General Principle	Incorrect Example	Correct Example
29 a) When parentheses are inside a sentence, end with a period.		This sentence has parentheses in it, so it will end with a period (or other end-punctuation).
29 b) When sentences are inside parentheses, end with parenthesis.		(However, there can be one or more whole sentences inside parentheses.  In these cases, they end with a parenthesis.)

30 When describing a wish or an imaginary situation, use “were” instead of  “was”.  (This is called the subjunctive mood of a verb.)

If I was there, I would hide.  I wish I was as tall as he is.

If I were there, I would hide.  I wish I were as tall as he is.

31 A pronoun before an ING verb should be possessive.  (The ING verb is called a gerund.)

She dislikes me driving.

She dislikes my driving.

32 When a verb comes after the word “to”, avoid placing words between them.  (This is called a split Infinitive.)

He tried to especially impress new girls.

He especially tried to impress new girls.

33 If a sentence introduces a list, use a colon.

The artist will need the following items, a pen, an inkwell, and paper.

The artist will need the following items: a pen, an inkwell, and paper.

34 Use semicolons when a list contains lists.		For breakfast, he could choose ham, toast, and eggs; or French toast, syrup, and fruit; or pancakes, syrup, and bacon.
35 Leave out the conjunction when linking a compound sentence with semicolon.	He loved the little dog; and she loathed the wretched thing.	He loved the little dog; she loathed the wretched thing.

36 A writer may need to use a long dash to join a long appositive to the end of a sentence.

She had had a narrow escape, an experience she would never forget.  He stepped back and observed the result, a thing of beauty.

She had had a narrow escape – an experience she would never forget.  He stepped back and observed the result – a thing of beauty.