Lecture 1 P2 Flashcards
What is punctuation defined as?
The basting that holds the fabric of language in shape
Punctuation serves as the traffic signals of language, guiding readers on how to interpret sentences.
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 commas and colons dramatically alters the interpretation of the sentence.
What does an apostrophe indicate in terms of time or quantity?
In one week’s time
Apostrophes can also indicate omissions in figures and letters.
What is the rule regarding ‘it’s’ and ‘its’?
‘it’s’ stands for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’; ‘its’ indicates possession
Example: Thank God it’s Friday vs. Thank God its Friday.
What is the function of a colon and semicolon in writing?
They are about expectation and elastic energy
The colon nudges you along while the semicolon propels you in related directions.
How does the meaning change with different punctuation? Provide an example.
Tom locked himself in the shed. England lost to Argentina vs. Tom locked himself in the shed; England lost to Argentina
The punctuation changes the relationship between the two clauses.
What is the use of an exclamation mark?
To salute, admire, emphasize, irony, e-mail salutations
It conveys strong emotions or emphasis.
What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?
Dash connects or separates sentences; hyphen connects or separates individual words
The dash can indicate a pause or interruption in thought.
What are italics used for?
Titles of books, emphasis of certain words, foreign words, examples on language
Italics help to distinguish specific terms or highlight important information.
When is a question mark 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 e-mails and shorthand.
What are some uses of the hyphen?
- Avoid ambiguity (re-formed)
- Spell out numbers (thirty-two)
- Link nouns with nouns (London-Brighton train)
- Link adjectives to adjectives (American-French relations)
Hyphens serve various grammatical functions including preventing confusion.
What is indicated by a hyphen in terms of unfinished words?
Indicates an unfinished word that continues on the next line
Example: stammering (I reached the w-w-w-w-watering can).
What is the overarching importance of proper punctuation?
It is both the sign and cause of clear thinking
Proper punctuation aids in effective communication and understanding.
