Lesson Eleven: Comma and Semi-Colon Rules

Flashcards covering the specific rules for using commas and semi-colons as outlined in AP Language and Composition Lesson Eleven.

Comma Rule 1

Use a comma before the conjunction (but, or, yet, so, for, and, nor) that joins two independent clauses.

Example: I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.

Comma Rule 2

Use a comma after relatively lengthy introductory phrases or adverbial subordinate (dependent) clauses, but not when they come at the end of the sentence.

Example: After the meeting concluded, we went out for lunch.

Comma Rule 3

Use commas to separate items in a series, including before the conjunction that precedes the last item.

Example: We bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.

Comma Rule 4

Use commas before and after non-restrictive clauses and participial phrases that add extra information to a sentence.

Example: My brother, who lives in Italy, is visiting us next month.

Coordinate Adjectives

Adjectives of equal importance modifying the same noun; they require a comma between them if the sentence still reads well after reversing their order.

Example: It was a long, exhausting day.

Comma Rule 6

Use commas to separate the individual elements of dates (e.g., June 12, 1999) and geographical locations (e.g., St. Cloud, Minnesota).

Example: On July 4, 2021, we celebrated Independence Day in New York.

Comma Rule 7

Use a comma before a direct quotation, and ensure that commas or periods at the end of the quote are placed inside the quotation marks.

Example: She said, "I will be there soon."

Interrupters

Words and phrases like "however" and "never-the-less" that break the flow of a sentence and require commas before and after them.

Example: The movie was, however, surprisingly entertaining.

Semi-Colon Rule 9

Use a semi-colon in place of a comma and conjunction to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

Example: I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.

Semi-Colon Rule 10

Use a semi-colon before a conjunctive adverb (such as however or therefore) that joins two independent clauses, followed by a comma after the adverb.

Example: I wanted to go for a walk; however, it started raining.

Semi-Colon Rule 11

Use semi-colons to separate elements in a series if the individual items already contain internal punctuation.

Example: The conference has attendees from Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan.