ragan communications - 2. exclamation points · 2016-03-08 · lawrence ragan communications, inc....
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Lawrence Ragan
Communications, Inc.
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10 punctuation essentials
10 punctuation essentials
Beyond the words and phrases, a writer’s punctuation sends specific signals to the reader. If those signals muddle rather than clarify the text, the writer’s message can be lost.
Here’s a rundown of 10 types of punctuation marks, along with examples of how to use them.
1. Periods
A period ends a sentence. It also signifies an abbreviation, such as U.S. for United States. In a bulleted list, each bit of bulleted text must be a full sentence to warrant a period at the end.
Consider the following examples. You’ll learn how to: •Createvideousingyoursmartphone •Loosenupexecsbeforeinterviews •Choosetheidealbackground
But…
Ourworkshopoffersthekeystogreatvideos: •You’lldeveloptechniquesforusingyoursmartphone. •You’llmastertacticsforlooseningupexecsbeforeinterviews. •You’lllearnhowtochoosetheidealbackground.
2. Exclamation points
The exclamation point denotes heightened urgency, intensity or volume. “Thebuildingisonfire!” “Ihateyourguts!” “Hey!I’mtrappedinhere!”
Avoid using them when you simply think an idea is notable, especially in professional writing. Opt for powerful words and phrases. For example, rather than writing, Thisisareallygreatwaytostartablogpost! try,Beginyourblogwithabang.
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10 punctuation essentials
3. Question marks
A question mark is used to denote an inquiry. Haveyoufinishedthatproject? WhenwillNancybebackfromvacation? MayIborrowyourthesaurus?
Placement with regard to quotation marks depends on whether what’s quoted (or the composition title) is itself a question. Canyoubemorespecificthan“nextweek”? I’mgoingtoseeaproductionof“Where’sCharley?”
Some writers mistakenly add a question mark in statements including the phrase “I wonder….” as in, Iwonderwhatthekingisdoingtonight? That’s wrong; there’s no question about your wondering such things. However, the following would be fine:Iwonder:What’sthekingdoingtonight?Andwhydowestillhaveaking?
Here’s another: GuesswhatI’mdoingthisweekend?There’s no need for a question mark there. You are demanding (gently, of course) that the other person guess something. It’s an imperative sen-tence and does not take a question mark, any more than this sentence would: Sitdown,andshutup.
4. Hyphens and dashes
A hyphen links words; it also is used with some prefixes and suffixes: willy-nilly,self-serving,well-being,pre-Internet,decades-long,Dylan-esque.
An en dash links numbers. JoinusforourinfographicsworkshopMarch14–16.Subscriptionsforour2016–17seasonareonsalenow.
An em dash sets off a related but nonessential thought. Battlingtheonslaughtofcasualwriting—likeDonQuixotetiltingatalegionofwindmills—isabaneforliterarypurists.Foroptimumproductivity,focusononeprojectatatime—noteasytodointoday’smultitaskingworld. Limit dashes to two per sentence, lest you confuse the reader. Parentheses can also be used to set off words and phrases (like this).
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10 punctuation essentials
5. Ellipses
The ellipsis serves two primary purposes.
It can convey to the reader that a section of a quote or excerpted text has been excised. The doctor explained: “Thepatientunderwentfourhoursofsurgery.…Barringcomplications,sheshouldhaveafull
recovery.”
An ellipsis also can leave something (usually a familiar saying or a citation from literature) unfinished, allowing the reader to create the closure: •WheninRome… •Anounceofprevention… •“Tomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow…” •Peoplewholiveinglasshouses… •“Frankly,mydear…”
6. Quotation marks
These indicate quoted matter, such as “Givemeliberty,orgivemedeath,” or coinages such as “cutting-edgetechnology.” Internal (single) quotation marks indicate a quote within a quote: “Larrytoldme,‘Jackwaslookingforascapegoat,soTomandIleft.’That’swhenIgotoutof
there,too.”
They can also convey sarcasm: Hey,Mary,your“bestfriend”Eileenwaslookingforyou.
