Category Archives: Punctuation
Five Tips to Help You with Those Pesky Commas
by Robin Embry on May 4, 2012 | no comments
in Copywriting, Punctuation, Writing
I’ve lived in the south my entire life and it’s safe to say my accent quickly distinguishes me from anyone living north of the Mason Dixon line. So, one would think that if I wrote like I talk, my copywriting would be full of commas…hey, why not pause every second during conversation to draw it out? Fact of the matter is I routinely don’t use them enough and I constantly refer to online resources to help me out. Using commas correctly seems elementary, but it is shocking how often this simple punctuation is misused.
Most people are familiar with Grammar Girl (I actually have her book The Grammar Devotional sitting on my desk) but probably don’t visit her as much as they should. Her web site is full of informative and easy to remember tips, and so is GrammarBook.com. In my opinion, here are some of the most useful tips from those sites:
Rule #1: Use a comma when an -ly adjective is used with other adjectives.
Lucy is a lovely, young girl.
Helpful Hint: To test whether an -ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, use the comma.
Rule #2: Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow.
She is, as everyone expected, very excited about the promotion.
Rule #3: When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause.
If these comma examples are not helpful, please let me know.
Let me know if these comma examples are not helpful.
Rule #4: A comma splice is caused when two strong clauses, which could be independent sentences, are separated with a comma without using a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period.
Incorrect:
Kristen wrote an award-winning press release, Steven created an impressive web site.
Correct:
Kristen wrote an award-winning press release, and Steven created an impressive web site.
Rule #5: Sentences that include “if clauses” are called conditional sentences. When this type of clause is at the beginning of a sentence you need a comma, and when it’s at the end you can leave it out.
If I don’t get enough sleep, I am worthless the next day.
I am worthless the next day if I don’t get enough sleep.
And, don’t forget the simple ones like use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more; and use a comma to separate two adjectives.
Here is a recent article in The New Yorker about commas: it’s a funny read.
Do you have a common comma quandary? And, how did I handle my commas?
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One Space or Two?
by Dana Coleman on February 1, 2011 | no comments
in Copywriting, Punctuation, Writing
A recent article by Farhad Manjoo of Slate.com struck a chord with me and sparked some spirited exchanges between some of my professional acquaintances. I don’t believe I can say it any better than Manjoo did in “Space Invaders: Why you should never, ever use two spaces after a period,” but the article reflects what I learned long ago in a concentrated course in typography; and never learned in typing, English or journalism.
It makes complete sense that we might now abandon a practice that came about in the age of the mono-spacing manual typewriter. The double space has long been the bane of typographers forced to painstakingly remove the extra spaces from copy for printed publications. Take a close look at published books, magazines and newspapers and note the consistent use of a single space at the end of the sentences. Many publishers’ submission standards, in fact, require the single space in manuscripts.
For many years, we’ve had access to sophisticated programs that adjust kerning and make other typographic improvements for us automatically, invisibly, as part of their user-friendly interface. Throughout my career, however, I’ve worked with several associates married to the “two spaces” practice. It’s amazing how strongly people feel about this debate!
I have, at times, attempted to be a two-space writer to conform to the style of clients or supervisors. If you’ve ever tried to convert from one practice to the other, you know how difficult it can be to change your ways. I’m now proud to confess, however, that I’m a one-space writer at heart, and I’m also a big fan of the art of typography that today’s sophisticated software programs have made it so easy for us to neglect.
Where do you stand on the one-space v. two-space debate? Do you plan to change your ways?
What the … ?!
by Rosemary Plorin on September 24, 2009 | 1 comment
in Punctuation
An article earlier this week in the Chicago Tribune reminded me that today is National Punctuation Day. Sadly, the sun will likely set with this special day unrecognized by most. As a defender of written language (and as a professional who pays a mortgage and purchases health benefits based on my ability to communicate well) I would be remiss to let the day pass without a nod.
So, in honor of English teachers everywhere (especially you, Ms. Sturgeon and Sister Mary Hildebrand), I offer a quick tutorial on three oft misunderstood punctuation marks.
The semicolon. Poignant, decisive mark that rarely sees appropriate stage-time. The cabernet franc of punctuation.
Use the semicolon to separate two complete but closely related sentences.
“At her core she was a grammar marm; she could not let the national holiday go by unnoticed.”
This mark is also appropriately placed between compound elements in a list.
“Authenticity to both style and substance dominated her language in professional matters; in casual conversations at home, work or play; and in dialogue or debate with those of similar grammarian interests.”
The ellipsis. Seinfeld successfully transitioned this punctuation mark to spoken language in the 1997 episode “Yada yada yada.” (N.B.: the Seindfeldism requires no punctuation.)
The ellipsis notes a lapse or omission in a thought or quote. Use it for brevity, when an original quote or passage is just too darn long, or discretion – when a sentence contains elements too racy or distasteful for general audience consumption. The mark is comprised of three dots (periods) and is treated like a word, meaning, it is appropriately placed with a space before and after the triad.
“Clandestine episodes in the library between the grammar student and professor … were replayed as treasured memories long after matriculation was complete.”
The interrobang. Not unlike the guy in the Mac commercials, this punctuation combo meal is fairly ubiquitous, though few know its proper name.
The interrobang (or interabang) combines the exclamation point and question mark. In its most authentic representation, the two characters are actually morphed together into a single mark; as most electronic typefaces do not support the interrobang, side-by-side placement of the two marks is also acceptable. While not an officially sanctioned punctuation mark, the interrobang has widespread use as an interjection that denotes the mixture of query and excitement.
In its most common appearance, the interrobang partners with the ellipsis: “What the … ?!” A second example: “The budding writer flung the ribbons and wrap from the abbreviated Oxford English Dictionary and grasped her grandfather tightly about the neck, “Oh, Papa, how did you know?!”
