Week 5: Punctuation

Question 1

Comma

Answer 1

Function: light or mild separator.

Uses: coordinating conjunctions, separate lists, sets off parenthetical elements (introductory words, phrases, and clauses; non-restrictive elements; sentence interrupters)

Question 2

oxford comma

Answer 2

final comma in a list

Question 3

Non-restrictive elements

Answer 3

offer supplementary (non-essential) information or additional detail

Here is a good way to test whether or not a phrase/clause is non-restrictive: if you remove a non-restrictive element, the sentence will still make sense

Question 4

appositive

Answer 4

a word (or group of words) renaming or restating the meaning of a neighbouring word.

Question 5

semicolon

Answer 5

heavy separator, slightly milder than the period but much stronger than the comma. It almost always links two independent clauses. These clauses must be closely related.

Question 6

colon

Answer 6

commonly used to introduce lists, examples, and long or formal quotations. A colon looks forward or anticipates: it gives readers a push forward to the next sentence.

• Note that an independent clause always comes before a colon; what follows the colon can be a list, a sentence fragment, or an independent clause.