We Need to Have A Talk About Writing...

Originally, this was an exercise and lesson from Reeling In Your Readers from the New Horizons Academy.

LESSON #1:

Rule #1 - Compound Sentences With Coordinating Conjunctions (use commas)

Ethan Drane was a very tall man, but liked to wear short shorts.

Rule #2 - Introductory Adverbial Clauses (use commas)

After Ethan Drane wore short shorts one time too many, his posse partners kicked him out of the gang.

Rule #3b - Non-Coordinate Adjectives (don’t use commas)

Ethan Drane’s short shorts were very short.

Rule #3a - Coordinate Adjectives (use commas)

Ethan Drane’s short shorts were very, very short.

Rule #4a - Non-Essential Elements (use commas)

Ethan Drane had more then one, actually he had seven, pairs of short shorts.

Rule #4b - Essential Elements (don't use commas)
The cowboy Ethan Drane called himself the Short Shorts Cowboy.

Rule #4c - Essential "That" Clauses (don't use commas)

Ethan Drane’s short shorts that he made himself were infamous.

LESSON #2:

Rule #5 - Elements in a Series (use commas)
Ethan Drane had red short shorts, blue short shorts, black short shorts, and rainbow coloured short shorts.

Rule #6a - Introductory Phrases (use commas)
While roaming the range, Ethan Drane’s short shorts made life comfortable.

Rule #6b - Ending Participial Phrase which modifies noun next to it (don't use commas)

Ethan Drane saw the lady eyeing off his short shorts.
Rule #7 - Introductory Transitional Words (use commas)
Beginning Sentence: Ethan Drane saw the lady eyeing off his short shorts.
Transitional Sentence: Consequently, he complimented her on her hot pants.

Rule #8 - Interjections (use commas)

Lordy, they were hot pants!

LESSON #3:

Rule #9 - Ending Adverbial Clauses (don’t use commas)

Ethan Drane left the scene before he got in trouble with the Lady’s chaperone.

Rule #10a - Disjunctive Adverbial Words (use commas)

Furtively, the lady looked around for Ethan Drane, his short shorts, and any witnesses.

Rule #10b - Adjunctive Adverbial Words (don’t use commas)

Ethan Drane saw the lady coming, and beat a hasty retreat.

Rule #11 - Absolute Phrases (use commas)

The lady, her hot pants quivering, cornered Ethan Drane and his short shorts in a barn.

Lesson #4:

Rule #12 - Adverbs In Short Sentences (don’t use commas)

Ethan Drane reluctantly conceded defeat.

Rule #13 - Shared Subjects (don’t use commas)

The short shorts and the hotpants were actually of the opinion it was a victory.

Rule #14 - Separation of Subjects and Verbs (don’t use commas)

Ethan Drane and his short shorts and the lady and her hot pants ushered in the night.

Rule #15 - Comma Splices (don’t use commas)
Comma Splice:
The rest is best left to your imagination, Ethan Drane and his short shorts found a happy hearth to call their own.
Comma Splice Correction:
The rest is best left to your imagination. Ethan Drane and his short shorts found a happy hearth to call their own.


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Johny Thundersbeard
Editor, Mentor & Member.
"The Steampunk Authors' Guild " 
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WDC Author of the Month May 2012
30DBC Administrator, Judge & Rejigger 2012.
Forum Master "Invalid Item"  2016.