A solid understanding of sentence structure (see previous lesson) lays a solid foundation for a discussion of punctuation. Be encouraged: although there are many kinds of punctuation and many circumstances for its use, the CLT tests the concept in relatively limited ways. Additionally, many punctuation questions also concern sentence structure and are best addressed via the Clause Test recently introduced. This module concerns the aspects of punctuation not covered by the Clause Test.
Approach Question
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
She had one goal, to win the race.
A. NO CHANGE
B. She had one goal to win the race.
C. She had one goal; to win the race.
D. She had one goal: to win the race.
This question ties into the Clause Test in that we can rule out choice C; a semicolon is not permitted when one of the parts of the sentence (“to win the race”) is not an independent clause. Choice B creates a run-on sentence by offering no punctuation whatsoever.
The question is whether the comma or the colon is preferred here. According to the Clause Test alone, a comma could work, but when a punctuation mark with a more specific function (like the colon here) is offered, we need to carefully consider its purpose. A colon is typically used for lists, explanation, or emphasis. A handy summary for the use of a colon is the phrase “Here it is!” If the part of the sentence that the colon could precede seems like an answer to the announcement, “Here it is!”, a colon is appropriate. For example, imagine a friend walks into the room and says, “I’ve had a terrible day today.” That is grammatically a complete sentence and could end with a period, but don’t you want to know more about your poor friend’s day? Instead of ending the sentence and defying your curiosity, your friend could use a colon instead and go on to explain the “Here it is!” aspect of his/her bad day … what actually happened would follow the colon.
With this in mind, we can confidently choose the sentence with the colon as the right answer here. “She had one goal” might be a grammatically correct sentence if we end it there, but it’s a pretty boring sentence. What is the goal? “Here it is”: to win the race. The answer is D.
General Strategy
Know the Core Rules.
The first step to mastering punctuation questions is understanding the primary rules for common marks. For example:
Commas: Use to separate elements in a list, after introductory phrases, or to set off non-essential information.
Example: Of all of the different calendar layouts, including horizontal and vertical timetables, Betsy prefers a grid system with a lot of scheduling freedom.
Semicolons: Use to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a list when commas are present.
Example: While parrots prefer warmer temperatures, sparrows can thrive anywhere; in fact, the sparrow population is booming in Alaska.
Colons: Use to introduce a list, explanation, or emphasis.
Example: He lost his car keys in the snow, bumped his head on the mailbox looking for them, and acquired mild frostbite: it was not shaping up to be a good morning for Kevin.
Dashes (also known as em dashes): Use for emphasis or to set off parenthetical information.
Example: The Tichenor House—located in Long Beach, CA—is one of America’s architectural gems and structural oddities.
A good rule of thumb is to think of dashes like parentheses; just like parentheses, you will typically find two of them. But unlike parentheses, a dash may be single if it starts a phrase that ends the sentence. In this case, the period at the end of the sentence closes the phrase in the way a second dash normally would.
Example: Will France just have a revolution every hundred years–as appears to be its custom?
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
As the Soul Shaker clicked its way upward, Shannon’s heart beat faster, it was, after all, her first time on a roller coaster—but when it crested the hill and began to hurtle downward, she screamed with delight at the adrenaline rush.
A. NO CHANGE
B. faster–it
C. faster: it
D. faster; it
(spoiler)
This is the sort of a question that might seem confusing at first–until you notice a key detail. After all, it might appear at first glance that any of the answers could. But when examining the sentence more closely, you may notice that there are three independent clauses found in one sentence. How can we combine three independent clauses? One way is to use the Handlebar Rule to set apart the middle part from the other two.
Even aside from this analysis, one major hint of punctuation appears: the em dash after “coaster”. This happens at the end of a clause, which means that there must be another em dash at the beginning. That simplifies the situation, showing us that the answer is B.
Punctuation should enable conciseness and clarity.
If you see multiple punctuation options that all seem potentially correct from a grammatical point of view, look for clarity. Which of the answers most helps you understand the meaning of the sentence? Meanwhile, conciseness is always preferred to wordiness. Your guide is the principle that all other things being equal, a shorter answer is better.
“When in doubt, take it out.”
This handy rhyming phrase is our way of helping you deal with a fact known to English teachers across the globe: people (perhaps especially students!) tend to overuse punctuation, especially commas. Perhaps something makes us nervous when we have too many words in a row without punctuation, but the fact is that the English language can accommodate rather long phrases and clauses without punctuation. If you can’t name a specific reason for a comma to be present and you can read the sentence without having to pause at that particular place, “take it out!” No comma necessary.
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The Byzantine scholar Procopius was responsible for preserving the memory of important figures of the Empire such as Justinian and Theodora.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Bystantine, scholar, Procopius
C. Byzantine, scholar Procopius
D. Byzatine scholar, Procopius
(spoiler)
“When in doubt, take it out.” So goes the rule, and the rule applies here. More specifically, there is no need for a comma when using a title, that is, a description before a person’s name that explains his/her role or office. “Byzantine scholar” is Procopius’ title, and as long as it appears before his name, no comma is required. The answer is NO CHANGE.
The Handlebar Rule
The Handlebar Rule is implied by what is said about commas under “Know the Core Rules”; commas are used to “set off unnecessary information.” It’s worth expanding this thought with a word picture. Imagine you see a phrase that, when taken out of a sentence, permits the sentence to still exist as a full thought. That phrase should be surrounded by commas. Imagine grabbing these commas like handlebars and pulling the entire phrase out of the sentence. Don’t be afraid to use your hands and arms in imagining this! If you can take hold of those commas and pull out everything in between and the sentence still works, you have found a phrase that should be surrounded by commas. Grab those “handlebars”.
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
Although the road may be difficult, if you, young scholar, persevere in your studies, you will reap a rich reward.
A. NO CHANGE
B. difficult if you,
C. difficult, if you
D. difficult; if you,
(spoiler)
This is a challenging question, in part because this sentence seems to have altogether too many commas! We have to accept the commas after “scholar” and “studies”, since those do not appear in the underlined portion. Many students will want to remove at least one of the two commas in the underlined portion, but let’s dissect the sentence to see if that instinct is correct.
Applying the Clause Test on the whole sentence reveals that we do need the comma after “difficult” because the phrase “Although the road may be difficult” is a clause that cannot stand on its own and that modifies the main part of the sentence. That rules out answers B and D (choice D because a semicolon can’t separate one independent and one dependent clause). Do we need the comma after “you”? Here is where the Handlebar Rule comes in handy. The phrase “young scholar,” although it enriches the meaning of the sentence, is not grammatically essential to the sentence. If we took out that phrase, the clause would appropriately read, “if you persevere, you will reap a rich reward.” According to the Handlebar Rule, we must surround “young scholar” with commas. The answer is NO CHANGE.
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