Comma Splices

Comma splices are similar to run-on sentences because they also incorrectly connect independent
clauses. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are connected with only a
comma. As with a run-on sentence, there are a few different ways to correct a comma splice.
Consider the following sentence and the revised versions that follow it.
Comma Splice: My family bakes together nearly every night, we then get to enjoy everything we
make together.
Correction 1: My family bakes together nearly every night. We then get to enjoy
everything we make together.
The comma splice has been corrected by breaking the sentence into two separate sentences.
Correction 2: My family bakes together nearly every night, and we then get to enjoy
everything we make together.
The comma splice has been corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction and a comma.
Correction 3: After my family bakes together nearly every night, we get to enjoy
everything we make together.
The comma splice has been corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction and a comma.
Comma Splice Exercise
The following sentences are comma splices. For each sentence, suggest two possible revisions.
I didnt like the movie, it was way too long.
She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didnt want a summer wedding.
My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief.
Coordination and Subordination
Coordinating conjunctions are used to join independent clauses to make compound sentences.
The coordinating conjunctions are as follows: and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet. You can use
coordinating conjunctions to revise run-on sentences and comma splices (see above). You can
also use coordinating conjunctions to make writing less choppy by joining short, simple
sentences. Consider the following examples.
Independent Clauses: I wanted more popcorn. Sam wanted Junior Mints.
Joined Together: I wanted more popcorn, but Sam wanted Junior Mints.
In this example, it is necessary to put a comma before the coordinating conjunction but because
there are two independent clauses being combined. Another way to think of this is that I wanted
more popcorn and Sam wanted Junior Mints could stand on their own as independent sentences.
So, there must be a comma and a conjunction between them.
Independent Clauses: I wanted more popcorn. I didnt want any more soda.
Joined Together: I wanted more popcorn but no soda.
In this example, weve combined the sentences with the coordinating conjunction but. Weve
also eliminated some of the words so that the sentence wouldnt sound redundant. In this case, it
isnt necessary to put a comma before but because there are not two independent clauses joined
together.

Subordinating conjunctions are used to join independent clauses to make complex sentences. The
subordinating conjunctions are as follows: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even
though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever,
whether, which, and while.

You can use subordinating conjunctions to correct run-on sentences and comma splices. And you
can use them to combine sentences so that writing is less choppy. Consider the following
examples.
Complex Sentence: I wanted to get more soda because its hard to eat popcorn without it.
In this sentence, the subordinate clause is at the end. It would also be correct to place the
subordinate clause at the beginning of the sentence:

Because its hard to eat popcorn without it, I wanted to get more soda.
Notice that when the subordinate clause comes at the beginning, its necessary to insert a comma.
Complex Sentence: While I was getting more soda and popcorn, I missed a really
important part of the movie. (Subordinate clause at the beginning of the sentence).
I missed a really important part of the movie while I was getting more soda and popcorn.
(Subordinate clause at the end of the sentence).
Subordination and Coordination Exercise
Join the two independent clauses to make a compound sentence. Use one of the coordinating
conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet). Remember to use a comma before the connecting
word.
He enjoys walking through the country. He often goes backpacking on his vacations.
He often watched TV when there were only reruns. She preferred to read instead.
I didn't know which job I wanted. I decided to wait to decide.
Join the two independent clauses to make a complex sentence. Use one of the subordinating
conjunctions (after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, rather
than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, and
while). Remember to use a comma if the subordinating conjunction comes at the beginning of
the sentence.
I stayed up all night studying for my Algebra exam. I was so tired all day today.
Jerry and Elaine always go to movies together. They dont go to movies together when
Jerry is dating someone.
Mad Season is a great band. They only put out one album.
Click here for exercise answers.
Punctuation
Some questions on the GED will ask you to correct punctuation errors. To prepare for these
questions, review the punctuation rules below. Reviewing these rules will also help you edit your
essay.
Commas
Most of the errors you will be asked to correct will involve comma use. Youll notice that many
of the rules discussed here relate to the information on sentence structure from Lesson 2. It might
be useful for you look at both lessons and draw some connections between them.

Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet) to join two independent
clauses:
I wanted to eat lunch with Melanie, but she had a stomachache.
Mike is playing drums in the band, and Todd is playing the guitar.
The potato chips from the picnic were pretty stale, so we just threw them away.
Use a comma after an introductory phrase. Also use a comma after a subordinate clause at the
beginning of the sentence (see Lesson 2 for information about subordinate clauses).
To get a good grade in this class, you will have to study.
After the movie, we should go out for coffee.
Because I was annoyed with my boyfriend, I didnt return his phone call.
Use a comma to separate elements in a list. Sometimes, writers will leave off the comma before
the final element in a list. While this is acceptable, its generally included.
My favorite cities to visit are Chicago, Memphis, and Louisville.
The cookies were decorated with red, yellow, and blue sprinkles.
In my free time, I like to read books, drink coffee with friends, and watch movies.
Use a comma to set off information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
My sister-in-law, who is originally from Illinois, really likes to knit sweaters.
Kens apartment, a tiny little place over on Pine Street, is always a mess.
Use a comma between adjectives that are separate (meaning that each adjective independently
describes the noun).
My uncle has always said he wants to marry a beautiful, smart, and funny woman.
 I have no doubt that Jasons wonderful, dependable car will get us to Daytona Beach just
fine.
Use a comma after a transitional word or phrase (see Lesson 1 for a list of transitional words and
phrases).
First, Ill talk about commas. Next, Ill discuss semi-colons and colons. Finally, Ill
review quotation marks and italics.
For example, pepperoni pizza is much higher in calories than plain cheese pizza.
Use a comma with a date.
April 5, 2002
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Use a comma to separate a city name from a state name.
San Jose, California
Portland, Oregon
Comma Exercise 1
Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences.

1. There was no question that John's painting a huge colorful and ugly mural was the worst entry
in the art exhibit.
2. Werner von Braun Willy Ley and Edward Teller noted authorities in the field of rocket
development have done much to guide the missile program of the United States.
3. Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time is I believe amazing.
4. Running around the house the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.
5. If the opposition should win our candidate would never have any political future.
6. Gracefully lightly and daintily the ballerina moved across the stage.
7. Glamour the woman's fashion magazine recently incorporated with Charm another fashion
journal.
8. Joe was born on May 7 1955 and his best friend was born exactly two months later on July 7
1955.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Kwon my parents' best friends sat in front of us at the football game.
10. November 11 1918 the armistice ending World War I was signed.

Click here for exercise answers.

