Editing Common Comma Errors

In the last lesson, you learned how to combine sentences to improve the flow of your writing. In this lesson, you'll review how to avoid three common comma errors that can occur when you combine sentences.

1. Missing Comma in a Compound Sentence: When you combine two sentences (independent clauses) using a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), always place a comma before the conjunction.

   Manuel gave swimming lessons to Sam, and Lupita coaxed him into the wave pool.

   Note: Without the comma, this compound sentence could be misread as "Manuel gave swimming lessons to Sam and Lupita . . .

2. Missing Comma in a Series: Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses, in a series.

   I want to thank my parents, Spock, and Serena Williams.

   Note: Without the final comma, this sentence could be misread as "I want to thank my parents, Spock and Serena Williams (the parents are Spock and Serena Williams?).

3. Missing Comma After Long Introductory Phrases or Clauses: Place a comma after a long introductory phrases or clauses before the main part of sentence.

   In the middle of the night, the neighborhood was usually very quiet.

   When I heard a thump and shout, the pounding of my heart filled the room.

   Note: Without the comma, the opening clause gets confused with the subject: "a thump and shout the pounding of my heart . .&nbsp."

Editing In-Text Citations

Always place in-text citations in parenthesis at the end of a sentence but before the end punctuation. In a direct quote, citations come after the closing quotation mark but before the end punctuation.

• Correct: Ride wished the science part of her mission got more attention (Hurwitz 28).

• Incorrect: Ride wished the science part of her mission got more attention. (Hurwitz 28)

• Correct: “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars” (Macy 5).

• Incorrect: “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars (Macy 5).”

1. Thurgood Marshall changed the course of the Civil Rights Movement. (Smith 18)

Thurgood Marshall changed the course of the Civil Rights Movement (Smith 18).

2. Marshall believed in justice for all people. (Smith 24)
3. “Every day we live with the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall.” (Feldman 45)
4. In grade school, he had to memorize the Constitution as a punishment for goofing around. (“Biography”)

Editing for Pronoun Agreement

A pronoun is used in place of a noun or another pronoun. The word that the pronoun refers to is called an antecedent. Pronouns and antecedents must agree. This means that they must both be singular or they must both be plural. It also means that the gender should match. Here are some examples.

1. That linebacker should pay more attention to their diet. That linebacker should pay more attention to his diet.
2. Teenagers think that he or she can eat poorly and not get sick. Teenagers think that they can eat poorly and not get sick.
3. My friends believe they can eat chips for breakfast and lunch. My friends believe they can eat chips for breakfast and lunch.
4. Tess knows junk food affects their health. Tess knows junk food affects her health.
5. Sickly people may get well just by changing his or her diet. Sickly people may get well just by changing their diet.
6. Doctors tell patients to put fruits and vegetables on their plates every day. Doctors tell patients to put fruits and vegetables on their plates every day.
7. Those boys put too much food on his plates. Those boys put too much food on their plates.
8. Bev trusted his own diet plan. Bev trusted her own diet plan.
9. Many people try to watch his weight. Many people try to watch their weight.
10. Charlie always eats the food he takes. Charlie always eats the food he takes.

Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement

The two past-tense forms of the “be” verb (was and were) often cause problems when it comes to subject-verb agreement. (Was is singular, and were is plural.)

Note: Always use the plural verb “were” with the subject “you,” whether “you” is singular or plural in number.

Editing Compound Sentences

Simple sentences have just one complete thought.

What if you combined them? A compound sentence joins simple sentences using a comma and and, or, but, for, nor, or so.

1. I like helping my mom cook. It's fun to taste our creations. (and)
2. We were going to go sledding. There was not enough snow. (but)
3. Special Challenge: Find two simple sentences from your essay. Add a comma and the word and, but, or or to combine the two sentences.

Editing for Commas with Intro Words

When a sentence starts with four or more introductory words, insert a comma after them, before the main part of the sentence.

Responding to a national initiative, our school changed its lunch program.

Even though Sam prefers white bread, he is giving wheat bread a chance.

Editing for the Right Word

“Affect” and “effect” sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

• Affect is a verb that means “influence.”
• Effect is most often used as a noun to mean “result.” Effect can also be used as a verb to mean “bring about” or “accomplish.”

Editing Possessives

In writing, possessives are used to show ownership. Read the following rules and examples about forming possessives.

• To form the possessive of a singular noun or an indefinite pronoun, add ’s. (Indefinite pronouns include one, anybody, nobody, somebody, anyone, no one, someone.)

• To form the possessive of most plural nouns (those that end in s), add only the apostrophe.

• To form the possessive of irregular plural nouns (those that do not end in s), add ’s.

1. Joes train has been delayed. Joe’s train has been delayed.
2. My books pages are stuck together. My book’s pages are stuck together.
3. The mens’ locker room is down the hall. The men’s locker room is down the hall.
4. The women basketball game lasted two hours. The women's basketball game lasted two hours.
5. I poured the cat food into Henry’s bowl. I poured the cat food into Henry’s bowl. (correct)
6. The party is at the Green’s house. The party is at the Greens’ house.
7. The outcome of the election is anybodys’ guess. The outcome of the election is anybody’s guess.
8. The closet was full of children’s toys. The closet was full of children’s toys. (correct)
9. The first baseman missed the coachs’ sign. The first baseman missed the coach’s sign.
10. Alisha met her friends at Janets’ house. Alisha met her friends at Janet’s house.

Editing Dialogue for Quotation Marks

Dialogue uses quotation marks. These special marks go before and after the exact words of the speaker.

Periods and commas that follow the speaker’s words always go inside the quotation marks.

Question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotation marks when they punctuate the dialogue.

Editing to Punctuate Dialogue

Dialogue, or written conversation, works only when it is punctuated correctly. Use the examples that follow as a guide to punctuating dialogue.

Put quotation marks around spoken words.

Use a comma to separate the speaker from the spoken words.

If the comma comes after the quotation, put the comma inside the quotation marks.

If a period comes after a quotation, put the period inside the quotation marks.

If the speaker interrupts a spoken sentence, use two commas to show the interruption.

If the speaker comes between two sentences, use a period to end one sentence before beginning another.