Written Comm - Test 2 (punctuation) Flashcards
Officer Moreno Office Spencer
ELLIPSIS
…
-
indicates the omission of one or more words within a quoted passage
(The head is not more native to the heart…than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.—Shakespeare) -
four dots indicates the omission of one or more sentences within the passage or the omission of words at the end of a sentence
(Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure….Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.—Helen Keller) -
indicates halting speech or an unfinished sentence in dialogue
(I’d like to…that is…if you don’t mind…” He faltered and then stopped speaking.)
indicates the omission of one or more sentences within the passage or the omission of words at the end of a sentence
ELLIPSIS …
is used in some compounds;
especially, those containing prepositions
HYPHEN -
sister-in-law
president-elect
DASH
—
-
usually, marks an abrupt change or break in the continuity of a sentence
(When in 1960 the stockpile was sold off—indeed, dumped as surplus—natural-rubber sales were hard hit.—Barry Commoner) -
introduces a summary statement after a series
(Oil, steel, and wheat—these are the sinews of industrialization.) -
often precedes the attribution of a quotation
(My foot is on my native heath….—Sir Walter Scott)
QUOTATION MARKS, SINGLE
‘ ’
enclose a quotation within a quotation in conventional usage
(The witness said, “I distinctly heard him say, ‘Don’t be late,’ and then I heard the door close.”)
links the main clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions
SEMICOLON ;
links clauses which themselves contain commas even when such clauses are joined by coordinating conjunctions
SEMICOLON ;
Mr. King, whom you met yesterday, will represent us on the committee; but you should follow the proceedings yourself, because they are vitally important to us.
terminates an emphatic phrase or sentence
EXCLAMATION POINT !
introduces a summary statement after a series
DASH —
Oil, steel, and wheat —these are the sinew of industrialization.
BRACKETS
[]
-
set off extraneous data such as editorial additions esp. within quoted material
(wrote that the author was “trying to dazzle his readers with phrases like jeu de mots [play
on words]”) -
function as parentheses within parentheses
(Bowman Act (22 Stat., ch. 4, § [or sec.] 4, p. 50))
enclose titles of short poems, short stories, articles, lectures, chapters of books, songs, short musical compositions, and radio and TV programs
QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”
is used to avoid ambiguity
COMMA ,
To Mary, Jane was someone special
indicates the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns
APOSTROPHE ’
PARENTHESES
( )
-
set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material when the interruption is more marked that that usu. indicated by commas
(Three old destroyers (all now out of commission) will be scrapped.) (He is hoping (as we all are) that this time he will succeed.) -
enclose numerals which confirm a written number in a text
(Delivery will be made in thirty (30) days.) -
enclose numbers or letters in a series
(We must set forth (1) our long-term goals, (2) our immediate objectives, and (3) the means at our disposal.)
sets off from the rest of the sentence transitional words and expressions, conjunctive adverbs, and expressions that introduce an illustration or example.
COMMA ,
as on the contrary, on the other hand
Your second question, on the other hand, remains open.
as consequently, furthermore, however
The mystery, however, remains unsolved.
as namely, for example
She expects to travel through two countries, namely France and England.
follows the salutation in formal correspondence
COLON :
Dear Sir:
Gentlemen:
sets off an adverbial clause (or a long phrase)
that precedes the main clause
COMMA ,
When she found that her friends had deserted her, she sat down and cried.
set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material when the interruption is more marked that that usu. indicated by commas
PARENTHESES ( )
Three old destroyers (all now out of commission) will be scrapped.
He is hoping (as we all are) that this time he will succeed.
suspends the first part of a hyphenated compound when used with another hyphenated compound
HYPHEN -
serves instead of the phrase “(up) to and including” between numbers and dates
HYPHEN -
often forms plurals of letters, figures, and words referred to as words
APOSTROPHE ’
separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical reference
COLON :
8:30 a.m
New York: Smith Publishing Co.