Comma Exercise 2
Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. We went to Bar Harbor but did not take the ferry to Nova Scotia.
2. The ginkgo tree whose leaves turn bright yellow in the fall came to this country from Asia.
3. The address for the governor's mansion is 391 West Ferry Road Atlanta Georgia.
4. The villagers enjoyed fairs festivals and good conversation.
5. When the intermission was over the members of the audience moved back to their seats.
6. Andy took the elevator to the third floor rushed into the office and asked to see his father.
7. When he stumbled over your feet William was clumsy not rude.
8. She listened to her favorite record with close careful attention.
9. Jillian who had worked in the dress shop all summer hoped to work there again during the
Christmas holidays.
10. Go the first traffic light turn left and then look for a yellow brick building on the north side of
the street.
11. Once she has graduated I do not know where she is going or what she is planning to do.
12. "Oh no," Max exclaimed "I think that Dr. Holmes was referring to Eliot the novelist not Eliot
the poet."
13. Below the fields stretched out in a hundred shades of green.
14. To understand the purpose of the course the student needs to read the syllabus.
15. All students are eligible to receive tickets but must go to the athletic office to pick them up.
16. Thomas Paine's pamphlet appeared in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on January 9 1776.
17. You don't want any more hamburgers do you?
Click here for exercise answers.
Punctuation, Continued
Semi-Colons and Colons
You can use a semi-colon to join two independent clauses. Joining two independent clauses this
way implies that the two clauses are related and/or equal, or perhaps that one restates the other.
Seinfeld was definitely my favorite television show during the 1990s; in fact, it is my
favorite television show of all time.
I am going to visit Anna in St. Louis next weekend; well get to see the Arch, Busch
Stadium, and the Landing.
Use semi-colons between items in a list that already involve commas.
I have lived in Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; and Omaha, Nebraska.
The sweaters I bought today were purple, blue, and green; yellow, white, and red; and
pink, black, and grey.
Use a colon after an independent clause when introducing a list.
The catering facility offers the following entrees: fried catfish, grilled chicken, pan-seared
salmon, and sirloin steak.
Use a colon after an independent clause when introducing a quotation.
My teachers remark on my final essay was very complimentary: This essay coherently
analyzes musical trends of the late 20th century.
Use a colon between two independent clauses when you want to emphasize the second clause.
I dont understand why everyone shops at that store: everything there is so expensive.
Quotation Marks
Put quotation marks around direct quotes. Make sure to put punctuation (commas, periods, etc.)
before the first quotation mark and inside of the closing quotation mark.
My mom asked, What would you like for dinner? and I answered, soup and salad.
Jared said: My favorite part of Thanksgiving Day is football.
Use quotation marks around short poems, song titles, short stories, magazine or newspaper
articles, essays, speeches, chapter titles, short films, and episodes of television or radio shows.
My dad and I danced to When a Man Loves a Woman at my wedding.
For my literature class, we are reading Shirley Jacksons short story The Lottery.
Commas versus Semi-Colon Exercise
Each of the following sentences needs either a comma or a semicolon. Put in the necessary
punctuation.
1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which are flavored by synthetic chemicals the
drinks usually contain only one or two calories per serving.
2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many years and he now conducts a community
orchestra.
3. The crab grass was flourishing but the rest of the lawn, unfortunately, was dying.
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers it was a beautiful sight.
5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump for the cat had upset the goldfish bowl.
6. The artist preferred to paint in oils he did not like watercolors.
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch light on everything was ready for the guests'
arrival.
8. He looked carefully in the underbrush but he failed to notice the pair of green eyes staring at
him.
9. The foundations of the house had been poured but, to his disappointment, nothing else had
been done because of the carpenters' strike.
10. The computer could perform millions of operations in a split second however, it could not
think spontaneously.
11. I thought registration day would be tiring but I didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines.
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me I was so frightened that I ran.
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on the interstate subsequently, the state police
closed the road.
14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded and I've seen plenty of evidence to support that
claim since I've been in college.
15. The suspect said that he had never met the victim however, the detective knew that he was
lying.
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see the road in the second place, we had no
chains.
17. I have read Soul on Ice but I have not read The Invisible Man.
18. San Francisco is my favorite city in fact, I plan to spend two weeks there this summer.
19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass and the end crossed the goal line for the winning
touchdown.
20. Large supermarkets fascinate me I can find everything from frozen chow mein to soybean
flour in one place.
21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this morning they gave an interesting presentation
on their research.
22. The obstacles are not insurmountable but they are real and formidable.
23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise I ride mine every day.
24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year however, I would like to go to Europe.
25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but many world travelers are particularly well
educated.
26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education debts at least, that was his explanation for his
long hours.
27. Katherine has given up smoking about five times but she cannot seem to break the habit.
28. His work may be almost totally forgotten but he would certainly be surprised to see how
much current scholarship simply echoes his ideas.
29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock he wakes us up at exactly the same time every
morning.
30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed by the loss of altitude but the pilot and the
crew kept them calm.
31. I realized at once that something was wrong I was not, however, the only person who was
concerned.
32. I had to complete the assignment by Friday otherwise, I would have failed the course.
33. Ralph decided to be a chemist but he changed his mind after taking Chem. 121.
34. I finished reading The Nation and then I went to bed.
35. We always go to the mountains in the fall they are at their prettiest at that time of year.
36. Tim went to the candy store quite often the clerk even knew his name.
37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not surface in most discussions of the worldwide
ecological crisis indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a basic message of further
technological "progress."
38. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly and the public has responded
enthusiastically.
39. The office was closed consequently, I could not pay my bill.
40. The air was beautifully clear it was a lovely day.

Click here for exercise answers.

