Commas, Semicolons, and Colons

Add commas for:

1. After an introductory phrase: "After the long**,** tiring hike**,**"
2. Between coordinate adjectives: "long**,** tiring"
3. Between items in a list: "sandwiches**,** drank water**,** and rested"

Corrected: "After the long**,** tiring hike**,** we ate sandwiches**,** drank water**,** and rested."

Rules applied:

• Comma after introductory phrases (more than 3-4 words)
• Comma between adjectives that independently modify the noun (test: can you put "and" between them? "Long and tiring" → yes ✅)
• Commas in a list with Oxford comma

Answer: "After the long, tiring hike, we ate sandwiches, drank water, and rested."

Answer: (B)

"Which opened in 1985" is a nonrestrictive clause (adds extra info). It must be set off by commas on BOTH sides.

(A) Missing the closing comma after "1985" ❌ (B) Commas on both sides of the clause ✅ (C) Missing the opening comma before "which" ❌

Rule: Nonrestrictive clauses are like parenthetical asides. They need punctuation on BOTH sides — either commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Think of it like parentheses: "The museum (which opened in 1985) has attracted millions."

SAT Trap: If you see a comma on one side of a nonrestrictive clause but not the other, it's wrong. They MUST come in pairs.

Use a semicolon before "however" and a comma after it:

"The project was behind schedule**;** however**,** the team managed to finish on time." ✅

Why:

• "The project was behind schedule" = independent clause
• "the team managed to finish on time" = independent clause
• "However" is a conjunctive adverb (transitional word), NOT a conjunction

Conjunctive adverbs need a semicolon before and comma after: ; however, ; therefore, ; moreover, ; furthermore, ; nevertheless, ; consequently,

Compare with coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) which use comma only: , and , but , or , nor , for , yet , so

Wrong: "...schedule, however, the team..." ← comma splice! Wrong: "...schedule; however; the team..." ← semicolon after "however" is wrong

Answer: Semicolon before "however," comma after it.

The list items contain internal commas (city, state), so use SEMICOLONS between items:

"The conference featured speakers from three cities**:** New York**,** New York**;** Chicago**,** Illinois**;** and Austin**,** Texas."

Punctuation used:

1. Colon after "cities" — introduces the list (preceded by a complete sentence)
2. Commas between city and state
3. Semicolons between list items (because items contain internal commas)

Why semicolons? Without them: "New York, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Austin, Texas" — is that 6 items or 3? The semicolons clarify grouping.

Answer: "The conference featured speakers from three cities: New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Austin, Texas."

Rule: Use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.

Evaluate each comma:

1. "old**,** brick" — ❌ UNNECESSARY. "Old" and "brick" are not coordinate adjectives. "Old brick factory" = "brick" is part of the noun. Test: "old AND brick factory"? No. Remove this comma.

2. "brick**,** factory" — ❌ UNNECESSARY. Never separate the last adjective from its noun with a comma.

3. "factory**,** which" — ✅ CORRECT. Opens a nonrestrictive clause.

4. MISSING comma after "decades" — ❌ MISSING. Closes the nonrestrictive clause. Add: "decades**,**"

5. "demolished**,** to" — ❌ UNNECESSARY. Don't separate a verb from its purpose/infinitive phrase.

Corrected: "The old brick factory**,** which had been abandoned for decades**,** was finally demolished to make way for a new park." ✅

Key rules applied:

• Don't put commas between non-coordinate adjectives
• Never separate an adjective from its noun with a comma
• Nonrestrictive clauses need commas on BOTH sides
• Don't separate a verb from its complement