SHAKESPEARE MEETS

COMMAS, SEMICOLONS,
AND COLONS!
RULE #1 USE COMMAS TO SEPARATE THREE OR
MORE ITEMS IN A SERIES.

In this new play, Commas,

Semicolons, and Colons Meet
Shakespeare, you will see the
real lives of the famous
characters that you thought
you knew so well. We will
dazzle you with dialogue, magic,
lemons, and so much more!
Enjoy the show!
RULE #2 USE COMMAS TO SHOW A PAUSE AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY
WORD AND TO SET OFF NAMES USED IN DIRECT ADDRESS.

Good morrow, You scurvy knave,

ancient lady. coming here and
Romeo and Juliet telling me my
have fooled us. sweet girl is still
They are both very alive when we all
much alive! saw her in her
tomb.
RULE #3 USE COMMAS AFTER TWO OR MORE INTRODUCTORY PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
WHEN THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE IS VERY LONG, OR WHEN A COMMA IS NEEDED TO
MAKE THE MEANING CLEAR. A COMMA IS NOT NEEDED AFTER A SINGLE, SHORT After you stop
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE, BUT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO USE ONE. screaming at
such a high pitch,
I will come in
and explain.
Ahhhh!!!!!
I told you
so.
RULE #4 USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY PARTICIPLE
AND AN INTRODUCTORY PARTICIPIAL PHRASE.

Annoyed from being I’m pretty

stuck in the tomb for annoyed,
so long, Romeo and I too.
were relieved to get
out. We argued for
hours stuck in there
and decided to get a
divorce.
RULE #5 USE COMMAS TO SET OFF WORDS THAT INTERRUPT THE FLOW
OF A THOUGHT IN A SENTENCE.

Macbeth, former
king of Scotland,
who had a bit of an
accident.
Farewell, I’ve got to
go and look for the
rest of my body.
Who are
you?
RULE # 6 USE COMMAS AFTER CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS SUCH AS
HOWEVER, MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE, NEVERTHELESS, AND THEREFORE.

Poor soul;
although, he
must have done
something pretty
bad to have that
happen to him.
RULE #7 USE COMMAS TO SET OFF AN APPOSITIVE IF IT IS NOT
ESSENTIAL TO THE MEANING OF A SENTENCE.
Go behind
the
I see Romeo,
cupboard!
an angry soul,
is looking for
me! I must
hide!
RULE #8 USE A COMMA BEFORE AND, OR, OR BUT WHEN IT JOINS THE
MAIN CLAUSE.
He went
that way.
Is Juliet here? If
she isn’t, she will I’m looking
be here soon, or for someone,
maybe she’s in too. Have
the garden. I you seen my
must look for husband,
her. Macbeth?
RULE #9 USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY ADVERB CLAUSE.
ADVERB CLAUSES BEGIN WITH SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS.
You can Thank you,
come out sweet Nurse,
now. If but I must go
someone to Friar
comes, I will Lawrence.
tell you to Goodbye.
hide.
RULE #10 USE A COMMA OR A PAIR OF COMMAS TO SET OFF AN ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
THAT IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE MEANING OF A SENTENCE. THIS MEANS THAT THE CLAUSE
MERELY GIVES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES OFTEN BEGIN WITH THE
RELATIVE PRONOUNS WHO,WHOM,WHOSE,WHICH, OR THAT.
Poor
marigold, Hello, Friar
which is Lawrence, I
need your Juliet!!!!!!!!
usually so
healthy, is help to get a
now divorce.
drooping.
RULE #11 USE COMMAS BEFORE AND AFTER THE YEAR WHEN IT IS USED
WITH BOTH THE MONTH AND THE DAY. IF ONLY THE MONTH AND THE
YEAR ARE GIVEN, DO NOT USE COMMAS.

Juliet, it was only

yesterday, July 12th,
3031, that we met and
decided to trick our
parents into thinking we
were dead. It was the
only way we could be
together and run away
from the family feud.
RULE #12 USE COMMAS BEFORE AND AFTER THE NAME OF THE STATE OR
A COUNTRY WHEN IT IS USED WITH THE NAME OF A CITY. DO NOT USE A
COMMA AFTER A STATE IF IT IS USED WITH A ZIP CODE.

Break it
Get out of up, break
Verona, Italy. it up!
Now!!!!!
RULE #13 USE A PAIR OF COMMAS TO SET OFF AN ABBREVIATED TITLE
OR DEGREE FOLLOWING A PERSON’S NAME.

You two need to

see the
professional Okay.
therapist, Doctor
Rosaline Capulet,
PhD.
RULE #14 USE A COMMA OR COMMAS TO SET OFF TOO WHEN TOO
MEANS “ALSO.”
We were
Stop being so
referred to
I don’t really rude. Maybe if
you by Friar
want to be you felt some
Lawrence.
here either, love, too, you
We need
but it’s my job. would stop.
couples’
therapy.

I don’t want
to be here
right now.
RULE #15 USE A COMMA OR COMMAS TO SET OFF A DIRECT
QUOTATION.

Ay yay yay!
My father I’ve got to go.
admonished,
“Never love a
Montague.” But
I can’t help it.
RULE #16 USE A COMMA AFTER THE SALUTATION OF A FRIENDLY
LETTER AND AFTER THE CLOSING OF BOTH A FRIENDLY AND A BUSINESS
LETTER.

Dear Diary,
Today has been crazy. Romeo and I
broke up and now he’s with
Rosaline.
Who would have ever thought it
would have come to this?
Your confused friend,
Juliet
RULE #17 USE A SEMICOLON TO JOIN THE PARTS OF A
COMPOUND SENTENCE WHEN A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION,
SUCH AS AND, OR, NOR, OR BUT IS NOT USED. Romeo, I love
I thought you more than
you said Now it is
time to my cat, Picasso;
Monet was she is my
your share your
vows. favorite cat.
favorite cat.
RULE #18 USE A SEMICOLON TO JOIN PARTS OF A COMPOUND SENTENCE WHEN
THE MAIN CLAUSES ARE LONG AND SUBDIVIDED BY COMMAS. USE A SEMICOLON
EVEN IF THESE CLAUSES ARE ALREADY JOINED BY A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION.
Here’snasty,
You squabbling, to a
happy
uncivilized humans fish-filled,
have
felinetoo
been fighting marriage
much;
but if you lasting
were anine dog,
pig, hedgehog, lives!
or cat,
your marriage might last

Cease this,
sour
woman!
 RULE #19 USE A SEMICOLON TO SEPARATE MAIN CLAUSES JOINED BY A
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB, SUCH AS CONSEQUENTLY, FURTHERMORE, HOWEVER,
MOREOVER, NEVERTHELESS, OR THEREFORE. BE SURE TO USE A COMMA AFTER A
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB.

Look here, Rosaline, the MEOW!

Verona Times says there
is a street party on
Lammastide this year;
however, I think it is
best not to go with our
many young kittens.
RULE #20 USE A COLON TO INTRODUCE A LIST OF ITEMS THAT ENDS A
SENTENCE. USE A PHRASE SUCH AS THESE, THE FOLLOWING, OR AS FOLLOWS TO
SIGNAL THAT A LIST IS COMING.

As you can see, I have kept the

following promises: Lemons,
conversation, and magical beings.
I hope you enjoyed; otherwise, I
would be annoyed. We’ve
turned a tragic story into
something not quite as gory!
Never was there more happiness
on the rise, than when Romeo
wedded Rosaline and her nine
lives.