Commas versus Semi-Colon Exercise
Each of the following sentences needs either a comma or a semicolon. Put in the necessary
punctuation.
1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which are flavored by synthetic chemicals the
drinks usually contain only one or two calories per serving.
2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many years and he now conducts a community
orchestra.
3. The crab grass was flourishing but the rest of the lawn, unfortunately, was dying.
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers it was a beautiful sight.
5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump for the cat had upset the goldfish bowl.
6. The artist preferred to paint in oils he did not like watercolors.
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch light on everything was ready for the guests'
arrival.
8. He looked carefully in the underbrush but he failed to notice the pair of green eyes staring at
him.
9. The foundations of the house had been poured but, to his disappointment, nothing else had
been done because of the carpenters' strike.
10. The computer could perform millions of operations in a split second however, it could not
think spontaneously.
11. I thought registration day would be tiring but I didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines.
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me I was so frightened that I ran.
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on the interstate subsequently, the state police
closed the road.
14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded and I've seen plenty of evidence to support that
claim since I've been in college.
15. The suspect said that he had never met the victim however, the detective knew that he was
lying.
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see the road in the second place, we had no
chains.
17. I have read Soul on Ice but I have not read The Invisible Man.
18. San Francisco is my favorite city in fact, I plan to spend two weeks there this summer.
19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass and the end crossed the goal line for the winning
touchdown.
20. Large supermarkets fascinate me I can find everything from frozen chow mein to soybean
flour in one place.
21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this morning they gave an interesting presentation
on their research.
22. The obstacles are not insurmountable but they are real and formidable.
23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise I ride mine every day.
24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year however, I would like to go to Europe.
25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but many world travelers are particularly well
educated.
26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education debts at least, that was his explanation for his
long hours.
27. Katherine has given up smoking about five times but she cannot seem to break the habit.
28. His work may be almost totally forgotten but he would certainly be surprised to see how
much current scholarship simply echoes his ideas.
29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock he wakes us up at exactly the same time every
morning.
30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed by the loss of altitude but the pilot and the
crew kept them calm.
31. I realized at once that something was wrong I was not, however, the only person who was
concerned.
32. I had to complete the assignment by Friday otherwise, I would have failed the course.
33. Ralph decided to be a chemist but he changed his mind after taking Chem. 121.
34. I finished reading The Nation and then I went to bed.
35. We always go to the mountains in the fall they are at their prettiest at that time of year.
36. Tim went to the candy store quite often the clerk even knew his name.
37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not surface in most discussions of the worldwide
ecological crisis indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a basic message of further
technological "progress."
38. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly and the public has responded
enthusiastically.
39. The office was closed consequently, I could not pay my bill.
40. The air was beautifully clear it was a lovely day.
1.4: Italics and Underlining
This resource was written by Jaclyn M. Wells.
Last edited by Elizabeth Angeli, Allen Brizee on April 3, 2013 .
Summary:
This resource deals with italics and underlining.
Punctuation, Continued
Italics and Underlining
Italics and underlining generally serve similar purposes. However, the context for their use is
different. When handwriting a document--or in other situations where italics aren't an option--use
underlining. When you are word processing a document on a computer, use italics. The important
thing is to stay consistent in how you use italics and underlining.

Italicize the titles of magazines, books, newspapers, academic journals, films, television shows,
long poems, plays, operas, musical albums, works of art, websites.
I read a really interesting article in Newsweek while I was waiting at the doctors office.
My cousin is reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for two different classes.
I have every album from Dave Matthews Band, except for Crash.
Quotation Marks and Italics/Underlining Exercise
In the following sentences put in quotation marks wherever they are needed, and underline words
where italics are needed.

1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her father said.

2. No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.
3. I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least
that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old
popular song, A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
7. When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
8. It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are going out of style.
9. Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East;
however, he did not return it.
10. Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've seen each
other?
11. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
12. Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will
understand.

Click here for exercise answers.

Punctuation Exercise
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, Italics (use an underline), and parentheses
where ever they are needed in the following sentences.

1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
3. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article
How Not to Go Camping.
6. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.
9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate her husband and Tim, their
son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied All the members of my
family are poor spellers. Why not me?
12. He used the phrase you know so often that I finally said No, I don't know.
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes
Benz.
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.
15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would be elected class president?
16. In baseball a show boat is a man who shows off.
17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday's sermon.
18. There was a very interesting article entitled The New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday's
New York Times newspaper.
19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared to do
a great deal of work, said Jumita, the previous secretary.
20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.

Click here for exercise answers.

ANSWERS
Comma Exercise 1
Revised sentences are below.

