Punctuation Weblinks:
 

1	The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
	Jane Straus, Corporate Trainer	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/fr_punc.html	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: Provides dozens of hyperlinks to explanations and exercises for the major marks of punctuation.  Marks include the ellipsis, colon, semicolon, and parenthesis, etc.
	SPECIALITY: Each topic link provides access to exercises containing dozens of sample sentences and answers.  A 35-question test is also available at the bottom of the document.

 

2	Language Skills for Journalists
	R. Thomas Berner, Penn State University	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.courses.psu.edu/Materials/COMM461_bx2/ch6master.htm	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: Provides links and targets to explanations and examples for a dozen marks of punctuation.  Click the links/targets on the right to access the explanations.
	SPECIALITY: Extensive information on the comma rules and semicolon usage.

 

3	A Handbook for Selected Punctuation Marks from the Hypertext Book
	Sandra Penrose, Doug Nygren & Daniel Kies, Coll. of DuPage	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://papyr.com/hypertextbooks/engl_126/punct1.htm	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: An excellent, condensed series of explanations and examples for all the major marks of punctuation.  Most rules are accompanied by 2-4 example sentences.
	SPECIALITY:  Two different authors share the explanations; click on the author’s name to access the text.

 

4	Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization
	NASA	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://stipo.larc.nasa.gov/sp7084/sp7084ch3.html	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: This site provides detailed explanations and examples for most of the punctuation marks.  Examples provide clear illustration of the punctuation rules.
	SPECIALITY: This website is specifically geared toward engineering students, with a slant toward writing scientific papers.  Some examples contain math equations and scientific notation, so please realize that this site provides specialized information.

 

5	Practical Punctuation Guide
	Donna Reiss, Tidewater Community College	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.tc.cc.va.us/writcent/handouts/punct.htm	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Brief, readable rules and explanations for the major punctuation marks.  Nicely formatted onto one page for easy printing.
	SPECIALITY: Includes ellipsis, dashes, and quotations.

 

6	Grammar Slammer's Punctuation Rules
	English Plus	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000062.htm	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Provides links to dozens of sites devoted to explaining the rules of punctuation.  Includes most of the marks, including brackets and virgules (slashes).  Also contains a section on underlining and italicizing.
	SPECIALITY: Examples are color-coded and boldfaced for easier understanding.

 

7	Punctuation and Mechanics
	Elaine Handley and Susan Oaks	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writer/pandg/pmen.htm	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Compact page offers links to a dozen punctuation and mechanics-oriented pages.  The rules and explanations are limited, but the exercises provide immediate feedback.
	SPECIALITY: Covers major marks, plus ellipsis, brackets, italics, and usage.

 

8	Punctuation
	Frances Peck, University of Ottawa	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/punct.html	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Provides links to both correct and incorrect examples of the major punctuation topics.
	SPECIALITY: Offers hyperlinks to key grammatical terms and phrases inside of the explanations themselves.   The review at the end provides exercises and links to the correct answers with detailed explanations.

 

9	Punctuation
	Sonia Jaffe Robbins, New York University	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.nyu.edu/classes/copyXediting/Punctuation.html#history	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Provides mostly examples of various marks of punctuation.  Although short on explanations and rules, the examples demonstrate a variety of situations and uses.
	SPECIALITY: Marks covered include the dash, brackets, ellipsis, parenthesis, etc.

 

10	Reference Sheet on Punctuation and Capitalization
	SW Texas State University	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.swt.edu/slac/Punctcap.htm	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: Offers clear, quick explanations of the purposes of these punctuation marks and examples of their proper use.
	SPECIALITY: Site contains only examples; no explanations.  Covers the comma, colon, semicolon, dash, italics, quotes, hyphenation, quotations, apostrophes, and capitalization.

 

11	The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing: Punctuation
	Michael Harvey	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/punctuation.html	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: A colorful, well-organized briefing on the major marks of punctuation.  Examples stand out in brightly colored fields for easy readability.
	SPECIALITY: Contents limited to comma splices, semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, and italics.

 

12	Writer's Handbook: Grammar and Style (but Mostly Punctuation)
	University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.wisc.edu/writetest/Handbook/GramStyPunct.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Provides links to limited punctuation topics: dashes, commas, and semicolons.  Topic links provide descriptions of the rules, examples, and self-test exercises with answers.
	SPECIALITY: The semicolon section is the best: It contains some clear examples of semicolon usage.

 

13	Improving Your Punctuation
	Fastfax, University of Guelph	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.uoguelph.ca/csrc/writing/punct.htm	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: A site mostly devoted to explaining the basic comma rules and means of correcting comma errors.
	SPECIALITY: Focuses only on commas, colons, and semicolons.  Provides sample sentences that are correct, but also examples of incorrect revisions.

