Two Neccesary Definitions and Examples

The definitions of "Independent Clause" and "Dependent Clause" will now be clarified for future reference.

Independent clause is the main clause while the dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone and needs another clause to complete its meaning. It is also known as a subordinate clause.
This cake is very tasty.
An example of an independent clause.
When there is light, we know the sun.
The first part is an independent clause becuase it needs the second part to tell you what it means.

Colons and Semi colons

First we will show what a colon and a semi colon is. A colon looks like ":" and a semi colon looks like ";". So now that we are clear on what's being discussed let us discuss what they are and their differences.

A colon can be used between two independent clauses to emphasize the second clause.
The guitarist knew what to think of his band: they were absolutely terrible.
Here we are emphasizing what a person is thinking, which is the second independent clause in this sentence.
A colon can also be used after an independent clause in relation to an idea following the independent clause such as a quote or list.
The most powerful world leaders: America, China and Russia.
In his address late last night the President said: "Today is a great day for America. Our economy has recovered just in time for re elections."
The greatest invention ever conceived: sliced bread.
A colon is used at the end of business greetings
Dear Supervisor:
Used to separate hours and minutes when telling time
1:57 pm
Finally to separate verse and chapter in the bible
Acts 18:9
And those are the uses of a colon.

The semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when the second clause restates the first or they are both of equal emphasis.
I am tired; I am very sleepy.
A semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when they are separated by a conjunctive adverb or a transition.
Conjunctive adverbs are: however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless and otherwise.
Transitions are the phrases: even so, in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in other words and on the other hand.
On one hand he is a good person; on the other hand I need my goat.
Finally to join elements of a series that already includes commas such as listing the capitols of nations.
Washington D.C., America; Moscow, Russia.

And so where the differences stand: A colon is used for lists, quotes or when you wish to emphasis the second independent clause over the first independent clause as well as being used in formal letters, the telling of time and quoting the bible.

A semi colon is used when two independent are of equal emphasis or the second clause is greater in emphasis, used to separate two independent clauses when there is a transition or conjunctive adverb separating them and finally to join elements of a series that already has commas in it.

Apostrophes

Apostrophes are often used for the omission of letters, forming the possessive of nouns and to indicate plurals of certain lowercase letters.

To begin we review what is probably one of the first things we learned in elementary school. The omission of letters is often times explained by teachers as "letter a steps out of line to use the bathroom. Apostrophe steps in and holds his spot while he is gone". That explanation is perfect. Examples include:

Would've = Would have

Isn't = Is not

I'm = I am

She'll = She will

'60 = 1960

'99 = 1999

Basically the second word is shortened and attached to the first. The use of apostrophes when applied to years is heard in spoken language when one leaves out the Nineteen when talking about the Sixties.

The next subject is where things get fun. You want to say something belongs to a noun so you put an apostrophe. For example:

The guitarist's guitar

The king's car

The horse's hay

Now what if you are trying a possessive for a noun that is plural? You place the apostrophe normally but exclude the 's' as such:

The married couples' argument was never resolved and the couples hated each other.

Here the sentence refers to more than one couple and so there is no 's' placed after the apostrophe. The next part will deal with mistakes everyone make, in this case the difference between 'its' and 'it's'. Its is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to it while "it's" is a contraction for it is. An example of this where it is confusing would be:

Its the King!

It's the King!

While they may seem similar, they are not. The top say that what ever it is belongs to the King while the bottom announces the King arriving. More errors and their corrections are listed below:

His's notebook

His/one's/anybody's notebook

Who's train ticket is this?

Whose train ticket is this?

I have waited nine hours' to get a ticket!

I have waited nine hours to get a ticket!

The words are one should look at are in bold. In all cases the correct choice is the bottom one because apostrophes are not used for personal pronouns, the relative pronoun who, or for noun plurals.

The next one is more typographical than grammatical and reads that if one is discussing more than one lowercase letter than use an apostrophe to indicate. For example:

a's

or

as

The correct choice according to the rule is the top one other wise we have created a whole new word.

So, in conclusion, we use apostrophes when we want to omit letters, form the possessive of nouns, but not for personal pronouns, the relative pronoun who, or for noun plurals and finally if discussing more than one lowercase letter use an apostrophe so you don't make it a completely different word.

Commas part 1

The comma. It is a majestic creature in the world of writing. So majestic that I know people who were never able to fully embrace it and some who embraced it a little to much for comfort. I have no idea how many points I've lost in my life over improper comma use on essays but I know its a lot and so the first thing covered shall be the comma.

The comma is a dragon that must be slayed. There are many rules involving their use and at times it does come down to the quality of the writer and not the mastery of the comma itself that will make the difference. For example:

Then the great master, for that is what he was, in all greatness, which radiated from him, saw what was presented as an offering.

In this case the comma is presenting information that is wholly unneeded for the sentence and can actually be seen as confusing because of the three pieces of unnecessary information presented next to each other through the comma. The reason why this is included is because one might at times be tempted to place exposition inside of commas. This is a terrible idea and will end up as redundant as the sample sentence just above.

Now of course the more common and proper use of a comma is to connect two sentences together. This is usually done when they are separated by the seven coordinating conjunctions which are and, but, for, or, nor, so. An example of proper usage would read like:

The King looked upon the hills, but he saw nothing except despair. In this case the two sentences are "The King looked upon the hills. He saw nothing except despair." The comma in the sentence, in my opinion, creates for a smoother read. The comma is acting as a modifier to the main idea of the sentence which doesn't have the reader pausing for breath every several seconds. A major goal of a writer is to make their works readable and commas should only be used to help in this but not hinder it.

Another way to accomplish this goal is by using commas in lists. If all lists read The cow Cloverleaf and Milk we would have for a confusing sentence. Is the cow's name cloverleaf or is it a cow made of cloverleaf? If it is a cow made out of cloverleaf then why is milk involved? So to ease this problem we can list things as The cow, Cloverleaf, and Milk with the comma separating individual items on the list and make it easier on the eyes of both the reader and the writer.

For today the hour is getting late but commas are not. As such I will end this here and have a new post to finish commas tomorrow.

Promised video

Welcome

Welcome. First and foremost I would like to thank you for choosing this site as your source of information. I would like to assure each and every person reading that I regard you as a person. However it is often seen that simple, basic grammer rules are often forgotten amongst us writers and so starting today I shall research all these rules and technicalities to place here and explain. Do not think you are alone in this venture, I to need desperate help despite being a hard core writer over the last four years. Nearly every point I lose on essays are grammer points and it is the same way to for other people I know. So I make this pledge: Very soon this site will become a bountiful reference of grammer for all to use and refer to. Eventually it will be more things, such as citing (which I have always despised). To prove my dedication I will have a viedo later on this site to show my face and restate my pledge.

To the future and great grammer,

Mike Hand