Punctuation

In this post, I will discuss what I have learned from the "Punctuation" section in Rules for Writers and what I have discovered about this topic in the drafts of my peers.

D'aquino, Andrea. "Modern Punctuation." 10/16/15 via flickr. Attribution 2.0.

Unnecessary Commas
I was reminded in this section that commas should not separate an independent clause and a dependent one. A dependent clause can have a comma before it, however, when the sentence would be too long or too confusing without it.

The Semicolon
I love semicolons, and I was reminded why in this section :) Semicolons should not be used before conjunctions like and, but, yet or so that connect two clauses. Either a comma must be used, or the conjunction/semicolon should be deleted. My favorite aspect of the semicolon is its function as a soft period that separates thoughts but keeps the flow of the sentence.

The Colon
The colon usually distinguishes lists, but it shouldn't separate a noun from its verb, a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, nor a subject from its predicate. Colons are also used to separate one idea from the one which follows i.e. I know what to do with that cake: eat it!

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**Reflection**

Charles' Sentence:

She uses varied tones to guide the reader morally what to do. She uses shocking statistics for their emotional value as well as logical  appeal to her analytical audience. Finally she uses emotional narratives to hook the audience and to show what the future could hold.

-Reading Charles' essay, I came to the conclusion that he might be a little afraid of punctuation, other than periods! The repetition of the same subject and verb means that these last sentences are repetitive. Combining these sentences with commas would contribute to a better overall flow in the conclusion.

Michael's Sentence:

Steven Cowley is a credible source of information regarding nuclear fusion; because he has had extensive schooling and experience in his profession, thus solidifying the purpose of the piece.

-I found this sentence to be a little weak with regards to punctuation. I think deleting because and putting a semicolon between "fusion" and "he" would make the sentence more structurally sound.