3 Punctuation Tips for a Polished and Professional Manuscript
Learning punctuation and grammar rules can give you a little boost of confidence that you’re writing right!
Here are a few punctation errors I commonly see as an editor.
Can you start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction? (words such as and, but, so)
The short answer: yes!
Coordinating conjunctions are words used to join together words. They’re easily remembered by the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Back in the day it was not common practice to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. But now it is. (I just wrote one!)
Some people have been taught never to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. That’s an older rule, and one that is not typically followed in today’s more casual writing.
Look at this example:
Melanie knew she didn’t like eating salmon. But her friend encouraged her to try it again.
Notice the sentence starting with “But.”
This sentence is completely acceptable.
Here’s some advice about starting sentences with a coordinating conjunction. Use this method sparingly. Use it to emphasize an idea in a particular sentence. Use it when you want to create a different rhythm in your writing.
How do you punctuate a sentence beginning with a coordinating conjunction?
As an editor I’ve commonly seen punctuation like this:
The squirrel darted through the yard. And, the dogs chased it.
She wanted to make sure they got a good seat. So, they left an hour early.
See the two sentences starting with and and so?
These coordinating conjunctions do not need to be followed by a comma.
So the rule is this: no comma needed when a coordinating conjunction starts a sentence.
The examples should be written like this:
And the dogs chased it.
So they left an hour early. (Some editing programs will tell you to put a comma after so, but you really don’t need to).
Punctuation with the word so
So used as coordinating conjunction
As you saw above, the word so is a coordinating conjunction. It shows cause and effect.
Like in this sentence:
I was tired, so I went to bed early.
Notice a comma comes before so.
So that used as a subordinating conjunction
The word so can also be used with that, so that, as in the following sentence:
She saved money so that she could go on her dream vacation.
Often we leave out the word “that,” (and it’s a good idea to leave out the word that when you can) like this:
She saved money so she could go on her dream vacation.
The rule is this: when using so when you mean so that, do not use a comma.
Just a couple of punctuation tips to help polish your writing!
I hope that cleared up some things for you!
If you have other punctuation questions, let me know! I’d love to answer them.
Thanks for being here!
Melanie
Don’t Miss Out on My Taking Good Care Giveaway!
I’m offering you ways to enter the contest multiple times, and the gifts I’m giving away will help you take good care of yourself.
The winner will receive these gifts worth $150:
$100 Massage Envy Gift Card
Biblical self-affirmation cards to display
Beautiful lined journal
Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton
All the details you need for entering here and/or below:
–Subscribe to my Doing the Best We Can Blog (this is required, so if you’re reading this post, you’re subscribed to my Writing Tips Blog, but you need to be subscribed to my other blog. (And if you are already a subscriber to my Doing the Best We Can Blog, contact me!)
Bonus entries in Facebook and Instagram:
–Follow me on Instagram
–Follow me on Facebook
–Like my giveaway posts
–Tag a friend in the comments of the giveaway posts (1 per comment, please)
–Share a giveaway post to your Instagram or Facebook stories and TAG ME.
Contest starts May 23rd and ends June 24th at 9 p.m. ET.
The winner will be chosen by random number generator. Winner will be tagged in comments on social media and notified by email. Winner is responsible for responding within 7 days with shipping information. If the winner does not respond in 7 days, is not in the contiguous U.S., or is not a blog subscriber, their gift will be forfeited and another winner chosen.
Contiguous U.S residents only.