Punctuation Rules and Sentence Elements

Flashcards defining the functions of common punctuation marks—such as colons, semicolons, commas, and dashes—and distinguishing essential versus non-essential sentence elements.

Colon

A punctuation mark used with an independent clause before and an expanding thought after.

Period

A punctuation mark used between an independent clause before and an independent clause after.

Semicolon

A punctuation mark used in two ways: 1) a semicolon list, and 2) between an independent clause before and an independent clause after.

Comma+fanboys

A punctuation structure used between an independent clause before and an independent clause after.

Isolated Comma

A punctuation mark used for two things: 1) a comma list (super rare), and 2) attaching a non-essential element.

Dashes

Punctuation used for two purposes: 1) attaching a non-essential element in the middle of a sentence (dash sandwich), and 2) the same thing as a colon.

Dash sandwich

The practice of using dashes to attach a non-essential element in the middle of a sentence.

Essential element

A grammatical component structured as "that _____ ".

Non-essential element test

A two-step verification process: 1) try removing it from the sentence, and 2) make sure it was additional information.

Always non-essential element

Sentence elements that are inherently non-essential, identified as a dependent clause starter and transition words.