Final answer:
Correct punctuation is critical for clear writing. The sentences provided need adjustments for comma placement and removal to avoid run-on sentences and ensure clarity. Reading sentences aloud can help in identifying and fixing punctuation errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accuracy of punctuation is essential in writing to ensure clarity and to properly connect ideas. Reviewing the given sentences for correct punctuation involves identifying run-on sentences, checking comma usage, and making sentences more cohesive while balancing sentence length and complexity. Here's a correction of the example sentences:
- I finally found my keys, and I got to work just in time.
- Mrs. Contreras threw out her old coffee table and cleaned the carpet.
- Taking the elevator to the roof, we hoped we could see the skyline and the bay.
- Though Susan wasn't feeling well, she went to the store anyway and bought ice cream, pizza, and candy.
- I let my neighbor borrow my phone because she said hers was tapped by the police.
It's important to understand the functions of different punctuation marks, such as commas, semicolons, and periods to avoid creating run-on sentences which can hinder understanding. Refining sentences in an essay involves making sure they are cohesive, checking for subject-verb consistency, and ensuring sentence variety and readability by reading aloud.