John 4:10
SLASH
/
-
separates alternatives
(…designs intended for high-heat and/or high-speed applications—F. S. Badger, Jr.) -
separates successive divisions (as months or years) of an extended period of time
(the fiscal year 1972/73) -
serves as a dividing line between run-in lines of poetry
(Say, sages, what’s the charm on earth/Can turn death’s dart aside?—Robert Burns) -
often represents per in abbreviations
(9 ft/sec) (20 km/hr)
separates main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (as and, but, or, nor, or for) and very short clauses not so joined
COMMA ,
usually, marks an abrupt change or break in the continuity of a sentence
DASH —
When in 1960 the stockpile was sold off — indeed, dumped as surplus — natural-rubber sales were hard hit. — Barry Commoner
indicates the omission of a word or words, and esp. a word or words used earlier in the sentence
COMMA ,
Common stocks are prefered by some investors; bonds, by others.
-
introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before
(The sentence was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.) -
introduces a series
(Three countries were represented: England, France, and Belgium.) -
introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks
(I quote from the text of Chapter One:) -
separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical references
(8:30 a.m.) (New York: Smith Publishing Co.) (John 4:10) -
separates titles and subtitles (as of books)
(The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs) -
follows the salutation in formal correspondence
(Dear Sir:) (Gentlemen:)
COLON
:
What is the difference between
the three-dot and four-dot ellipsis?
The three-dot ellipsis in everything from thesis papers to text messages. It indicates the omission of one or more words or a trailing off of speech.
I’m using it in this sentence, which I’m not quite sure how to …
According to the Associated Press Style Book, the four-dot ellipsis is really comprised of a period and an ellipsis, rather than four dots in a row.
This elusive punctuation mark is used at the end of a sentence, often in dialogue, when it follows a grammatically complete sentence. It usually indicates that you’re omitting a sentence and skipping to the next.
For example, here’s an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Address.
“My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. … Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.”
links main clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs
(as consequently, furthermore, however).
SEMICOLON ;
Speeding is illegal; furthermore, it is dangerous.
separates words, phrases, or clauses in series and coordinate adjectives modifying a noun
COMMA ,
Men, woman, and children crowded the streets
sets off words in direct address,
absolute phrases, and
mild interjections
COMMA ,
marks separation or division of a word
at the end of a line
HYPHEN -
often precedes the attribution of a quotation
DASH —
My foot is on the native heath….—Sir Walter Scott
follows some abbreviations and contractions
PERIOD .
QUESTION MARK
?
-
terminates a direct question
(Who threw the bomb?) (“Who threw the bomb?” he asked.) (To ask the question Who threw the bomb? is unnecessary.) -
indicates the writer’s ignorance or uncertainty
(Omar Khayyam, Persian poet (1048?-1122))
separates alternatives
SLASH /
designs intended for high-heat and/or high-speed applications
COMMA
,
-
separates main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (as and, but, or, nor, or for) and very short clauses not so joined
(She knew very little about him, and he volunteered nothing.) (I came, I saw, I conquered.) -
sets off an adverbial clause (or a long phrase) that precedes the main clause
(When she found that her friends had deserted her, she sat down and cried.) -
sets off from the rest of the sentence transitional words and expressions (as on the contrary, on the other hand), conjunctive adverbs (as consequently, furthermore, however), and expressions that introduce an illustration or example (as namely, for example)
(Your second question, on the other hand, remains open.) (The mystery, however, remains unsolved.) (She expects to travel through two countries, namely, France and England.) - separates words, phrases, or clauses in series and coordinate adjectives modifying a noun (Men, women, and children crowded into the square.) (The harsh, cold wind was strong.)
-
sets off from the rest of the sentence parenthetic elements (as nonrestrictive modifiers)
(Our guide, who wore a blue beret, was an experienced traveler.) (We visited Gettysburg, the site of a famous battle.) -
introduces a direct quotation, terminates a direct quotation that is neither a question nor an exclamation, and encloses split quotations
(John said, “I am leaving.”) (“I am leaving,” John said.) (“I am leaving,” John said with determination, “even if you want me to stay.”) -
sets off words in direct address, absolute phrases, and mild interjections
(You may go, Mary, if you wish.) (I fear the encounter, his temper being what it is.) (Ah, that’s my idea of an excellent dinner.) -
separates a question from the rest of the sentence which it ends
(It’s a fine day, isn’t it?) -
indicates the omission of a word or words, and esp. a word or words used earlier in the sentence
(Common stocks are preferred by some investors; bonds, by others.) -
is used to avoid ambiguity
(To Mary, Jane was someone special.) -
sets off geographical names (as state or country from city), items in dates, and addresses from the rest of a text
(Shreveport, Louisiana, is the site of a large air base.) (On Sunday, June 23, 1940, he was wounded.) (Number 10 Downing Street, London, is a famous address.) -
follows the salutation in informal correspondence and follows the closing line of a formal or informal letter
(Dear Mary,) (Affectionately,) (Very truly yours,)
terminates sentences or sentence fragments that are neither interrogatory nor exclamatory
PERIOD .
introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before
COLON :
The sentance was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.
terminates a direct question
QUESTION MARK ?
is used between the numerator and the denominator in writing out fractions
especially, when they are used as modifiers
HYPHEN -
sets off
geographical names (as state or country from city),
items in dates, and
addresses from the rest of a text
COMMA ,
often represents per in abbreviations
SLASH /
introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks
COLON :
I quote fron the text of Chapter One: Bla bla bla bla
sets off from the rest of the sentence parenthetic elements (as nonrestrictive modifiers)
COMMA ,
Our guide, who wore a blue beret, was an experianced traveler.
enclose words or phrases borrowed from others, words used in a special way, and
often slang when it is introduced into formal writing
QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”
are used with other punctuation marks in the following ways:
the period and the comma fall
within the quotation marks
QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”
is used in writing out compound numbers between 21 and 99
HYPHEN -
thirty-four
indicates halting speech or
an unfinished sentence in dialogue
ELLIPSIS …
COLON
:
-
introduces word, clause, or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before
(The sentence was poorly constructed: it lacked both unity and coherence.) -
introduces a series
(Three countries were represented: England, France, and Belgium.) -
introduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks
(I quote from the text of Chapter One:) -
separates data in time-telling and data in bibliographic and biblical references
(8:30 a.m.) (New York: Smith Publishing Co.) (John 4:10) -
separates titles and subtitles (as of books)
(The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs) -
follows the salutation in formal correspondence
(Dear Sir:) (Gentlemen:)
introduces a direct quotation, terminates a direct quotation that is neither a question nor an exclamation, and encloses split quotations
COMMA ,
John said, “I am leaving.”
“I am leaving,”John said.
“I am leaving,” John said with determination, “even if you want tme to stay.”
function as parentheses within parentheses
BRACKETS []
enclose numbers or letters in a series
PARENTHESES ( )
follows the salutation in informal correspondence and follows the closing line of a formal or informal letter
COMMA ,
separates titles and subtitles (as of books)
COLON :
The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs
is used between
- some prefix and word combinations, as prefix + proper name;
- prefix ending with a vowel + word beginning often with the same vowel;
- stressed prefix + word, esp. when this combination is similar to a different one
HYPHEN -
SEMICOLON
;
-
links the main clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions
(Some people have the ability to write well; others do not.) - links main clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs (as consequently, furthermore, however)(Speeding is illegal; furthermore, it is very dangerous.)
-
links clauses which themselves contain commas even when such clauses are joined by coordinating conjunctions
(Mr. King, whom you met yesterday, will represent us on the committee; but you should follow the proceedings yourself, because they are vitally important to us.)
terminates an emphatic interjection
EXCLAMATION POINT !
Get out of here!
is often used between elements of a unit modifier in attributive position in order to avoid ambiguity
HYPHEN -
She has grey-green eyes.
encloses direct quotations in conventional usage
QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE “ ”
set off extraneous data such as editorial additions esp. within quoted material
BRACKETS []
enclose a quotation within a quotation in conventional usage
QUOTATION MARKS, SINGLE ‘ ’
The witness said, “ I distinctly heard him say, ‘DOn’t be late, ‘ and then I heard the door close.”
PERIOD
.
-
terminates sentences or sentence fragments that are neither interrogatory nor exclamatory
(Obey the law.) (He obeyed the law.) -
follows some abbreviations and contractions
(Dr.) (Jr.) (etc.) (cont.)
APOSTROPHE
’
-
indicates the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns
(the boy’s mother) (the boys’ mothers) (It is anyone’s guess.) -
marks omissions in contracted words
(didn’t) (o’clock) -
often forms plurals of letters, figures, and words referred to as words
(You should dot your i’s and cross your t’s.) (several 8’s) (She has trouble pronouncing her the’s.)
