writing exercise

Remember that “however” and words like it must always be surrounded by punctuation.

Part 2: Exercises (to be submitted on Connect)

1. [From Ian Johnston’s website.]

Put commas or semi-colons or full stops where necessary to separate the main clauses in the following sentences. Get rid of any comma splice mistakes as well. Notice that some may not require any punctuation.

1. He cut the meat and the dog ate it.
2. He and the dog ate the meat and the biscuits.
3. The accident took place at 10:00 pm the police did not arrive until 11:30 pm.
4. I am going away this weekend so I will not be able to go to the party.
5. I am going away this weekend I will not be able to go to the party.
6. I am going away this weekend therefore I will not be able to go to the party.
7. I am going away this week end I will therefore not be able to go to the party.
8. Alexander faced many obstacles between him and the throne of Macedon however he set about achieving his goal eagerly.
9. The original experiment and the follow up studies confirmed and strengthened the professor’s theory and the unfamiliar assumptions upon which it was based.
10. You did not do very well on the original test you can try again however.