This document provides an overview of basic grammar rules including punctuation marks like periods, commas, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes. It discusses how to properly integrate quotes into sentences and defines common grammar issues like comma splices, run-on sentences, and fragments. The key takeaway is that writers should proofread their work to avoid these grammar problems.

1. Grammar Time!

2. Grammar Time!
Keeping your writing grammatically correct.

4. You can’t touch
this.

5. You can’t touch
this.
A brief reminder about punctuation marks.

6. Periods.

7. Periods.
Periods are used to separate two complete sentences. A complete sentence
includes a subject and a verb.

8. Periods.
Periods are used to separate two complete sentences. A complete sentence
includes a subject and a verb.
Example:
My, my, my music hits me so hard. Thank you for blessing me with a mind to
rhyme and two hype feet.

9. Commas,
Commas have four main uses:

10. Commas,
Commas have four main uses:
• Used before coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Example: I am known as such, and this is a beat you just can’t touch.

11. Commas,
Commas have four main uses:
• Used before coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Example: I am known as such, and this is a beat you just can’t touch.
• More than two items in a series
Example: So wave your hands in the air, bust a few moves, and run
your fingers through your hair.

12. Commas,
Commas have four main uses:
• Used before coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Example: I am known as such, and this is a beat you just can’t touch.
• More than two items in a series
Example: So wave your hands in the air, bust a few moves, and run
your fingers through your hair.
• Introductory elements before the subject
Example: Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics.

13. Commas,
Commas have four main uses:
• Used before coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Example: I am known as such, and this is a beat you just can’t touch.
• More than two items in a series
Example: So wave your hands in the air, bust a few moves, and run
your fingers through your hair.
• Introductory elements before the subject
Example: Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics.
• Parenthetical information
Example: This is a beat, uh, you can’t touch.

14. Semicolons;
There are three main uses for a semicolon:

15. Semicolons;
There are three main uses for a semicolon:
• As a weak period to join two related sentences
Example: Every time you see me, the Hammer’s just so hype; I’m dope on
the floor, and I’m magic on the mic.

16. Semicolons;
There are three main uses for a semicolon:
• As a weak period to join two related sentences
Example: Every time you see me, the Hammer’s just so hype; I’m dope on
the floor, and I’m magic on the mic.
• With conjunctive adverbs (however, more over, for example, hence,
consequently, therefore)
Example: You know you want to dance; therefore, move out of your seat
and get a fly girl and catch this beat.

17. Semicolons;
There are three main uses for a semicolon:
• As a weak period to join two related sentences
Example: Every time you see me, the Hammer’s just so hype; I’m dope on
the floor, and I’m magic on the mic.
• With conjunctive adverbs (however, more over, for example, hence,
consequently, therefore)
Example: You know you want to dance; therefore, move out of your seat
and get a fly girl and catch this beat.
• Items in a series already containing a comma
Example: Singers are sweating so pass them a soft, white towel to wipe
their perspiration; a tape to learn what it’s going to take in the
90’s to burn the charts; and legitimacy.

18. Colons:
There are three main uses for a colon:

19. Colons:
There are three main uses for a colon:
• To introduce a list
Example: There are three things you can’t touch: my beat, my rhymes, and
this.

20. Colons:
There are three main uses for a colon:
• To introduce a list
Example: There are three things you can’t touch: my beat, my rhymes, and
this.
• To introduce a definition
Example: This: The thing you cannot touch.

21. Colons:
There are three main uses for a colon:
• To introduce a list
Example: There are three things you can’t touch: my beat, my rhymes, and
this.
• To introduce a definition
Example: This: The thing you cannot touch.
• To introduce a long quote
Example: According to MC Hammer: “I really had genuinely brotherly love for
Pac (Tupac Shakur). When I became a part of the Death Row family, he
immediately ran into the studio and woke up the next morning. I had told
him about a sang I wanted to do. It was off the Ohio players skin tight I
wanted to called it too tight. Before I could get to the studio Tupac had
gotten up early that morning went to the studio, called in the background
singers, laid down the background, wrote a rap he wanted me to rap and it
was done. He immediately embraced his partner from the town.”

22. Apostrophes’

23. Apostrophes’
Apostrophes have two functions:

24. Apostrophes’
Apostrophes have two functions:
• Contractions
Example: I’ve toured around the world, from London to the Bay.

25. Apostrophes’
Apostrophes have two functions:
• Contractions
Example: I’ve toured around the world, from London to the Bay.
• Show possession
Example: MC Hammer’s parachute pants are the best.
Example: His peers’ pants aren’t nearly as cool.

26. Stop! Hammer Time!
How you will commonly use this information.

27. Quotes and Punctuation

28. Quotes and Punctuation
Integrating a quote

29. Quotes and Punctuation
Integrating a quote
⚫Complete sentence: “Quote”
⚫ Example: In “You Can’t Touch This,” MC Hammer gives sound and inspirational advice:
“Either work hard or you might as well quit.”

30. Quotes and Punctuation
Integrating a quote
⚫Complete sentence: “Quote”
⚫ Example: In “You Can’t Touch This,” MC Hammer gives sound and inspirational advice:
“Either work hard or you might as well quit.”
⚫Incomplete sentence, “Quote”
⚫ Example: Hammer often interjects, “You can’t touch this.”

31. Quotes and Punctuation
Integrating a quote
⚫Complete sentence: “Quote”
⚫ Example: In “You Can’t Touch This,” MC Hammer gives sound and inspirational advice:
“Either work hard or you might as well quit.”
⚫Incomplete sentence, “Quote”
⚫ Example: Hammer often interjects, “You can’t touch this.”
⚫Integrated into sentence
⚫ Example: MC Hammer describes himself as “a super-dope homeboy from Oaktown” in his
song.

32. Quotes and Punctuation
Integrating a quote
⚫Complete sentence: “Quote”
⚫ Example: In “You Can’t Touch This,” MC Hammer gives sound and inspirational advice:
“Either work hard or you might as well quit.”
⚫Incomplete sentence, “Quote”
⚫ Example: Hammer often interjects, “You can’t touch this.”
⚫Integrated into sentence
⚫ Example: MC Hammer describes himself as “a super-dope homeboy from Oaktown” in his
song.
⚫Short quotes as part of the sentence
⚫ Example: He believes when you have “fresh new kicks” that “you know you want to dance.”

33. Splices, Run-ons, and Fragments

34. Splices, Run-ons, and Fragments
Comma Splice
⚫A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are fused into one sentence
using a comma. That’s not what commas are used for.
⚫ Example: That’s how we’re living, you know you can’t touch this.

35. Splices, Run-ons, and Fragments
Comma Splice
⚫A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are fused into one sentence
using a comma. That’s not what commas are used for.
⚫ Example: That’s how we’re living, you know you can’t touch this.
Run-on sentence
⚫A run-on sentence happens when two independent clauses are fused together without
using appropriate punctuation.
⚫ Example: MC Hammer is the greatest artist of all time I am his biggest fan.

36. Splices, Run-ons, and Fragments
Comma Splice
⚫A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are fused into one sentence
using a comma. That’s not what commas are used for.
⚫ Example: That’s how we’re living, you know you can’t touch this.
Run-on sentence
⚫A run-on sentence happens when two independent clauses are fused together without
using appropriate punctuation.
⚫ Example: MC Hammer is the greatest artist of all time I am his biggest fan.
Fragment
⚫A fragment is an incomplete sentence—one that doesn’t contain both a subject and
verb.
⚫ Example: Can’t touch!

37. How do we avoid grammar problems?

38. How do we avoid grammar problems?
Proofread!

39. Fin