Similarly, if the title comes before a possessive noun, there shouldn’t be a

comma after the title or the possessive. Check out this example:
Incorrect: You are extremely excited to read PrepScholar writer, Justin
Berkman’s next article.

Incorrect: You are extremely excited to read PrepScholar writer Justin

Berkman’s, next article.

Correct: You are extremely excited to read PrepScholar writer Justin

Berkman’s next article.

Skillcheck 1: Commas

The following sentences either have existing or require additional commas

somewhere in their structures. Choose the option that best reflects proper
comma usage in each sentence.

1. For the Thanksgiving reunion, relatives were sitting in the dining room, on
the porch, and in the carport.

A. Thanksgiving, reunion
B. were, sitting
C. porch and
D. No error

2. Lydia seems to be a kind, considerate girl.

A. seems, to
B. considerate, girl
C. kind considerate
D. No error

3. This fishing pole Nathan, has seen better days.

A. pole, Nathan,
B. has, seen
C. Nathan
D. No error

4. My cousin has moved to 56 Central Street Narragansett, Rhode Island

02882.

A. has moved,
B. Central Street,
C. 56, Central
D. No error

5. The badger, a shy animal sometimes makes friends with a coyote.

A. sometimes, makes
B. friends, with
C. a shy animal,
D. No error

6. After the death of Blackbeard, the famous pirate, piracy disappeared from
the coast of the American colonies.

A. the famous pirate

B. after the death,
C. coast, of
D. No error

7. “Silent Night” was written by two men from the village of Oberndorf Austria.

A. men, from
B. “Silent Night,”
C. Oberndorf, Austria
D. No error
8. On November 19, 1929 Admiral Richard E. Byrd flew the Floyd Bennett to
the base of the Queen Maud Mountains.

A. base, of
B. the, Queen
C. 1929,
D. No error

9. Oh I forgot to bring the cookies.

A. Oh,
B. I, forgot
C. to, bring
D. No error

10. “The boy in the kayak,” whispered Sue “is the new football captain.”

A. boy, in the
B. new, football
C. whispered Sue,
D. No error

Rule 5: Semicolons separate complete thoughts.

The only thing you have to know about semicolons is that they are used to
separate two complete thoughts. You should be able to replace the
semicolon with a period and have two complete sentences. Here’s an
example:

Incorrect: Because Jesse is my friend; I invited him to my party.

Correct: Jesse is my friend; I invited him to my party.

Skillcheck 2: Semicolons & Commas

Insert semicolons or commas, as needed in the following sentences.

1. He slept through his alarm luckily his first class was cancelled.
2. Tripping over the dog, I dropped my cup.
3. We practiced every day after school however we lost the game.
4. We baked six dozen cookies knowing that they always sell out fast.
5. At Halloween we gave out Reese's, Snickers, and Crunch bars, gumballs,
caramels, and taffy, and apples and candy corn.
6. She's a little bit country, he's a little bit rock 'n roll.
7. You'll need to turn left on Cedar it's the third house on the right.
8. The rent is expensive moreover the house is pretty small.
9. I didn't study for the test I didn't have my notes having left them in the
classroom.
10. Sam went skiing Terry however went snowboarding.

Rule 5: Colons separate complete thoughts, but are used to

introduce lists or explanations.

Colons can connect two independent clauses, but they're usually used to
introduce lists and explanations. Colons must come after a complete
sentence. You should be able to put a period in place of the colon and have a
sentence that makes sense.

Incorrect: Jasmine brought everything she needed for the exam,

including: pencils, a backpack, and a calculator.

Correct: Jasmine brought everything she needed for the exam: pencils, a
backpack, and a calculator.

The first sentence is incorrect because the part that comes before the colon
isn’t a complete thought.

Also, a colon should be used instead of a comma to separate a noun from

items on a list:
Incorrect: Lewis was excited to meet his relatives, his aunt, uncle, and
cousins from the Bahamas.

Correct: Lewis was excited to meet his relatives: his aunt, uncle, and
cousins from the Bahamas.

The first sentence makes it seem like “his relatives” is part of the list. However,
all of the people he is meeting are his relatives, and the portion after the colon
lists the relatives whom he will be meeting.

Additionally, colons can be used to provide explanation. Here’s an example:

Sandy repeatedly complained about her least favorite restaurants: places

where you can often hear loud conversations and crying babies.

In the above sentence, the colon is placed after a complete thought, and the
portion of the sentence after the colon describes the type of restaurants that
Sandy dislikes. You could substitute the colon with a comma, but you need
punctuation to separate the complete thought from the explanatory phrase.

Rule 6: Dashes

Dashes can be used to mark off a non-essential clause or phrase (like a

comma) or introduce a list or explanation (like a colon).

If dashes are used with non-essential clauses or phrases, you can’t mix them
with commas. You have to go with either two dashes or two commas.
Here’s an example:

Incorrect: Ryan, an energetic teenager—can’t sit still during class.

Correct: Ryan—an energetic teenager—can’t sit still during class.

Correct: Ryan, an energetic teenager, can’t sit still during class.

This is an example using a dash like a colon to set up an explanation:

Correct: Ryan can’t sit still during class—he’s an energetic teenager.

Lastly, a dash can be used for stylistic reasons to interrupt a statement or

create a dramatic pause. Check out this example:

Byron spent hours painting a beautiful picture—and then his little brother
destroyed it.

You don’t have to worry too much about using dashes for this type of
sentence. If a dash is the correct answer in a similar sentence, then you’ll be
able to eliminate the other answer choices because they’ll be obviously
incorrect.

Skillcheck 3

1. Studies show that children; who are physically active may perform
better in the classroom.

A. NO CHANGE
B. children,
C. children
D. children:

2. Last week, Theodore—who is an extremely conscientious student, won

a $10,000 scholarship; his parents are incredibly proud.

A. NO CHANGE
B. student—won
C. student won
D. student: won

3. Julie was thoroughly confused: she couldn’t figure out where she put
her car keys.

A. NO CHANGE
B. confused, she
C. confused she,
D. confused she
4. Paul was overcome with joy when he saw actor, Keanu Reeves, in the
parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant.

A. NO CHANGE
B. actor, Keanu Reeves
C. actor: Keanu Reeves
D. actor Keanu Reeves

5. I hurried home from school to find Max, my dog that I’ve had for five
years chewing on my favorite pair of shoes.

A. NO CHANGE
B. had, for five years chewing
C. had for five years, chewing
D. had, for five, years chewing