SENTENCE STRUCTURE Link Title

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Subject

Verb

Object

Independet

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dependent

Simple(single independent)

Complex(Independent and one or two dependent)

Compound-Complex(two or more independent ,, one dependent )

Compound (at least two independet joined by COORDINATION CONJUCTION)

F: for: The teachers were frustrated, for the school had cut funding for all enrichment programs.*

A: and: In this course, I will write a literature review, a case study, and a final paper.**

N: nor: The students did not complete their homework, nor did they pass the test.

B: but: The study is several years old but still valuable to this study.

O: or: At the end of the class, the students can choose to write an essay or take a test.

Y: yet: The patient complained of chronic pain, yet she refused treatment.

S: so: I have only been a nurse for one year, so I have little experience with paper charting.

Commas usage

Errors

Serialized lists. In a list with three or more elements, use commas to separate all of the elements of the series

After a dependent introductory clause, phrase, or word. Use a comma after a dependent introductory clause, phrase, or word.

Dates. Use a comma to set off the year in exact dates.

Compound sentences. Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction

Nonessential clauses. Use commas to set off clauses that contain information that is nonessential to the sentence's meaning.

Citations. Use commas to set off the elements of a citation.

Example: This KAM consists of Breadth, Depth, and Application.

Example: Walden University, established in 1970, offers many degree programs.

Example: Smith (2001) conducted the research, and Heller (2008) commented on the results.

Example of introductory clause: If you are using this sentence structure, place a comma after the dependent clause.

Example of introductory phrase: Before completing the interviews, I must obtain Walden University approval.

Introducing quotations (not seamless). Use a comma when an independent clause introduces a quotation but is not seamlessly integrated into it.

Example: The hospital's pursuit of Magnet status was successful (R. Jones, personal communication, September 18, 2009)

Example: The research was "inconclusive in its implications" (Sanders, 2009, p. 45).

Example: Freud (1900) claimed, "the dreamer...assumes that the dream--even if it does not come from another world--has at all events transported the dreamer into another world" (p. 5).

Months. Do not use a comma when referring to a month within a particular year.
Example: I conducted the study in June 2003.

Complex sentences. Do not use a comma in a sentence that joins an independent clause and a dependent clause with a conjunction (and, or, but).
Example: Smith (2001) found that results were consistent but also suggested further investigation.

Introducing quotations (seamless). Do not use a comma when an independent clause seamlessly introduces a quotation.
Example: Freud (1900) claimed that "the dreamer...assumes that the dream--even if it does not come from another world--has at all events transported the dreamer into another world" (p. 5).

Comma splices. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are separated by just a comma.
Example: Jessica and I went to the movies, we had a good time.