Writing tips for students and beginning writers. It's no frills because it relies on a teacher to add context verbally. Take it, bend it, shape it any way you want.

1. Grammar From the batting cage

2. Some COMMA Rules

4. Down the road an old man walks his dog. Down the dusty road , an old man walks his dog.

6. Slowly, the old man picked up a stick.

7. While resting, he tossed the stick.

8. Grumbling, the dog fetched the stick.

9. While whistling, the old man lost a tooth.

10. Before he left, he picked it up.

12. Yes, the old man loves his dog.

13. No, he’s not interested in selling it.

14. Well, he might loan you the dog for a day.

15. Oh, I see.

16. Hey, I get it already.

18. The tired, old man walked his dog every day.

19. The grizzled, ancient dog walked with his old man every day.

20. The long, winding road leads to his door.

21. The hot, dusty, dry, uphill trail tired the old man.

22. The extremely old man hugged his dog. Why no comma? extremely is an adverb. It is modifying the adjective, not the noun

25. The colors of the flag are red, white, and blue.

26. My favorite flavors are chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

27. He opened the letter, read it carefully, and stuck it in his pocket.

28. My favorite foods are tacos, tangerines, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

29. My favorite foods are tacos, tangerines, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and ham and eggs.

31. The old man , alone with his thoughts, continued to walk his dog.

32. The old man , alone with his thoughts, continued to walk his dog.

33. The dog , hungry and tired, followed along behind.

34. The dog , hungry and tired, followed along behind.

35. The old man jumped when he saw the stick , thinking it was a snake.

36. The old man jumped when he saw the stick , thinking it was a snake.

37. The students, who found the material difficult, met after school. The students who found the material difficult met after school. All the students Only certain students

38. My sister, Mary, is visiting. My sister Mary is visiting. I have one sister I have two sisters

40. The computer that is broken is in the shop. The computer, which is broken, is in the shop. I have several computers I have one computer

41. This is the house that Jack built.

42. This is the house, which Jack built.

44. I drove to Lansing , Michigan , with my cousin.

46. We arrived on January 27 , 1998, and booked a hotel. Sam visited Boston in May 1997 to see his uncle.

48. Johnny, do your homework.

49. Mother, may I go to Gilman Street?

50. Honey, take out the trash.

51. I am trying, dear, to fix your radio.

52. I want you to do it, Ed. I want Ed to do it.

54. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: a group of words that contain both a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence when separated from a compound sentence

55. a.k.a.

56. Two sentences stuck together with and, but, or between them.

57. The old man reached his house , and he opened the front gate.

58. The old man reached his house and opened the front gate.

59. The old man reached his house . He opened the front gate.

60. The leash seemed heavy in his hand , but he didn’t turn to check on his dog.

61. The leash seemed heavy in his hand . He didn’t turn to check on his dog.

62. He saw old Luke was out cold and bent down to check on him.

63. Final note: Linguistically, a comma translates as a pause in speech.

64. When in doubt, read your writing aloud, and punctuate according to sound.

65. The end