This powerpoint explains how to correctly use commas, correctly spell, and use correct punctuation.

1. Commas, Spelling, and Punctuation By Jill McFarlane

2. Commas The reason we use commas is… to help prevent run-on sentences. To help break up one or more things. And simply to reduce confusion for the reader

3. Examples: On my way to school today, accidentally, I stepped in the middle of a puddle. Today I had a sandwich, apple, cookies, and a juice box for lunch. Even though we had 3 feet of snow on the ground this morning, my school still wouldn’t close, which can be dangerous for the students who drive themselves.

4. Now you try it! Add a comma in this sentence… Today it was snowing so hard that I had to wear my winter coat gloves hat and snow boots to school even though I don’t walk outside to school.

5. Spelling Sometimes we get really confused on spelling different words because they sound exactly alike!

6. Words such as… Their, They’re, and There. No and Know Two, To and Too Your and You’re

7. For the three, There, Their and They’re it can be pretty tricky learning which one to use! They’re is for when you are talking about a group of people doing something…instead of saying “they are”, you can say “they’re”. Their is used when you have possession over something. There is used for when you are talking about a place.

8. No is used when you’re saying “No” to something. Such as, “No, I don’t want any candy.” Know is used for when you have learned something, so therefore you now know the subject. Such as, “I know how to tie my shoe lace.”

9. Two is used for when you are talking about the number 2. Such as, “There are two bananas” Remember, when writing, you have to write out the word two, you cannot use 2. To is used for when you telling someone to go somewhere, or telling someone to give something to someone, etc. Such as, “Give this letter to Mrs.Robinson.” Too is used for when you are agreeing. Just like using the word, “also”. Such as, “Me too!”

10. Your is used for when you are referring to something that is in possession. Such as, “Do you have your glasses?” You’re is used just like “They’re” is used. It’s combing “you” and “are”. Such as, “You’re going to the game, right?”

11. Punctuation We touched a little on punctuation earlier, but we did not talk about periods, question marks, or exclamation points. These are used to help separate sentences so readers won’t be confused, and the reading will have a nice flow.

12. Periods If we didn’t have periods at the ends of sentences readers would become very confused, and the reading would not flow together. Example: My name is Jill I like the color pink I am from Suttons Bay, Michigan. Correct: My name is Jill. I like the color pink. I am from Suttons Bay, Michigan

13. Question Marks The only time we use question marks is when we are asking a question. For example: How long is your paper? Two or three pages? If we put a question mark at the end of sentences that were not asking a question, that would not be incorrect punctuation.

14. Exclamation Points We use exclamation points when we are trying to show emotion. For example: We won the game today! If we put an exclamation point after something that did not show emotion at all, that would also be incorrect punctuation.

15. You try! Add the correct punctuation: I am so excited, my family got a dog today My sisters name is Jayne How long will you be at the mall