Standard English Conventions

[1] Commas shouldn’t…

split a subject and verb

[2] Commas shouldn’t

Come before prepositions

Prepositions

a word or phrase that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence, showing relationships like location, time, direction, or purpose, such as "at noon"

[1] Commas should…

list items

[2] Commas should

separate non-essentials items

[3] Commas should

link dependent clauses to independent clauses

[4] Commas should

link independent clauses w/ FANBOYS

[1] Semicolons should

link independent clauses (w/out FANBOYS)

[2] Semicolons should

separate list items that already contain commas

Colons can only…

come at the end of an independent clause

Colons can introduce…

explanations, extra information, and lists

Dashes can only…

be used to separate non-essential elements

CAN’T link two independent clauses with JUST a comma, you need a _____ and a _____

comma and a FANBOY

Independent + Independent =

Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS)

Independent + Dependent =

Subordinating Conjunction (because, although, when, if)

Subordinating Conjunction

connect a dependent clause to an independent clause (such as: Although we had parked in the lot, the police ticketed us.)

If it shows ownership…

it needs an apostrophe (except possessive pronouns)

Plural nouns…

DON’T require an apostrophe

Singular possessive nouns (one owner)

REQUIRE an apostrophe s

Plural possessive nouns that end in “s”

apostrophe after the “s”

If the subject is singular then the verb…

has an “s” at the end

PLURAL noun

PLURAL pronouns (us and they)

SINGULAR noun

SINGULAR pronoun (it and she)

Has

singular

Have

plural

Are

plural

Is

singular