2. COMMAS
• Use commas to separate items in a series.
• “The pitcher took the mound, received the signal, then delivered a strike.”
• Connect two independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction(and,
but, for, yet, or, nor, so).
• “He hit the ball. He made it to third.”
• “He hit the ball, and he made it to third.”
• Use commas to separate added information in a sentence.
• “The pitcher, being a fifteen year old varsity starter, was nervous when he took
the mound for the first time.”
3. COLONS AND SEMI-COLONS
Colon (:)
• Introduces an explanation or
illustration
• “Pitchers have many injuries: elbow
and shoulder tendinitis, labrum
tares, and Tommy John surgery are
a few.”
• Introduces a list of items
• “A hitter must: recognize the pitch,
determine ball or strike, and decide
whether or not to swing.”
Semi-colon (;)
• Connect two independent clauses with
close relation.
• “Some pitchers choose to pitch
overhand; others pitch sidearm or
even submarine.”
• Avoid confusion when linking two lists,
where the list items contain commas.
• “Different hitters have different styles
of hitting: some hit for contact, which
are normally smaller; but others hit for
power, which are normally bigger
and stronger.”
4. COMMA SPLICES, RUN-ONS, AND
FRAGMENTS
Comma Splices
•
Using a comma improperly to join
two complete sentences
•
•
•
Comma splice- “Oscar fielded the
ball cleanly, he missed the first
baseman.”
To correct use a coordinating
conjunction. (and, but, for, or, nor,
yet, and so)
• Correction- “Oscar fielded the ball
cleanly, but he missed the first
baseman.”
Fragments
Run-ons
Two or more complete sentences
that are not correctly separated
or joined together
•
•
Run-on- “Jeffe hit a single he ran
to third.”
To correct use either a period,
semicolon, or a comma with
coordinating conjunction.
•
•
Correction•
“Jeffe hit a single. He ran to
third.”
•
“Jeffe hit a single; he ran to
third.”
•
“Jeffe hit a single, but he ran to
third.”
A fragment is a group of words
that does not express a complete
thought.
•
•
•
•
On the mound
While in the dugout
At the umpire
To correct just finish the thought by
adding a verb, subject, or
anything you need to complete it.
•
•
On the mound, Leroy was in
complete control.
While in the dugout, the coach
screamed at the umpires.
