The misuse of punctuation is very common in writing English articles. However, people do not usually pay attention to that kind of mistake. In our text-editing exercises, there also exist punctuation mistakes. So we need to learn how to recognize them as well as how to edit them. The following are some examples of p punctuation mistakes on commas:
1. Omitted commas
Use commas to signal nonrestrictive or nonessential material, to prevent confusion, and to indicate relationships among ideas and sentence parts.
Original sentence: When it comes to eating people differ in their tastes.
Correction: When it comes to eating, people differ in their tastes.
Original sentence: The Huns who were Mongolian invaded Gaul in 451.
Correction: The Huns, who were Mongolian, invaded Gaul in 451.
["Who were Mongolian" adds information but does not change the core meaning of the sentence because Huns were a Mongolian people; this material is therefore nonrestrictive or nonessential.]
2.Superfluous commas
Unnecessary commas make sentences difficult to read.
Original sentence: Field trips are required, in several courses, such as, botany and geology.
correction: Field trips are required in several courses, such as botany and geology.
Original sentence: The term, "scientific illiteracy," has become almost a cliche, in educational circles.
Correction: The term "scientific illiteracy" has become almost a cliche in educational circles.
3. Comma splices
Do not link two independent clauses with a comma (unless you also use a coordinating conjunction: and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet). Instead use a period or semicolon, or rewrite the sentence.
Original sentence: In 1952 Japan‘s gross national product was one third that of France, by the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.
Correction: In 1952 Japan‘s gross national product was one third that of France. By the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.
Original sentence:
Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed, however half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.
Correction: Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed; however, half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.
Here is a small exercise, it is very simple but you should pay attention on the correction of puncuations as well as the capital letters:
land's End is the southwest tip of the British mainland each year over a million people visit the area just over a mile offshore is the Longships reef this danger to ships is guarded by the Longships lighthouse
4 条评论:
After reading through your post on punctuation, it gives me a better understanding on the proper usage of punctuation. It is equally important as compared to other grammar aspects although it may not be easily spotted within sentences. Furthermore, the sentence meaning will definitely make a difference with/without the use of correct punctuation.
i realise that punctuation rules are not easy. though it looks simple to deal with punctuation issues, it's also easy to make mistakes. using the correct punctuations wil be the basic requirement of grammar~
Punctuation is critical grammar part in our writing; still many people (including me) either ignore or abuse its usage. I indeed learnt a lot from your clear and comprehensive explanation. Yet, where can I find the answer to the exercise:]?
I always have problems with punctuations, especially commas. How do those little tiny things(your commas and my articles) bring us so many troubles?!
Anyway, I think your explaination is very efficient. I like the way you categorize the different misuses of commas and give both the wrong examples and the corrections so that we can compare them to get the idea. Just one thing, maybe your would like to put on the references as well as the answer to the exercise.
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