Internal Punctuation: Comma, Semicolon, Colon, Quotation Marks

Internal Punctuation

Beyond the three specific marks that help with ending a sentence, many other punctuation marks exist that are used within sentences to clarify meaning when writing in English. Of these, we are going to focus on only four types of internal punctuation as they are most commonly used in English sentences:

• commas

• semicolon

• colon

• quotation marks

The Comma

Commas are the most frequently used punctuation marks, and they are also the most common punctuation errors.

Many students are uncertain how to use a comma correctly. This is likely because commas can be used in a variety of ways. Like other punctuation, the job of a comma is to help the reader understand how something would be said. The word "comma" comes from the Greek word meaning "to cut off". The message commas send is this: pause here, just for a second. It's the writer's responsibility to use commas correctly, not the reader's responsibility to figure out what the writer meant.

Basic Comma Rules

• Commas have two jobs: they either separate or enclose. Remember that, and you are halfway there.

• There are seven main rules for comma use. Understanding these seven rules will eliminate nearly all of the comma errors in your writing.

I. Commas that separate

Rule 1: Use a comma to separate independent clauses joined by the conjunctions known as "fanboys". (If you need a refresher on clauses and "fanboys", revisit the grammar unit in ESL001).

For example:

• We brought chips to the party, and our neighbors were appreciative.

"We brought chips to the party" is an independent clause – it has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. "our neighbors were appreciative" is also an independent clause. The two independent clauses are joined by the conjunction "and", so we put a comma in front of "and".)

Caution: Be sure the conjunction connects two independent clauses, not just two words, two phrases, or even two dependent clauses.

For example:

• My dog curled up on the sofa and waited for dinner.

"and" joins the verbs "curled" and "waited". The phrase "waited for dinner" is not an independent clause. No comma before "and".

Rule 2: Use commas to separate items in a series, date, or address. This comma allows the reader to pause after each item and identify which words are included in a group.

For example:

• series: The barn, the tool shed, and the back porch were destroyed by the wind. (Note –  the comma before "and" in a list is called an Oxford comma and is an optional style choice, but be consistent.)

• series: Mr. Smith could see a wild, dangerous, overgrown jungle in his neighbor's yard. (coordinating conjunctions) 

• date: My grandfather was born on August 13, 1897, in New York City. (In a date, put a comma between the day and the year. If the sentence continues on, put a comma after the year. When only the month and year are used, no comma is needed. For example: He was born in August 1897.)

• address: My sister's address is 2600 Milkweek Street, Dallas, Texas 75019, and she visits me often. (Put a comma after the street and after the city, but not between the state and the zip code. If you continue the sentence after the address, add a comma after the address.)

Rule 3: Use a comma to separate an introductory word or phrase from the beginning of the main sentence.

For example:

• Finally, he received an Oscar for his work in film. (introductory word)

• During last season, our team won nearly every game. (introductory phrase)

Rule 4: Use a comma to separate a tag question, contrast, comment, or description from the end of the main sentence.

For example:

• The age restriction goes into effect in March, doesn't it? (tag question)

• Students who earn high grades are those who study, not those who cheat. (tag contrast)

• She said she would "consider my application", whatever that means. (tag comment)

• We spent a month in Italy, visiting family. (tag description)

II. Commas that enclose

Rule 5: Commas are used to enclose (placed before and after) the name of a person being spoken to in a sentence.

For example:

• Did you know, Sophia, that you left your book in class?

Rule 6: Commas are used to enclose transitions or expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence.

For example:

• I know, by the way, that my paper is late.

Rule 7: Use commas to enclose extra or unnecessary information in the middle of a sentence.

For example:

• Max O'Keefe, who organized the event, will introduce the speakers.

Let's watch some explanations and examples of using commas in a sentence:

The Semicolon

The semicolon looks like a period sitting on top of a comma. It indicates a pause in the sentence. What it looks like can help you remember that the length of the pause: longer than a comma but less than a period.

Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are not joined by one of the conjunctions called "fanboys". For example:

• My brother is an insurance salesman; we have great coverage.

Also, use a semicolon as a sort of "super comma" to avoid confusion in a list that already has commas. For example:

• I enjoy gardening, my hobby; dancing, my passion; and writing, my job.

The semicolon is one of the most misunderstood and misused punctuation marks; in fact, it is often mistaken for the colon (which we'll discuss next). However, these two punctuation marks are not interchangeable.

Let's watch some explanations and examples of using semicolons in a sentence:

The Colon

The colon looks like a period sitting on top of another period. The colon: well-loved but, oh, so misunderstood. The colon is not just used to introduce a list; it is far more flexible.

A colon is used after an independent clause to direct a reader's attention to something that follows, like a list, a quote, an example, or an explanation. For example:

• The college website introduced the new dean: Sara Rivara.

• The Toyota Prius comes in four colors: red, orange, blue, or black.

• Mark Twain said it best: "When in doubt, tell the truth."

The first letter following a colon is capitalized only if the word is a proper noun, the beginning of a quote, or the beginning of a sentence. Otherwise, do not capitalize the word that follows a colon.

Let's watch some explanations and examples of using colons in a sentence:

Quotation Marks

Quotation marks (" ") enclose words to set them off from the rest of the text.

In college, you will write lots of research papers using the ideas and the words of other people. The first step is understanding the difference between direct and indirect quotations.

A direct quotation is when you write exactly what someone else said or wrote. Their words are enclosed in quotation marks. For example:

• The wolf said, "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down."

• According to Gandhi, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Quotes are capitalized just like regular sentences. The first word in a sentence is capitalized, and the first word in a quote is capitalized.

• Sara wrote an email saying, "Thank you for the card. The design was lovely." (The words "Thank" and "The" are capitalized because they begin sentences.)

When identifying the speaker in the middle of a quote, the beginning of the second part of the quote does not need to be capitalized unless it is the beginning of a new sentence. For example:

• "Thank you for the card", Sara wrote in her email. "The design was lovely." ("The" is capitalized because it is the beginning of the new sentence.)

A speaker/writer can be identified at the beginning, middle, or end of a quote. For example:

• Rihanna said, "Let's stop at the market to buy fresh vegetables for dinner."

• "Let's stop at the market", Rihanna said. "We can buy fresh vegetables for dinner."

• "Let's stop at the market to buy some fresh vegetables for dinner", Rihanna said.

Single quotation marks (' ') are only used to indicate a quotation within another quotation. For example:

• Theresa said, "I wanted to take my dog to the music festival, but the man at the gate said, 'No dogs allowed,' so I took Pepper home."

Using quotation marks correctly requires practice. Keep these rules nearby and check them when you want to use quotation marks.

Now that we know how to use end-of-sentence punctuation and some common internal punctuation marks as well, let's put our knowledge into practice.

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Sources: Gay Monteverde, https://pressbooks.nscc.ca/123write/chapter/5-2-commas/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Pamela Bond, https://pressbooks.pub/powerofthepen/chapter/__unknown__-39/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Jodie Salter, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-451bxM48
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

OSU School of Writing, Literature, and Film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtyjVCdHFHU
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

OSU School of Writing, Literature, and Film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLtn5W9buY
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.