Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

  • 2

    Punctuating With Commas and Semicolons

    • Comma Rule 1: Use commas to set off the name of the reader

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    • Comma Rule 2: Use commas to separate two sentences

    • Comma Rule 3: Use semicolons to separate two sentences linked without a conjunction

    • Comma Rule 4: Use commas to separate an introductory part from the main sentence

    • Comma Rule 5: Use commas to separate the elements in a simple series

    • Comma Rule 6: Use semicolons to separate the elements in a complex series

    • Comma Rules 1-6: Review

    • Comma Rules 7 and 8: Use commas to set off direct quotations and nonessential content

    • Comma Rules 9 and 10: Use commas and semicolons to set off day-dates and city-states

    • Comma Rule 11: Use commas to separate adjectives before a noun when you omit "and"

    • Test Yourself: Using Commas and Semicolons

    • Online Test Yourself: Using Commas and Semicolons

    • Online Practice: Using Commas and Semicolons

    • Online More Practice: Using Commas and Semicolons
  • 3

    Punctuating Possessive Forms

    • Possessives: Use apostrophes to form singular and plural possessives

    • Possessives: With expressions of time, joint and separate ownership, and pronouns

    • Test Yourself: Possessive Forms

    • Online Test Yourself 1: Possessive Forms

    • Online Test Yourself 2: Possessive Forms

    • Online Special Practice 1: Possessive Forms With Names

    • Online Special Practice 2: Possessive Forms With Names

    • Online Practice: Possessive Forms

    • Online More Practice: Possessive Forms
  • 4

    Review Quiz

    • Quick Review Quiz: Commas, Semicolons, and Possessives
  • 5

    More Punctuation

    • Colons

    • Quotation Marks and Italics

    • Parentheses

    • Hyphens, Em Dashes, and En Dashes

    • Periods With Bullet Points

    • Bonus Lesson: Punctuation to Reject

    • Test Yourself: More Punctuation

    • Online Test Yourself: More Punctuation

    • Online Practice: More Punctuation

    • Online More Practice: More Punctuation
  • 6

    Next Steps

    • Next Steps to Punctuation Mastery

    • Online Practice Post-Assessment--Part One: Commas and Semicolons

    • Online Practice Post-Assessment--Part Two: Possessive Forms

    • Online Practice Post Assessment--Part Three: More Punctuation

    • Online Post-Assessment

    • Student Satisfaction Survey--Please Complete
  • 7

    Learning Reinforcement

    • Course Slides

    • Review of Three Uses of Commas

    • Review of Three More Uses of Commas

    • Review of Semicolons

    • Review of Possessive Forms

    • Review of Colons and Parentheses

    • Review of Italics and Quotation Marks

    • Review of Hyphens, Dashes, and Periods in Bullets

    • Review Test 1

    • Review Test 2

    • Review Test 3

About the Instructor

Business Writing Expert

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston has helped thousands of employees and managers improve their business writing skills and confidence. In her corporate training career of more than 20 years, she has worked with executives, engineers, scientists, sales staff, and many other professionals, helping them get their messages across with clarity and tact. A gifted teacher, Lynn has led writing classes at more than 100 companies and organizations such as MasterCard, Microsoft, Boeing, Nintendo, REI, AARP, Ledcor, and Kaiser Permanente. Near her home in Seattle, Washington, she has taught managerial communications in the MBA programs of the University of Washington and UW Bothell. She has created a communications course, Business Writing That Builds Relationships, and provides the curriculum at no cost to college instructors. A recognized expert in business writing etiquette, Lynn has been quoted in "The Wall Street Journal," "The Atlantic," "Vanity Fair," and other media. Lynn sharpened her business writing skills at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a master's degree in communication, and at Bradley University, with a bachelor's degree in English. She grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois.