Explanations+of+tricky+punctuation

The comma: Joins items in a simple list Indicates introductory and parenthetical elements, and interjections within a compound sentence. That means **if you can take out part of a sentence and the REST of it would still make sense then you can use commas around the bit you can take out**. Separates or-ordinate adjectives (**if you can use the words "and" or "but" between adjectives you can use a comma.** Famous example: "the little old lady" > "the little and old lady" DOESN'T WORK "the tall, distinguished man" > "the tall and distinguished man" DOES WORK Is used before a co-ordinating conjunction **(FANBOYS)** NOT AFTER The colon can be used: at the start of a list containing complex ideas (such as this one); between an independent clause and a list; in a bibliography between the place of publication and the publisher. Separates an explanation, cause or effect from a preceding independent clause. The semi colon can be used: to separate complex ideas in a list; to separate ideas in a list that contains commas.
 * __The Comma ,__**
 * __The Colon :__**
 * __The Semi Colon ;__**
 * Joins independent clauses in compound sentences** (two ideas in one sentence that **don't** count on each other for meaning).
 * //__So pretty much, lay off the commas!__//**