1. There was no question that John's painting, a huge, colorful, and ugly mural, was the worst
entry in the art exhibit.
2. Werner von Braun, Willy Ley, and Edward Teller, noted authorities in the field of rocket
development, have done much to guide the missile program of the United States.
3. Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time is, I believe, amazing.
4. Running around the house, the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.
5. If the opposition should win, our candidate would never have any political future.
6. Gracefully, lightly, and daintily, the ballerina moved across the stage.
7. Glamour, the woman's fashion magazine, recently incorporated with Charm, another fashion
journal.
8. Joe was born on May 7, 1955, and his best friend was born exactly two months later on July 7,
1955.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Kwon, my parents' best friends, sat in front of us at the football game.
10. November 11, 1918, the armistice ending World War I was signed.
Comma Exercise 2
Revised sentences are below.

1. We went to Bar Harbor but did not take the ferry to Nova Scotia.
2. The ginkgo tree, whose leaves turn bright yellow in the fall, came to this country from Asia.
3. The address for the governor's mansion is 391 West Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia.
4. The villagers enjoyed fairs, festivals, and good conversation.
5. When the intermission was over, the members of the audience moved back to their seats.
6. Andy took the elevator to the third floor, rushed into the office, and asked to see his father.
7. When he stumbled over your feet, William was clumsy, not rude.
8. She listened to her favorite record with close, careful attention.
9. Jillian, who had worked in the dress shop all summer, hoped to work there again during the
Christmas holidays.
10. Go the first traffic light, turn left, and then look for a yellow brick building on the north side
of the street.
11. Once she has graduated, I do not know where she is going or what she is planning to do.
12. "Oh no," Max exclaimed, "I think that Dr. Holmes was referring to Eliot, the novelist, not
Eliot, the poet."
13. Below, the fields stretched out in a hundred shades of green.
14. To understand the purpose of the course, the student needs to read the syllabus.
15. All students are eligible to receive tickets but must go to the athletic office to pick them up.
16. Thomas Paine's pamphlet appeared in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1776.
17. You don't want any more hamburgers, do you?
Commas versus Semi-Colons Exercise
Revised sentences are below.

1. Many companies make sugar-free soft drinks, which are flavored by synthetic chemicals; the
drinks usually contain only one or two calories per serving.
2. Mr. Leyland played the viola professionally for many years, and he now conducts a
community orchestra.
3. The crab grass was flourishing, but the rest of the lawn, unfortunately, was dying.
4. The hill was covered with wildflowers; it was a beautiful sight.
5. As I turned around, I heard a loud thump, for the cat had upset the goldfish bowl.
6. The artist preferred to paint in oils; he did not like watercolors.
7. The house was clean, the table set, and the porch light on; everything was ready for the guests'
arrival.
8. He looked carefully in the underbrush, but he failed to notice the pair of green eyes staring at
him.
9. The foundations of the house had been poured, but, to his disappointment, nothing else had
been done because of the carpenters' strike.
10. The computer could perform millions of operations in a split second; however, it could not
think spontaneously.
11. I thought registration day would be tiring, but I didn't know I'd have to stand in so many
lines.
12. The dog, growling and snarling, snapped at me; I was so frightened that I ran.
13. The snowstorm dumped twelve inches of snow on the interstate; subsequently, the state
police closed the road.
14. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded, and I've seen plenty of evidence to support that
claim since I've been in college.
15. The suspect said that he had never met the victim; however, the detective knew that he was
lying.
16. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see the road; in the second place, we had no
chains.
17. I have read Soul on Ice, but I have not read The Invisible Man.
18. San Francisco is my favorite city; in fact, I plan to spend two weeks there this summer.
19. The quarterback made a brilliant pass, and the end crossed the goal line for the winning
touchdown.
20. Large supermarkets fascinate me; I can find everything from frozen chow mein to soybean
flour in one place.
21. Ron and Mike were both in English class this morning; they gave an interesting presentation
on their research.
22. The obstacles are not insurmountable, but they are real and formidable.
23. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise; I ride mine every day.
24. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year; however, I would like to go to Europe.
25. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling, but many world travelers are particularly well
educated.
26. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education debts; at least, that was his explanation for his
long hours.
27. Katherine has given up smoking about five times, but she cannot seem to break the habit.
28. His work may be almost totally forgotten, but he would certainly be surprised to see how
much current scholarship simply echoes his ideas.
29. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock; he wakes us up at exactly the same time every
morning.
30. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed by the loss of altitude, but the pilot and
the crew kept them calm.
31. I realized at once that something was wrong; I was not, however, the only person who was
concerned.
32. I had to complete the assignment by Friday; otherwise, I would have failed the course.
33. Ralph decided to be a chemist, but he changed his mind after taking Chem. 121.
34. I finished reading The Nation, and then I went to bed.
35. We always go to the mountains in the fall; they are at their prettiest at that time of year.
36. Tim went to the candy store quite often; the clerk even knew his name.
37. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not surface in most discussions of the worldwide
ecological crisis; indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a basic message of further
technological "progress."
38. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly, and the public has responded
enthusiastically.
39. The office was closed; consequently, I could not pay my bill.
40. The air was beautifully clear; it was a lovely day.
Quotation Marks and Italics/Underlining Exercise
The sentences below contain correct quotation marks and italics/underlining.