QUOTATION MARKS, DOUBLE
“ ”
-
enclose direct quotations in conventional usage
(He said, “I am leaving.”) -
enclose words or phrases borrowed from others, words used in a special way, and often slang when it is introduced into formal writing
(He called himself “emperor,” but he was really just a dictator.) (He was arrested for smuggling “smack.”) -
enclose titles of short poems, short stories, articles, lectures, chapters of books, songs, short musical compositions, and radio and TV programs
(Robert Frost’s “Dust of Snow”) (Pushkin’s “Queen of Spades”) (The third chapter of Treasure Island is entitled “The Black Spot.”) (Ravel’s “Bolero”) (NBC’s “Today Show”) -
are used with other punctuation marks in the following ways: the period and the comma fall within the quotation marks
(“I am leaving,” he said.) (His camera was described as “waterproof,” but “moisture-resistant” would have been a better description.)
the semi-colon falls outside the quotation marks (He spoke of his “little cottage in the country”; he might have called it a mansion.)
the dash, the question mark, and the exclamation point fall within the quotation marks when they refer to the quoted matter only; they fall outside when they refer to the whole sentence (He asked, “When did you leave?”) (What is the meaning of “the open door”?) (The sergeant shouted, “Halt!”) (Save us from his “mercy”!)
HYPHEN
-
-
marks separation or division of a word at the end of a line
(mill-[end of line]stone) -
is used between some prefix and word combinations, as prefix + proper name;
(pre-Renaissance)
prefix ending with a vowel + word beginning often with the same vowel
(co-opted) (re-ink);
stressed prefix + word, esp. when this combination is similar to a different one
(re-cover a sofa) but (recover from an illness) -
is used in some compounds, esp. those containing prepositions
(president-elect) (sister-in-law) -
is often used between elements of a unit modifier in attributive position in order to avoid ambiguity
He is a small-business man.) (She has gray-green eyes.) -
suspends the first part of a hyphenated compound when used with another hyphenated compound
(a six- or eight-cylinder engine) -
is used in writing out compound numbers between 21 and 99
(thirty-four) (one hundred twenty-eight) -
is used between the numerator and the denominator in writing out fractions esp. when they are used as modifiers
(a two-thirds majority of the vote) -
serves instead of the phrase “(up) to and including” between numbers and dates
(pages 40-98) (the decade 1960-69)
serves as a dividing line between run-in lines of poetry
SLASH /
What is the difference between
hypen, en dash, and em dash?
There are three lenths:
hypen (-)
en dash ( _ )
em dash ( __ )
The hyphen is the shortest of the three and is used most commonly to combine words (compounds such as “well-being” and “advanced-level,” for example) and to separate numbers that are not inclusive (e.g. phone numbers, ss #s)
The en dash is slightly longer than the hyphen but not as long as the em dash. (It is, in fact, the width of a typesetter’s letter “N,” whereas the em dash is the width of the letter “M”—thus their names.) The en dash means, quite simply, “through.” We use it most commonly to indicate inclusive dates and numbers: July 9–August 17; pp. 37–59.
The em dash is significantly longer than the hyphen. We use the em dash to create a strong break in the structure of a sentence. Dashes can be used in pairs like parentheses—that is, to enclose a word, or a phrase, or a clause (as we’ve done here)—or they can be used alone to detach one end of a sentence from the main body. Dashes are particularly useful in a sentence that is long and complex or in one that has a number of commas within it.
introduces a series
COLON :
Three countries were present: France, England, and Belguim.
enclose numerals, which confirm a written number in a text
PARENTHESES ( )
indicates the omission of one or more words within a quoted passage
ELLIPSIS …
separates successive divisions (as months or years) of an extended period of time
SLASH /
indicates the writer’s ignorance or uncertainty
QUESTION MARK ?
separates a question from the rest of the sentence which it ends
COMMA ,
It is a fine day, isn’t it?
EXCLAMATION POINT
!
-
terminates an emphatic phrase or sentence
(Get out of here!) -
terminates an emphatic interjection
(Encore!)
marks omissions in contracted words
APOSTROPHE ’
Didn’t
isn’t
o’clock
