Punctuation Errors Rahul Hosdurg

a.

Directions:
i. Locate at least 15 sentences in which you made a punctuation error.
ii. Copy the sentences in their original form and then correct them. State why the
first sentence was incorrect and how you edited it to be correct. Both original and revised
sentences should be included in the portfolio.
b. Evaluation Type: Completion (at least 10 errors need to be accurately fixed and explained to earn
credit)

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Original: However, Holden sheds some light onto what happened then between him and Allie
when he says I was only 13 and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I
broke all the windows in the garage I slept in the garage the night he died and I broke all the
damn windows with my fist for the heck of it (44, Salinger).
Correct: However, Holden sheds some light onto what happened then between him and Allie
when he says, I was only 13 and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I
broke all the windows in the garage I slept in the garage the night he died and I broke all the
damn windows with my fist for the heck of it (44, Salinger).
Explanation: A comma needs to be added after the word says, as it is then leading into a
quote. Commas are the most common form of punctuation used when leading into a quote,
and must always be present in order for the writing to flow

Original: In this case, the inexplicably stressful event that was suffered, was the death of his
brother.
Correct: In this case, the inexplicably stressful event that was suffered was the death of his
brother.
Explanation: A comma is not needed here as when reading this sentence out loud, a pause is
not necessary.

Original: In their article Group Treatment for Traumatized Adolescents: Special

Considerations, authors Gloria Batkin Kahn and Seth Aronson describe what truly defines
trauma

Correct: In their article, Group Treatment for Traumatized Adolescents: Special

Considerations, authors Gloria Batkin Kahn and Seth Aronson describe what truly defines
trauma.
Explanation: A comma is needed here in order to introduce a title of an article. This type of
comma is called an introducer used to present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify
composition titles, and in this case, clarify a composition title

Original: When it says he felt shame this is important because not often do people accept
blame for something they might have done.
Correct: When it says he felt shame, this is important because not often do people accept
blame for something they might have done.

Explanation: A comma is needed after all parts of a quote being analyzed within a
paragraph as a pause is needed after reading the portion of the quote. This type of comma
is called an introducer used to present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify
composition titles, and in this case, present dialogue

Original: Salinger depicts the idea of how Holden tries to cope with the disillusionment that he
has encountered, through different methods of isolation which end up proving ineffective.
Correct: Salinger depicts the idea of how Holden tries to cope with the disillusionment that he
has encountered through different methods of isolation, which end up proving ineffective
Explanation: The comma placed originally should be deleted and moved after the word
isolation. A comma is needed here to separate the two independent clauses present within
the sentence.

Original: After Holden leaves his boarding school Pencey, he takes a train into New
York city where
Correct: After Holden leaves his boarding school, Pencey, he takes a train into New
York city where

Explanation: An introducer comma is needed here before and after the word Pencey
because Pencey is an introducing title within the sentence and is regarded as addition
information, thus requiring a double comma.

Original: This method is shown to be ineffective however because this coping method has
proven to be an ineffective technique through the course of the story as Holdens isolation keeps
him away from society, making his social interactions awkward.
Correct: This method is shown to be ineffective, however, because this coping method has
proven to be an ineffective technique through the course of the story as Holdens isolation keeps
him away from society, making his social interactions awkward.
Explanation: Double commas are needed in this sentence after the word however because
however is an introductory word in a clause that creates continuity form once sentence to
the next, thus requiring double commas. This type of commas is known as an interrupter.

Original: Holden wants to be isolated from the world in order to navigate the disillusionment
suffered when he lost Allie, however this shows to be ineffective as it makes his personality
almost socially unacceptable
Correct: Holden wants to be isolated from the world in order to navigate the disillusionment
suffered when he lost Allie, however, this shows to be ineffective as it makes his personality
almost socially unacceptable
Explanation: For the same reason as stated above, double commas are needed in this
sentence after the word however because however is an introductory word in a clause that
creates continuity form once sentence to the next.

Original: In OBriens text, the protagonist Jimmy Cross also tries to navigate his
disillusionment through isolation which proves to be ineffective
Correct: In OBriens text, the protagonist Jimmy Cross also tries to navigate his disillusionment
through isolation, which proves to be ineffective
Explanation: A comma is needed after isolation because it separates the two clauses within
the sentence and without the comma the sentence would flow quickly and a pause is needed
towards the end of the sentence. This type of commas is known as a compunder.

Original: When walking after watching a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Holden
says New York's terrible when somebody laughs on the street very late at night.
Correct: When walking after watching a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Holden
says, New York's terrible when somebody laughs on the street very late at night.
Explanation: An introducer comma needs to be added after the word says, as it is then
leading into a quote. Commas are commonly used when leading into a quote, and must
always be present in order for the writing to flow.

Original: Salinger takes the time out of the story to have Holden tell us that laughter makes him
depressed in order to make a point of how one will never truly overcome the wounds suffered
from a traumatic event, in this case the death of Holdens close brother and friend, Allie.
Correct: Salinger takes the time out of the story to have Holden tell us that laughter makes him
depressed in order to make a point of how one will never truly overcome the wounds suffered
from a traumatic event, in this case, the death of Holdens close brother and friend, Allie.

Explanation: A comma is needed here before and after the clause in this case because you
are creating continuity between two spate thoughts within the sentence, thus requiring
double commas.

Original: OBrien takes the reader through the events in the aftermath of the death saying that
On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom
of his foxhole and burned Marthas lettersLavender was dead. You couldnt burn the blame
(OBrien 22).
Correct: OBrien takes the reader through the events in the aftermath of the death saying that:
On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom
of his foxhole and burned Marthas lettersLavender was dead. You couldnt burn the blame
(OBrien 22).

Explanation: A colon needs to be added after the word that, as it is then leading into a
quote. Colons are commonly used when leading into a quote, and must always be present in
order for the writing to flow.

Original: Due to darkness they cannot clearly see each other, but soon realize they are both
watchmen by the names of Francisco and Bernardo
Correct: Due to darkness, they cannot clearly see each other, but soon realize they are both
watchmen by the names of Francisco and Bernardo

Explanation: A comma is needed after darkness because there is a distinct pause present
within that sentence and a comma must be added in order for the sentence to flow smoothly

Original: Salinger is trying to portray Holden as more of a victim through this quote, however as
the novel progresses, Holden can be viewed as not only a victim of phoniness, but also a cause of
phoniness as previously mentioned of how he acts fake towards others.
Correct: Salinger is trying to portray Holden as more of a victim through this quote, however, as
the novel progresses, Holden can be viewed as not only a victim of phoniness, but also a cause of
phoniness as previously mentioned of how he acts fake towards others.
Explanation: Double commas are needed in this sentence after the word however
because however is an introductory word in a clause that creates continuity form once
sentence to the next, thus requiring double commas.

Original: The next scene begins at night with Marcellus, Horatio and Hamlet all waiting for the
ghost to appear.
Correct: The next scene begins at night with Marcellus, Horatio, and Hamlet all waiting for the
ghost to appear.
Explanation: A comma is needed after Horatio because commas are used when giving lists
in a sentence in order to create pauses between every item on the list and even though the
word and is after Horatio, a comma is still needed in order for the sentence flow to be
smooth.