SECTION 2: PUNCTUATION

Transcription

1 PUNCTUATION

2 SECTION 2: PUNCTUATION This section will cover the use of: Commas Quotation Marks Hyphens 2

3 When to Use Commas% A comma is like a small pause in your sentence. Commas are often misused. Taking a few moments to understand when to use a comma and when not to will tighten and polish your writing, giving it a professional edge and making it easier for people to understand. 1. Use a comma to separate an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence. An introductory phrase is a group of words at the beginning of the sentence that introduces information. Placing a comma after an introductory phrase signals to the readers that they are about to learn more about the subject. For example: After Sarah and Janna wrote the report, they went to lunch. If you read a sentence aloud, you can sometimes hear that a phrase is acting like an introduction. If it is, follow it up with a comma. 3

4 When to Use Commas, Continued 2. Use commas between all the items in a series, including before the coordinating conjunction. For example: Tracy is in charge of taking, reporting, and filing the minutes. The comma after the last item in a series is called an Oxford comma. In casual writing, it is often left out, but it is needed to clarify your sentences. Be sure to always use it. 4

5 When to Use Commas, Continued 3. Use a comma before the word which in a sentence." Commas separate the non-essential portion of the sentence from the essential part." Descriptive information introduced by the word which is not considered essential to the meaning of the" sentence, and is set off with commas to alert readers of this." For example: Rita s office, which is gorgeous, is located on third floor. The fact that the office is gorgeous is a nice description, but it has nothing to do with the fact that it is located on the third floor. 5

6 When to Use Commas, Continued 4. Use commas to eliminate confusion or avoid a misreading of % the sentence, even if a comma would not normally be required. " For example: Incorrect: Before leaving John should turn out the lights. & Correct: Before leaving, John should turn out the lights. & 6

7 When NOT to use Commas% 1. Never separate the subject of a sentence from its verb with a comma.% Incorrect: Many people in the office, bring their own lunches." Correct: Many people in the office bring their own lunches." 2. Avoid run-on sentences. A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (parts of the sentence that can stand alone, as their own sentences) are connected without proper punctuation which usually means a comma or two! Run-on sentences are common, but are easy to fix. Next are two examples: 7

8 Examples of run-on sentences: 1. Run-on sentence #1: Andrew is a very anxious man he is always worrying about getting lost on the way to a client. This is a run-on sentence because there are two smaller sentences improperly joined together, without punctuation or a coordinating conjunction. 2. Run-on Sentence #2: We went to the store and then we went to the mall and Jennifer got sick on popcorn and she had to go home. This is a run-on sentence because there are four smaller sentences joined together with an and but no commas. 8

9 How to fix run-on sentences There are four main ways to fix a run-on sentence. 1. Insert a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so. Corrected version #1: Andrew is a very anxious man, and he is always worrying about getting lost on the way to a client. Remember, both a comma and a coordinating conjunction are needed; otherwise, the sentence is still a run-on. 9

10 How to fix run-on sentences, continued 2. Use a semicolon to join two fused sentences without the need for a coordinating conjunction. Semicolons work best if the two smaller sentences are related to one another in some way. In the example sentence, the clause he is always worrying describes Andrew and relates to his being anxious. Corrected version #2: Andrew is a very anxious man; he is always worrying about getting lost on the way to a client. 10

11 How to fix run-on sentences, continued 3. Consider dividing the run-on into two smaller sentences. To avoid too many short sentences, which are stylistically awkward, use other methods as well. Corrected version #3: Andrew is a very anxious man. He is always worrying about getting lost on the way to a client. 11

12 How to fix run-on sentences, continued 4. Rewrite the sentence. This takes more effort but is often worth the effort. Corrected version #4: Andrew, who is a very anxious man, is always worrying about getting lost on the way to a client. 12

13 Quotation Marks & Punctuation Quotation marks are used to enclose direct quotations. DO NOT use them for emphasis; this is always incorrect! Where you place the punctuation when using quotation marks (inside or outside the quotation mark) varies in different countries. The directions here are correct when writing American English. If you are writing in British English* there is a different set of rules, so be sure to check. * Remember, know your audience! Wherever you are in the world, be sure to follow the language rules of your intended audience. This assures you do not seem ignorant and also shows respect for the culture you are addressing. 13

14 Quotation Marks & Punctuation, continued Here are the rules for punctuating quotation marks for American English: 1. Commas and periods go inside quotation marks: For example: "This box is too heavy," Anna said. "Let s ship it." NOTE: There is an exception to this. In technical and academic writing, there are very strict sets of rules about how to write citations. Some of them include quotations where the period goes outside the quotation marks. When citing, be sure to comply with the standard format for your industry. 14

15 Quotation Marks & Punctuation, continued% 2. Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation marks. For example: Anna asked, "Is this box too heavy?" 15

16 Quotation Marks & Punctuation, continued 3. Colons and semicolons go outside the quotation marks. For example: Anna said, "This box is too heavy"; the box, however, had nothing in it.& 16

17 Hyphens A hyphen is most commonly used to link together two or more words when they come before a noun they are modifying and are acting as a single idea. Look at the sentence below: Susan is a well known financial troubleshooter. The words well and known both describe the noun financial troubleshooter and form a single idea: that Susan, the financial troubleshooter, is widely recognized. Well and known, here, go together to act as an adjective modifying the words financial troubleshooter, so a hyphen is needed to connect these two words. The correct sentence would read: Susan is a well-known financial troubleshooter. 17

18 Hyphens, continued However, a hyphen is not needed in the following sentence: Susan is well known. No hyphen is needed here because the words well and known do not come before a noun. Still confused about hyphens? Look up the word. Dictionaries can tell you what to do with a compound word or adjective. 18

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