Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is punctuation defined as?
The basting that holds the fabric of language in shape
Punctuation is often likened to traffic signals that guide readers through a text.
How can punctuation change meaning? Provide an example.
A woman without her man is nothing vs. A woman, without her man, is nothing
The placement of punctuation can drastically alter the interpretation of a sentence.
What tasks does an apostrophe perform?
- Indicates time or quantity
- Indicates omission of figures in dates
- Indicates the omission of letters
Examples include ‘in one week’s time’, ‘the summer of ’68’, and ‘Jo’burg’.
What is the rule regarding the use of ‘it’s’ and ‘its’?
‘It’s’ stands for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’; ‘its’ is used otherwise
Example: ‘Thank God it’s Friday’ vs. ‘Thank God its Friday’.
What is the function of a colon?
The colon nudges you along lines already subtly laid down
It indicates expectation and prepares the reader for more information.
What does a semicolon do?
It lightly propels you in any direction related to the foregoing
Semicolons connect closely related independent clauses.
What is the purpose of an exclamation mark?
Used to salute, admire, emphasize, irony, e-mail salutations
Exclamation marks convey strong feelings or commands.
What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?
Dash connects or separates sentences; hyphen connects or separates individual words
Example: A dash can be used in ‘She was late – again’, while a hyphen is used in ‘twenty-three’.
When is italics used?
- Titles of books
- Emphasis of certain words
- Foreign words
- Examples on language
Italics help distinguish specific terms or titles in text.
What does a question mark indicate?
Used when the question is direct
Example: ‘What is the capital of Belgium?’
What does an ellipsis (…) signify?
Means ‘more to come’
Commonly used in informal writing such as e-mails.
List some uses of a hyphen.
- Avoid ambiguity (re-formed)
- Spell out numbers (thirty-two)
- Link nouns with nouns (London-Brighton train)
- Link adjectives to adjectives (American-French relations)
- Certain prefixes (anti-Apartheid)
- Avoid letter collision (de-ice)
Hyphens can clarify meaning in compound words and phrases.
What does proper punctuation signify?
Both the sign and cause of clear thinking
It is essential for effective communication.
True or False: Proper punctuation is a small issue.
False
Caring about language is often wrongly associated with small-mindedness, but it is a significant concern.
