Question

Which is the best use of punctuation?
Many people are squeamish around, insects, and rodents.
Our instructor taught us techniques (to help us) master welding.
Upon hearing her diagnosis, she was filled with one emotion: relief.
The children in her afterschool class tend to be immature (and silly).

Answer 1

Corrected versions and brief notes:

1) Many people are squeamish around insects and rodents.
- Remove the comma after "around." No comma is needed for a two-item list.

2) Our instructor taught us techniques to help us master welding.
- The parenthetical is unnecessary; the phrase is an essential infinitive phrase modifying "techniques."

3) Upon hearing her diagnosis, she was filled with one emotion: relief.
- This is correct. The introductory clause takes a comma and the colon properly introduces the specific emotion.

4) The children in her afterschool class tend to be immature and silly.
- Drop the parentheses; "and silly" completes the coordinated adjective phrase.