1. "Mary is trying hard in school this semester," her father said.

2. "No," the taxi driver said curtly, "I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes."
3. "I believe," Jack remarked, "that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least
that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe."
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked, "Is Time a magazine you read regularly?"
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old
popular song, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find."
7. When did Roosevelt say, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"?
8. Yesterday, John said, "This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East";
however, he did not return it.
9. "Can you believe," Dot asked me, "that it has been almost five years since we've seen each
other?"
10. "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
11. "Certainly," Mr. Martin said, "I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will
understand.
Punctuation Exercise
Semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, Italics/underlines, and parentheses are added in the
following sentences.

1. The men in question (Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene) deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift: Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
3. "Only one course was open to us: surrender," said the ex-major, "and we did."
4. Judge Carswell--later to be nominated for the Supreme Court--had ruled against civil rights.
5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article
"How Not to Go Camping."
6. "Yes,"Jim said, "I'll be home by ten."
7. There was only one thing to do--study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following: "A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself."
9. The following are the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8:10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate; her husband; and Tim, their
son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied, "All the members of
my family are poor spellers. Why not me?"
12. He used the phrase "you know" so often that I finally said, "No, I don't know."
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars: Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes
Benz.
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9:19 flight, he came instead on the 10:36 flight.
15. "Whoever thought," said Helen, "that Jack would be elected class president?"
16. In baseball a "show boat" is a man who shows off.
17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5:21 in last Sunday's sermon.
18. There was a very interesting article entitled "The New Rage for Folk Singing\" in last
Sunday's New York Times newspaper.
19. "Whoever is elected secretary of the club--Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha--must be prepared to
do a great deal of work," said Jumita, the previous secretary.
20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) caused a great controversy when it appeared.

