Transitions and Boundaries
In this lesson, you will learn to
- Punctuate boundaries between main clauses using transitions like "however" and "though"
- Combine transition words with appropriate punctuation to avoid run-ons
- Use logic to determine which side of a boundary a transition should appear on
In Lesson 12: Punctuation Between Clauses, you learned to deal with tricky situations involving identifying and correctly punctuating the boundary between main clauses.
Certain transition words and phrases, such as "however", "though", "rather", and "even so", can make figuring out what type of punctuation to use even more challenging. You may need to use commas, semicolons, and sometimes colons or dashes to clearly establish the relationship between clauses—and avoid run-on sentences.
Remember, transition words and phrases themselves cannot be used to mark the boundaries between main clauses. That's true even if such words or phrases are accompanied by commas.
❌ Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 could cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA in affected cells however there are ethical questions about using such technology.
❌ Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 could cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA in affected cells, however there are ethical questions about using such technology.
❌ Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 could cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA in affected cells, however, there are ethical questions about using such technology.
There are two main clauses ("Techniques like…affected cells" and "there are…such technology"), and transition words and phrases (like "however") cannot be used to mark the boundary between two main clauses unless they are paired with a period, semicolon, colon, or dash.
To correct the sentences, you could use a period or a semicolon. (In some cases, a colon or comma + FANBOYS could work too.) Because the transition word is an opening supplement, it should have a comma after it.
✅ Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 could cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA in affected cells. However, there are ethical questions about using such technology.
✅ Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 could cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA in affected cells; however, there are ethical questions about using such technology.
Keep going
The rest of this lesson is open to students with an access code.