Tips for Teaching Grammar

THE PENCIL TEST: teaching coordinating conjunctions

The pencil test helps students understand when to use a comma with the words and, but, or, so, yet, for, and nor. Although this test is an oversimplification, if your students are using a comma whenever they write the word and, this test will help solve the problem.

First, some background. I explain that a sentence has two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject answers the question Who or what? The predicate answers the question What about it?

· If the words and, but, or, so, yet, for, and nor connect two sentences, use a comma. If and, but, or, so, yet, for, and nor connect two words or groups of words, do not use a comma.

· To check for sentences, use the pencil test. Place your pencil on the conjunction. Read the words to the left and ask yourself who or what? and what about it? If you have both a who or what (subject) and a what about it (predicate), you have a sentence.

· Then read the words to the right, asking again who or what? and what about it? If there is a subject and predicate on both sides, use a comma. If there is not a subject and predicate on both sides, do not use a comma.

from Rhythms of Writing, Pamela Dykstra