Paraphrase, Summary, Precis

Three writing strategies that help you understand what you are reading and to communicate
information to others are the paraphrase, summary, and prcis. All three ask you to put the
information you have collected into your own words
Paraphrase
The paraphrase alters the wording of the passage without changing its meaning. It retains the
basic logic of the argument, its sequence of ideas, and even the examples used in the passage.
Most importantly, it accurately conveys the authors meaning and opinion. Your job is not to
prove yourself correct, but to uncover and explain the facts and arguments presented by the
author of the text you are paraphrased. It does not matter yet whether you agree or disagree with
the passage; it only matters that you comprehend what the passage says.
To paraphrase,
1. read the passage carefully to understand its meaning.
2. confirm meaning of any terms you do not understand, and substitute synonyms for the
passages more challenging terms.
3. re-state the passage sentence by sentence in your own words.
4. fine tune the sentence construction to make it read smoothly.
The final product should read smoothly and be able the same length as the original.
Summary
A summary represents the scope and emphasis of a relatively large amount of material in an
efficient and concise form. Considerably less lengthy than the original, it restates only the
authors main ideas, omitting extraneous examples and evidence used in supporting and
illustrating those points. As with the paraphrase, in a summary the authors meaning and opinion
are retained.
To summarize
1. read the passage carefully, noting the thesis, main arguments and conclusion.
2. write the thesis in your own words.
3. cluster paragraphs by argument, and label each with a single sentence. Add these
sentences in order to the thesis.
4. write the conclusion in your own words. Add that to the thesis/cluster sentences.
5. fine tune the sentence construction to smooth out the flow.
6. edit to confirm that each sentence contributes to the whole of the document.
In long summaries, you may want to include carefully chosen quotations from the original.
NOTE: While we need to be true to the message of the original when we summarize, we also
have to make choices about what must be included, what needs special emphasis, and so on.
When writing for public purposes, though, we make those choices based on the use we will make
of the summary in our larger project. We would summarize the Gettysburg address very
differently, for example, if we were using the summary in an article about Lincolns presidency,
on the one hand, or in a critique of Obamas election night speech (where he references
Lincoln). It is useful, then, to develop skills not only in writing comprehensive summaries but
ones that address particular agendas.
Prcis
The prcis (pronounced pray-see) is a type of summary that insists on an exact reproduction of
the logic, organization, and emphasis of the original texts. It is a precisely crafted miniature of
the whole document.
It is of particular use in situations in which you want to detail the relative order, proportions, and
relationships of the original parts of a text. An effective prcis retains the logic, development,
and argument of the original in much shorter form. Thus, a prcis is useful when you are dealing
with lengthy passages that demand careful attention to the logic and organization of an argument.
To write an effective prcis,
1. read the passage several times for a full understanding.
2. note key points. It may, in fact, be helpful to underline these words.
3. restate each paragraph in one-to-three sentences. In cases where there are very short
paragraphs, combine them in your restatement.
4. making sure that you retain the precise order of the original points, combine the sentences
into one or more smooth paragraphs.
5. check your prcis against the original to be sure that it is exact and retains the order,
proportions, and relationships of the original.
************************
Differences in a Paraphrase, Summary, and Prcis
on November 30, 2015 by Proofreading Pal in Writing Guides facebook in twitter
Look up paraphrase, summary, and prcis in the dictionary, and youre going to find a lot
of overlapping ideas, but the uses of these terms (especially in academic writing) have quite
well-defined boundaries.
All these terms deal with the idea that youre reading something someone else wrote and then
putting it in different terms while maintaining the meaning. But these similarities come to an end
when you consider the different purposes for these tasks.
Lets Start with the Paraphrase
A paraphrase is specifically different from a quote. To qualify, it must relay all the same
information but in different words.
Not seeing how this is different from the others? Think about the purpose. A paraphrase reveals
that you know what is being said and can rephrase it in words of your own choosing. You are
proving you get it.
A paraphrase thus has no space limits. Indeed, a paraphrase might be much longer than the
original text. One paraphrase of, To be, or not to be / That is the question, is: I am asking
myself whether I should decide to go on living, or kill myself, and this may be the question in
terms of all existence. Should humanity bother to keep on going or just snuff it?
A paraphrase may also be much shorter. One paraphrase of:
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapped power,
would be: Hey, lets have sex before we get all old and stuff.
Of course, that second paraphrase might not get you a good grade in English Lit.
A Summary Is a Whole Different Deal
A summary is generally understood to be of something long enough to benefit from a summary.
Theres no real summary for, I am going to the store. (A paraphrase would be, The speaker is
traveling to the shop.) A summary is understood to be smaller than the original and may use
some of the same words.
A summary also does not have to be complete. A summary of MLKs I Have a Dream speech
can just be, White and Black people should try to get along better. A paraphrase of the speech
would have to cover all the bases.
 Most typically, in providing a summary, we are
shooting for the gist of the work. We have to make judgment calls about whats important and
what can go. Its the word version of those clean up your house shows on TV. What do we
keep, and what do we toss? Then we organize what we keep so it makes sense.
A summarys purpose is not to interpret meaning so much as to relay information, so the pressure
is off to make sure the words are different. We might even throw in a quote or two. Think of
summarizing a movie you just saw for a friend. You might do a line of dialogue like, To the
pain! or Excuse me while I whip this out.
A Prcis Is for You
Prcis is just an academic term for summary, and you might never be assigned to do one, but
its a handy thing. The purpose here is to remind yourself of what the original said.
Lets say youre reading a bunch of books and articles that might be important for a test, and you
decide just taking a few notes isnt enough. You can write a prcis with the idea that youll read it
again later to refresh your memory. A prcis might then include details about the article beyond
the text, such as that this is the first time a certain procedure was successful or that this approach
to writing code was useful for a while but is now obsolete.
If you do a precise for the primary sources for your discipline, youll have that as a resource not
only for tests, but also for papers you might want to write: sort of your own version of
CliffsNotes (Coles Notes for you Canadians, York Notes for you Brits). Because you do them
yourself, they are geared toward your interests and your style of thinking.
So, while the main idea is the same, the different purposes of these ways of summing things up
require different skills. (Note that that final line there is a summary for the purpose of a
conclusion. Aint I a tricky one?)
Julia H. (except for the poem, which is Andrew M.)

