MCOM Punctuation Flashcards
Period [.]
Ends a sentence
May only be used following an independent clause
Period (Other Uses)
Used for most abbreviations
[Mr., Mrs., Ms., Ave., a.m. and p.m., Ph.D. (watch out for this one), Etc. (and e.g., i.e.)]
**i.e. = all things in a list
**e.g. = only some examples, can use Etc. in there but redundant
Not used for acronyms or initialisms
Acronyms – sets of initials you can pronounce as words, that are proprietary in some way (e.g., organization names, proprietary technologies, or jargon)
[NASA, FEMA, AWOL, EPCOT]
Initialisms – same as acronyms, but you can’t pronounce them as words [BYU, BCS, USA, FBI]
Not used to end phrases in a list
Periods do end items in a list when each item contains an independent clause (a complete sentence).
Comma [,]
Has two functions: Replace and Divide
To replace: Replaces words left out for brevity (debloviation)
I flew to Boston; Brian, to Miami. [The comma in the second clause replaces the word “flew.”]
To divide: Divides clauses, phrases, and words
Before I came to college, I worked at a fast-food restaurant. [The comma divides the dependent clause from the main clause.]
Comma - Divide Main Clauses
Use a comma to divide main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. If the first clause in a compound sentence is short (
Comma - Divide Introductory Elements
Place a comma after many introductory elements, such as dependent clauses, introductory phrases, and transitional words, and wherever confusion might occur without a comma.
EX: Before you attempt to fix the switch, be sure…
EX: After working with that group, I think…
EX: Nevertheless, I think…
EX: Before shooting, the hunter…
Comma - Divide all items in a series
Use commas before the conjunction preceding the last item in a series.
EX: I asked for markers, erasers, and flip charts.
Comma - Divide Adjacent adjectives that could be divided with the word and or that could be reversed without changing the meaning.
EX: The lengthy, detailed report was finished last night.
[“The lengthy and detailed report” or “the detailed, lengthy report…”]
Comma - Divide nonessential, or interrupting sentence elements from essential sentence elements
A comma is never used to separate “as well as” from the rest of the sentence.
He was, however, flawless in the way he presented the material.
He was flawless in the way he presented his material, however.
Pick up the annual report, assuming it is completed, and take it to the printer.
Let’s use red for the company logo, not blue.
Comma - Dates
Insert commas before and after the year when the month, day, and year are given. Don’t use a comma with a partial date or a date written in day, month, year format.
Is used in dates before and after the year, when the format is month, day, year.
Is not used with partial dates or with other date formats (e.g., day, month, year)
The meeting on July 23, 20XX, will be held in Dallas.
The September 20XX deadline cannot be adjusted.
The report was first issued on 16 September 20XX.
Comma - Divide Elements of an Address
Use commas to divide elements of an address. Place commas before and after the last element, except when a ZIP code is the last element.
We’ll be moving our corporate office to Chicago, Illinois, next year.
He lives at 460 North Oakcrest Lane, Springville, UT 84663, but he’ll be moving soon.
Comma - Needed for clarification
Use commas in a direct address [Tess, we must take action now.]
Insert a comma before a full-sentence direct quotation [He remarked, “I have lived her for less than a year.”]
A comma is not needed for partial-sentence quotations [She said the article reported “hundreds of lay-offs during the economic downturn.”]
Semicolon [;]
Super comma, a divider more powerful than the comma
Semicolon - Divide independent clauses
Use a semicolon to divide two independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Last year was our worst since 1989; next year will be much better.
Semicolon - Conjunctive adverb (however, nonetheless, thus, and hence)
Use a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb that joins two independent clauses.
The shipment arrived on schedule; however, the chemicals were not included.
The shipment did, however, arrive on schedule. [Here the word however is not used between two independent clauses; therefore, it is not preceded by a semicolon.]
Semicolon - divide parallel sentence elements that have commas
I can’t attend the executive meeting this month; but Steve, the assistant store manager, who will present our status report. [The second clause has internal commas. Therefore, the two clauses are divided by the more powerful semicolon.]
