This document discusses the importance of proper punctuation usage. It explains that punctuation is essential for accurately conveying meaning and expressing feelings in writing. National Punctuation Day, created by Jeff Rubin, celebrates and promotes understanding of punctuation. Examples are provided to illustrate how punctuation distinguishes between independent and dependent clauses and can change the meaning of a passage. Common punctuation marks like apostrophes, semicolons, and commas are defined along with their proper uses. The document concludes with a table showing examples of combining independent and dependent clauses with correct punctuation.

1. PUNCTUATION

2. Importance of punctuation
• It's another one of those basics that
can make all the difference to your
writing
• Incorrect use of punctuation can
mislead, and send out the wrong
meaning

3. National Punctuation Day
Jeff Rubin - Punctuation Man and founder of
National Punctuation Day (September 24)
Explains that without punctuation:
• You would not be able to express your feelings in
writing
• You do not know when to pause or stop or ask a
question or shout at someone
• Without punctuation you would not be able to
separate independent clauses
• On this day, schools and businesses across the
nation celebrate National Punctuation Day

4. Independent and Dependent Clauses
(Definitions)
Independent Clause (IC)
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject
and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause
is a sentence.
Example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.
Dependent Clause (DC)
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and
verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause
cannot be a sentence.
Example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry
quiz . . .
(What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete)

5. Classic example to illustrate the importance
of punctuation
Version 1
• Dear Jon:
• I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind,
thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me for other men. I desire for you. I have no feelings at all
when we're apart. I can be forever happy -- will you let me be yours?
• Gloria
Version 2
• Dear Jon:
• I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind,
thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me. For other men, I desire. For you, I have no feelings at
all. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
• Yours,
• Gloria

6. Apostrophe ’
The apostrophe shows where a letter or
letters have been left out of a
contracted verb:
I am = I'm you are = you're she is = she's it is = it's
do not =
don't
she would = she'd he would have = he would've
let us = let's who is = who's she will = she'll
they had =
they'd

7. Apostrophe ’
To indicate possession (possessive forms / plurals)
• 1) With nouns (plural and singular) not ending in an
s add 's.
the children's books, the people's parliament, a Mother's
pride
• 2) With plural nouns ending in an s, add only the
apostrophe.
the guards' duties, the Nuns' habits, the Joneses' house
• 3) With singular nouns ending in an s, you can add
either 's or an apostrophe alone.
the witness's lie or the witness' lie (be consistent)

8. Apostrophe ’
Exception: ancient or religious names.
Jesus' strength, Achilles' heel
4a) For common possession, only add 's to the last name.
Janet and Jane's house
4b) Where possession is not common, add to each.
Janet's and Jane's homes
Where letters or numbers have been omitted.
The summer of '69, the house wasn't at its best, that isn't the right
way, it's not bad
To indicate contractions (something that I’ll cover in another
lesson)

9. Semicolon ;
To link two separate sentences that are
closely related
• The children came home today; they had been
away for a week
In a list that already contains commas
• Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry;
Babylon 5, by JMS; Buffy, by Joss Weldon; and
Farscape, from the Henson Company.

10. Semicolon ;
To separate closely related independent clauses:
• We had four professors on our committee: Peter Wursthorn,
Professor of Mathematics; Ronald Pepin, Professor of
English; Cynthia Greenblatt, Professor of Education; and
Nada Light, Professor of Nursing
• My grandmother does not go to bed early; she is afraid she
will miss out on something on TV
You will want a semicolon to separate two independent
clauses even when those two independent clauses are
connected by a coordinating conjunction

11. Independent and Dependent Clauses
(Definitions)
Independent Clause (IC)
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject
and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause
is a sentence.
Example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.
Dependent Clause (DC)
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and
verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause
cannot be a sentence.
Example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry
quiz . . .
(What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete)

12. Proper Punctuation Methods
This table gives some examples of ways to combine
independent and dependent clauses and shows how
to punctuate them properly
IC. IC. I went to the store. I didn't buy any bread.
IC; IC. I went to the store; I didn't buy any bread.
IC, CC
IC.
I went to the store, but I didn't buy any bread.
IC; IM,
IC.
I went to the store; however, I didn't buy any bread.
DC, IC. When I went to the store, I didn't buy any bread.
IC DC. I didn't buy any bread when I went to the store.