EXAMPLE

A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in
trouble.

One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance laws force many to attend school who
have no wish to be there. Such children have little desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school
that neither they nor more highly motivated students receive the quality education that is the
birthright of every American.

The solution to this problem is simple: Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow only those who
are committed to getting an education to attend.

This will not end public education. Contrary to conventional belief, legislators enacted compulsory-
attendance laws to legalize what already existed. William Landes and Lewis Solomon, economists,
found little evidence that mandatory-attendance laws increased the number of children in school. They
found, too, that school systems have never effectively enforced such laws, usually because of the
expense involved.

There is no contradiction between the assertion that compulsory attendance has had little effect on the
number of children attending school and the argument that repeal would be a positive step toward
improving education. Most parents want a high school education for their children. Unfortunately,
compulsory attendance hampers the ability of public school officials to enforce legitimate educational
and disciplinary policies and thereby make the education a good one.
Private schools have no such problem. They can fail or dismiss students, knowing such students can
attend public school. Without compulsory attendance, public schools would be freer to oust students
whose academic or personal behavior undermines the educational mission of the institution.

Has not the noble experiment of a formal education for everyone failed? While we pay homage to the
homily, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink," we have pretended it is not true
in education.

Ask high school teachers if recalcitrant students learn anything of value. Ask teachers if these students
do any homework. Quite the contrary, these students know they will be passed from grade to grade
until they are old enough to quit or until, as is more likely, they receive a high school diploma. At the
point when students could legally quit, most choose to remain since they know they are likely to be
allowed to graduate whether they do acceptable work or not.

Abolition of archaic attendance laws would produce enormous dividends.

First, it would alert everyone that school is a serious place where one goes to learn. Schools are
neither day-care centers nor indoor street corners. Young people who resist learning should stay
away; indeed, an end to compulsory schooling would require them to stay away.

Second, students opposed to learning would not be able to pollute the educational atmosphere for
those who want to learn. Teachers could stop policing recalcitrant students and start educating.

Third, grades would show what they are supposed to: how well a student is learning. Parents could
again read report cards and know if their children were making progress.

Fourth, public esteem for schools would increase. People would stop regarding them as way stations
for adolescents and start thinking of them as institutions for educating America's youth.

Fifth, elementary schools would change because students would find out early they had better learn
something or risk flunking out later. Elementary teachers would no longer have to pass their failures
on to junior high and high school.

Sixth, the cost of enforcing compulsory education would be eliminated. Despite enforcement efforts,
nearly 15 percent of the school-age children in our largest cities are almost permanently absent from
school.

Communities could use these savings to support institutions to deal with young people not in school.
If, in the long run, these institutions prove more costly, at least we would not confuse their mission
with that of schools.

Schools should be for education. At present, they are only tangentially so. They have attempted to
serve an all-encompassing social function, trying to be all things to all people. In the process they
have failed miserably at what they were originally formed to accomplish.

Example Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation from the

Essay:
Example summary: Roger Sipher makes his case for getting rid of compulsory-attendance

laws in primary and secondary schools with six arguments. These fall into three groups

first that education is for those who want to learn and by including those that don't

want to learn, everyone suffers. Second, that grades would be reflective of effort and

elementary school teachers wouldn't feel compelled to pass failing students. Third,

that schools would both save money and save face with the elimination of compulsory-

attendance laws.
Example paraphrase of the essay's conclusion: Roger Sipher concludes his essay by

insisting that schools have failed to fulfill their primary duty of education because

they try to fill multiple social functions (par. 17).

Example quotation: According to Roger Sipher, a solution to the perceived crisis of

American education is to "Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow only those who

are committed to getting an education to attend" (par. 3).