7. Commas
Commas serve many functions, such as:
•Separatingelementsinaseries:Iboughtsoap,eggs,bread,milkandsugar. •Connectingindependentclausestoformacompoundsentence:Jennyscreamed,and
Martyjumped.Jeffcalled,butStephaniedidn’tanswer.Sharonendedupworkinglate,becauseBengotstuckintraffic.
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10 punctuation essentials
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•Settingoffadependentclause:Withoutrealizingit,Garytrackedmudthroughthehouse.DavereturnedtoChicago,wherehehadgonetocollege.
•Settingoffanounofdirectaddress:Mom,tellSusietostopborrowingmysweaters.Please,Hank,comewithmetonight.
•Settingoffanappositive:MikeArmstrong,chairmanofXYZCorp.,willspeakattheseminar. •Settingoffamodifyingphrase:Thesixactors,alltiredandhungry,keptrehearsing. •Atthestartandendofanon-businessletter:DearDad,andYourlovingson,Brian •Betweenmodifiers:Patboughtalarge,comfy,green,secondhand,convertiblesofa. •Inaddressesandwhenseparatingmunicipalitiesfromstates/territories(andthelatter
from names of countries):Shelivesat14OakSt.,RedBank,NewJersey,07701.DaledrovefromGary,Indiana,toJoplin,Missouri.HislastbusinesstriptookhimtoEdmonton, Alberta,Canada.
•Tointroducequotedmatter(butnomorethanasinglesentence;seethesectionon colons): Loutoldme,“Thebosslovesyourwork.”
•Indates:TheconferencewaspostponedfromDec.18,2015,toJan.8,2016,becauseofthesnowstorm.
8. Colons
Colons generally introduce a complex batch of items, often bulleted. (See the section on commas for lots of examples.) The colon also precedes a quote of two or more sentences. Loutoldme:“Thebosslovesyourwork.Ithinkyoumightbegettingabonus.”
A colon is preferable to a comma at the start of a business letter. DearSirs: or Towhomitmay concern: (You’re better off, however, avoiding such a vague salutation.)
9. Semicolons
Thesemicolonlookslikeacomma/periodhybridandperformsthatsortofintermediatefunction.Itseparates two related, independent clauses without a conjunction to connect them: Tedspilledcoffeeallovertheblueprints;Larrylaughedoutloud. Lizgotpromoted;Matttookoverheraccounts.
Another function of the semicolon is in separating series within a larger series: Samshoppedforpaint,brushes,rollersandadropcloth;spackledtheholes,cracksand
divots;andsandedandpaintedthewholelivingroombeforeLynngothomefromwork.
10 punctuation essentials
10. Apostrophes
This little mark bewilders many people. The apostrophe is used in contractions: can’t,didn’t,would’ve (not wouldof), I’m,she’s,we’d,you’re,he’ll, and the oft-misused it’s (a shortened version ofitis).
It is also used in possessives, though not in possessive pronouns: •Singularpossessivestakeanapostrophebeforethes:Russell’sdesk,thechef’srecipe,the
tree’sroots,thejacket’slapels,thepresident’schiefofstaff,Stan’shopes. •Collectivepossessivesdothesame:thewomen’sconsensus,thechildren’sbabysitter,the
people’schoice,men’ssuits. •Pluralpossessivestakeafinalapostrophewithoutaddingans:thesenators’obstruction,
thegirls’dancerecital,thesailors’laughter,thebongos’distinctivesound. •Whenapropernameendsins,thesameapplies:Hercules’might,Dr.Seuss’books,Gus’
workethic,Dolores’daydreaming. •Whentwoormorepeopleownathingjointly,followthisformat:BillandBetty’shouse. •Whentwoormorepeopleeachhavesomethingsimilar,followthisformat:Mark’sand
Jim’sdifferentpresentationstylescomplementeachother. •Possessivepronounsdonot take an apostrophe, even when ending in s: my,mine,your,
yours,his,her,hers,its,our,ours,their,theirs.
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