12/7/22, 12:37 PM
Notes - Evernote
Lesson 21 - The Oxford Comma, Death & Resurrection,
Punctation, and Dissociation
Common Comma Errors and Awkward Phrasing
In the article "I Can't Think of A Good Title Right Now" by John Doe and Jane Smith written on March
1st 2021 they talk about how COVID-19 is affecting the economy. [missing commas and too wordy)
In their article, "I Can't Think of a Good Title Right Now" (March 1, 2021), John Doe and Jane Smith
report that COVID-19 is .....
Quoting:
Doe and Smith claim that "COVID-19 blah blah blah" (par. 2).
Do not repeat the date and/or name in parentheses at the end of a quotation if the source is clear
Avoid repetition of information within annotations and introduction
Punctuation Forms and Functions
Period .
Conveys the end of a sentence
Conveys abbr. (i.e. Abbreviation).
Serves as both punctuation and abbreviation of the last word is an abbreviation such as a.m or p.m.
This is the case even if there are quotation marks around "8:00 a.m."
Omitted with other punctuation (e.g. He works at Yahoo! Or We watched Who's Afraid of Virginia
Woolf? Or Don't forget your Grammar Time! Quiz)
Placed after parentheses in most cases (like this and above)
Omitted if other punctuation is needed to convey emotion (like this)!
Is it also omitted if a question mark is required (like this)? Yes, it is!
Question Mark ?
Can you use it after a direct question? Yes.
I wonder if you can use it after an indirect question. No
The question is, Should we always use question marks?
The question was whether we should always use question marks.
Would you please omit the question mark when making a request.
Comma,
Separate words, items, and phrases that are inserted into a sentence.
Separates words and phrases that are not part of the main sentence, such as the one you are reading
now
Semicolon ;
Use between independent clauses in place of a conjunction; the two ideas may be closely connected.
Use between independent clauses in place of a conjunction
Because/when/if/for the ideas may be closely connected
Do not use between unconnected clauses or ideas. Make them stand apart.
Use to separate items in a list that also require commas such as: Jimi, Hendrix, guitar; Glenn Gould,
piano; Ringo Starr, drums; Flea, bass; Lady Gaga, vocals
U b t
i d
d t l
li k d b t
iti
h
dd
ft th t
iti t
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Use between independent clauses linked by a transition; however, add a comma after the transition to
provide breathing space
Colon :
To introduce a list: names, dates, items, or any other information that can be listed
Do not use a colon if the list flows naturally with nouns, phrases, and short examples
Use between independent clauses: the second clause should illustrate or explain the first one
Use to create emphasis before a word or phrase at the end of a sentence: last words ring true
Use to separate hours from minutes in time as in 1:30 a.m., or in ratios such the 10:1 chance you'll
remember these rules
Parentheses ( )
Use (always in pairs) to add reference information (John Doe 13)
To add asides or supplementary information (as above and here)
The sentence should (with the parenthetical phrase removed) still make grammatical sense
Brackets [ ]
To show where "changes [are] made" within a quotation
To "offer clarification [of a preceding word or phrase] in a sentence."
Braces { }
Used in computer programming and musical notation {forte} and not in place of brackets or
parentheses
Quotation marks " "
Use to denote "the words of another" (Other 1) or, as Stephen King shouted, "To convey dialogue!"
"when using quotation marks." she explained, "place commas before them."
Unless they are part of the original quotation, all other marks are placed outside the quotation
marks"; they are the writer's and not the original author's
Would the author's question mark be "outside of the quotation marks"? Yes.
User as "scare quotes" to cast doubt on a word or phrase. I've used the "correct" phrase in my example
To suggest sarcasm: Your use of irony is so "clever"
Single quotation marks ' '
Used to "identify a 'quotation' within a quotation"
When a quotation 'contains a "quotation" within a quotation,' use double quotation marks" where the
single quotation marks had been
Ellipsis points (ellipses) . . .
Use ellipses to indicate the removal of "words... For the sake of precision" (John Doe 21)
Use four ellipsis points . . . . When whole sentences are removed between words in a quotation" (Jane
Doe 28).
Include punctuation from the original "to communicate tone!" . . . Punctuation is important" (22)
To suggest that more is to follow. . .
To trail off in a way that is... Um....
Exclamation point !
Use it to denote excitement and/or surprise@
Why in the world would you use it as an emphatic question!
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You would also use one to convey that Marcus yelled, "Get out!"
Em Dash -Can replace commas to offset a phrase or an aside -- yet something quite central to the point -- so the
main sentence remains clear
Can replace a comma at the end of a sentence -- usually to convey emphasis
Can replace a colon for short lists -- such as names, dates, or items
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