 

14	Punctuation Made Simple
	Gary A. Olson	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://www.cas.usf.edu/JAC/pms/index.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Provides links to clear explanations of selected marks of punctuation.  Presentation is geared toward those who are confused about the purpose of these punctuation marks.
	SPECIALITY: Covers only the colon, semicolon, comma, dash, and apostrophe.

 

15	Using Commas
	Purdue University's Online Writing Lab	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: A review of the basic comma rules and their applications.  Provides brief explanations and examples for essential and nonessential clauses, comma abuse, and other comma topics.
	SPECIALITY: Offers dozens of practice sentences with links to the answers; offers hyperlinks to key grammatical terms and phrases inside of the explanations.

 

16	Proofreading for Commas
	Purdue University's Online Writing Lab	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaproof.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Provides explanations and examples for identifying and correcting comma errors.  Covers commas after introductory elements, disruptive commas, series commas, and comma splices.
	SPECIALITY: Offers hyperlinks to key grammatical terms and phrases inside of the explanations.

 

17	Commas After Introductions
	Purdue University's Online Writing Lab	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaint.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Covers comma rules specific to introductory phrases and clauses, and when not to use commas.
	SPECIALITY: Provides hyperlinks to key grammatical terms and phrases; has an exercise at the bottom.

 

18	Independent and Dependent Clauses
	Purdue University's Online Writing Lab	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_clause.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Explains the definitions and purposes of independent and dependent clauses with respect to punctuating them properly.
	SPECIALITY: Displays a helpful table that shows when to use commas and semicolons in sentences that contain these types of structures.

 

19	The Apostrophe
	Purdue University's Online Writing Lab	Last Modified: 3/21
	http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: Explains the apostrophe rules with clear examples showing correct and incorrect usage.
	SPECIALITY: Provides hyperlinks to grammatical terminology.

 

English Mega Sites

These URL's link to comprehensive English websites that cover nearly every aspect of the writing process.  These links appear on most of the Composition Terminology sites.

 

A	Writing Center
	University of Richmond	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://www.richmond.edu/~writing/wweb.html	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: Everything you ever wanted to know about English composition, revision, argumentation, and format can be found here.  This site links to hundreds of topics, organized thoroughly.
	SPECIALITY: Basically everything: drafting, editing, grammar, punctuation, style, MLA citations, etc.

 

B	The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
	Michael Harvey, Washington College	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/nb-home.html	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: An excellent top-to-bottom resource for all college writers.  Detailed explanations and solid page layout make this site an invaluable complement to English 1101 and 1102.
	SPECIALITY: Organized into the following categories: “Thinking,” “Style,” “Structure,” “Evidence,” and “Mechanics.”

 

C	Guide to Grammar and Writing
	Charles Darling, Capital Community College	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm	EXCELLENT
	DESCRIPTION: An excellent site containing links to nearly every composition question, organized into "Sentence Level," "Paragraph Level," and "Essay Level" sections.  Grammar rules are explained well, followed by helpful quizzes.
	SPECIALITY: Fragments, run-ons, subject-verb agreement, and placement of modifiers.

 

D	The King's English
	H. W. Fowler	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://www.bartleby.com/116/index.html	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: A very scholarly site, with extensive explanations of grammar and style rules.  Provides extensive real-life examples from professional publications and authors.
	SPECIALITY: Contents include “Vocabulary,” “Syntax,” “Airs and Graces,” “Punctuation,” ‘Grammar,” and “Style.”

 

E	Sentence Sense
	Evelyn Farbman and Charles Darling, Capital Comm. College	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://ccc.commnet.edu/sensen	RECOMMENDED
	DESCRIPTION: A comprehensive resource that provides information on grammar, usage, and writing. Practice Exercises are found in the “Application” links at the bottom of the individual topic windows.
	SPECIALITY: Exercises allow the user to type corrected versions of sentences; links to possible answers are beneath.

 

F	An Overview of Language Mechanics
	Flora Joy	Last Modified:  2/17
	http://www.etsu.edu/stories/langmech.htm	HELPFUL
	DESCRIPTION: A sort of Cliffs Notes of grammar, this site presents the major rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage onto a long document.  Contents include “Capitalization,” “Punctuation,” “Usage,” “Sentence Information,” and “Parts of Speech.”
	SPECIALITY: Be aware that this site caters to the American Psychological Association (APA) Style, not the Modern Language Association (MLA).  Most of the grammar-related examples should remain consistent in both styles, but there may be discrepencies.