Punctuation marks
Different punctuation marks have different uses and different rules.
Let's look at each in turn.*
*Note: some punctuation marks have additional uses not
named here (e.g., formatting dialogue with commas).
Commas (,)
Commas should only be used to...
Separate list items
Crafting a chessboard requires a table saw, a sander(,) and
lots of glue.
NB: the comma placed before the last item in a list is called an Oxford comma and is optional.
Separate nonessential elements from the sentence
The Bay of Fundy, a body of water between Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick, experiences the world's highest tidal
range.
Link dependent clauses to independent clauses
While they were once endangered by commercial whaling,
humpback whale populations have recently grown at a rapid rate.
Other subordinate conjunctions: after, although, as, because,
before, for, if, once, since, than, though, unless, until, when,
whenever, where, wherever, whether, while
NB. A comma is used only when the sentence starts with a
subordinate conjunction, otherwise a comma is not needed.
Humpback whale populations have recently grown at a rapid rate
while they were once endangered by commercial whaling.
Link independent clauses with help from a coordinating
(FANBOYS) conjunction: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Almonds are the world's most consumed tree nut, but walnuts are
a close second.
NB: A comma is placed only if the aforementioned
conjunctions connect 2 independent clauses.
Commas should not...
Split a subject and a verb
Incorrect:
Mountain goats, are very nimble.
Correct:
Mountain goats are very nimble.
Mountain goats, which are only distantly related to
domestic goats, are very nimble.
Explanation: A comma shouldn't separate the subject "goats"
from its verb "are". The only exception is if two commas are being
used to set off a nonessential descriptive phrase.
Semicolons (;)
Semicolons should only be used to...
Link independent clauses (without a conjunction)
Humans have always been troubled by dry skin; lotions and
moisturizers have a history reaching back into ancient times.
Separate list items that already contain commas
Incorrect:
While the United Nations is headquartered in New York City,
it also has central offices in Nairobi, Kenya, Geneva,
Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria.
Correct:
While the United Nations is headquartered in New York City,
it also has central offices in Nairobi, Kenya; Geneva,
Switzerland; and Vienna, Austria.
Explanation: Since we already use a comma when identifying a
city and а country, a list of cities and countries can get confusing.
We can use semicolons to more clearly distinguish between cities in
the list.
Note: We only use semicolons in a list if they're absolutely
needed. Otherwise, using commas is always the better choice.
Any other use of a semicolon creates an error.
Colons (:)
Colons can only come at the end of an independent clause. They
can introduce...
Explanations and extra information
Many upstart tech companies fail for the same reason: a lack of
market need for their product.
Lists
The advent of cellular biology has led to the classification of
organisms into three distinct domains: bacteria, archaea, and
eukaryota.
Any other use of a colon creates an error.
Dashes (—)
Dashes should only be used to separate nonessential elements
from the rest of the sentence.
There are three characters—the Scarecrow, the Tin Man,
and the Cowardly Lion—that accompany Dorothy on her way
to Oz.
There are three characters that accompany Dorothy on her way to
Oz—the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly
Lion.