HiSET · Language Arts Writing · 5 min read
Clause Punctuation and Editing Practice
- Distinguish between independent, dependent, restrictive, and nonrestrictive clauses to punctuate sentences accurately.
- Identify and correct common clause errors, including comma splices, fused sentences, fragments, and misused semicolons or colons.
- Apply standard editing rules for conjunctive adverbs, appositives, coordinate adjectives, quotations, and series punctuation.
Clause Fundamentals and Connecting Independent Clauses
An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Because it makes sense on its own, an independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. In contrast, a dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. A subordinating conjunction turns an independent clause into a dependent clause. Common subordinating conjunctions include 'although', 'because', 'since', 'while', 'unless', and 'if'. If a group of words is punctuated as a sentence but lacks an independent clause, it is classified as a sentence fragment.
When combining dependent and independent clauses, punctuation depends on clause order. An introductory dependent clause is generally followed by a comma before the main clause begins. For instance, if a sentence opens with a dependent clause introduced by 'because' or 'although', a comma indicates the boundary between the two clauses. However, when a dependent clause follows the main independent clause, a comma is generally not required.
Connecting two independent clauses requires careful punctuation to avoid run-on sentences. Coordinating conjunctions can be remembered using the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. A comma generally precedes a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses, though it may be omitted between very short, closely connected clauses when the meaning remains clear. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma without a coordinating conjunction. A fused sentence, which is another type of run-on sentence, occurs when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation or a conjunction. Additionally, writers must note that a comma should not separate two verbs that share the same subject in a compound predicate.
In editing questions, recognizing and repairing comma splices is an essential skill. A comma splice can be corrected by replacing the comma with a period and capitalizing the first word of the second sentence. A comma splice can also be corrected by adding an appropriate coordinating conjunction after the comma. Finally, a comma splice can be corrected by replacing the comma with a semicolon.
Common mistakes
- Creating a comma splice by joining two independent clauses with only a comma, instead of using a period, a semicolon, or a comma combined with a coordinating conjunction.
- Placing a colon directly after a verb, a preposition, or expressions like 'such as' or 'including' instead of placing it after a complete independent clause.
- Enclosing restrictive clauses or restrictive appositives in commas even though their information is essential to identify the noun.
- Inserting unnecessary commas between a subject and its complete verb or between a verb and its direct object.
Key points
- An independent clause contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought, whereas a dependent clause cannot stand alone and often begins with a subordinating conjunction such as 'although', 'because', or 'if'.
- To avoid comma splices and fused sentences, connect independent clauses using a comma followed by a FANBOYS coordinating conjunction, a semicolon alone, or a period with a capitalized new sentence.
- Restrictive clauses (often introduced by 'that') and restrictive appositives identify specific nouns and take no commas, while nonrestrictive elements (often introduced by 'which' preceded by a comma) take commas, dashes, or parentheses.
- A semicolon joins closely related independent clauses, sets off conjunctive adverbs (like 'however' or 'therefore') with a following comma, and separates series items containing internal commas, but it cannot link a dependent clause to an independent clause.
- In standard prose, a colon introducing a list, explanation, appositive, or quotation generally follows an independent clause; do not insert one between a verb or preposition and the material it introduces.
- Coordinate adjectives require a comma or 'and', cumulative adjectives take no commas, and unnecessary commas must never separate a subject from its complete verb or a verb from its direct object.
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