Punctuation Pointers

Apostrophes Commas Semicolons Colons Quotation marks

On today’s menu…

Taking the place of omitted letter(s) in a contraction◦ I cannot and will not give up my Halloween candy.◦ I can’t and won’t give up my Halloween candy.◦ Runners should not forget to stretch when they

are finished.◦ Runners shouldn’t forget to stretch when they’re

finished.

Apostrophes, Job One

Take the place of omitted numbers or letters◦ “Singin’ in the Rain” is one of my favorite movies.◦ My driver’s license expires in ’13.

Apostrophes, Job Two

To form the plural of single-letter words or abbreviations◦ There are two t’s in the word kittens.◦ Her son got straight F’s.

To form the plural of numbers◦ All number 10’s, please step forward.◦ The 1930’s were a time of great hardship.

Because these are optional, you must be consistent in either following or not following these rules.

Apostrophes, [Optional] Jobs Three and Four

To show possession For a singular noun, add an apostrophe

and an s (’s)◦ Marys sister likes to wear white shoes out of

season.◦ Someones helicopter is in the lobby.

Apostrophes, Job Five

For a plural noun ending in s, add only an apostrophe◦ The employees laptops were stolen. ◦ Those are the five musicians instruments.

For a plural noun not ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s◦ The line for the mens bathroom moves more

quickly.◦ The childrens playground was destroyed by

Godzilla.

Apostrophes, Job Five(the saga continues)

Question: What about singular nouns ending in s?

Answer: It’s your call! You can go with an apostrophe and an s (’s) or just the apostrophe. The key is CONSISTENCY.◦ The boss’s desk is clean and shiny.◦ This is James’s new house.◦ Charles’ rocketship was a big hit with his friends.

Apostrophes, Job Five(the saga continues even further)

Don’t confuse contractions and possessives. Prime offender: it’s/its Test: can you substitute it is? If so, use it’s.

If not, use its.◦ You can’t tell a book by it’s/its cover.◦ It’s/its hard to tell who the vampires are.

Just A Little More About Apostrophes: Possessives vs. Contractions(will this never end?)

Test: can you substitute you are? If so, use you’re. If not, use your.◦ Why are you selling you’re/your time machine? ◦ You’re/your invited!

Possessives vs. Contractions: You’re/your(getting closer to the end)

Test: can you substitute who is? If so, use who’s. If not, use whose.◦ Who’s/whose your daddy?◦ It’s hard to tell who’s/whose on our side.◦ Who’s/whose pet python is that?

Possessives vs. contractions: Who’s/whose (almost to the end, I promise!)

Test 1: are you indicating direction or using as the subject of a sentence? If yes, use there. If no, proceed to test 2.

Test 2: can you substitute they are? If so, use they’re. If not, use their.◦ Why is they’re/their/there hair on fire?◦ They’re/their/there are awesome personal jet

packs over they’re/their/there.◦ They’re/their/there going to crown me Queen of

the Universe.

Possessives vs. contractions: They’re/their/there (this time I mean it!)

To indicate a brief pause after a long introductory phrase or clause◦ While heating last night’s leftovers in the

microwave Norma Jean practiced standing on her head.

◦ Realizing they couldn’t possibly finish their project today Jane and Jan finally left work at 7:30 pm.

Commas, Job One

To separate elements in a list or series ◦ He opened the bill reviewed it and immediately

wrote a check in payment.◦ My plague symptoms included coughing sneezing

congestion and a fever.

Commas, Job Two

To separate clauses joined by a conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, so and yet)◦ The situation is perilous but catastrophe can still

be avoided if we act quickly.◦ She has been a pastry chef for years yet

somehow she avoids gaining weight.

Commas, Job Three

Job four: To set off a descriptive phrase or noun◦ I am of course slowly going crazy.◦ My backlog of paperwork weights about 23.75

pounds give or take a few ounces. Job five: To set off a less important clause

◦ My emu you will be pleased to hear is now in perfect health.

◦ We finally figured out that Colonel Mustard with the candlestick is who killed the butler.

Commas, Jobs Four and Five

For direct address or greetings in informal letters◦ I’m talking to you Meathead.◦ Hey Gladys

To separate names and titles◦ Tom Foley County Executive spoke to employees at

the Town Hall meeting.◦ Channing Tatum the Sexiest Man Alive was pretty

funny in 21 Jump Street. To separate names of cities, states, and

countries◦ I am traveling to Guadalajara Calisco Mexico

Commas, Jobs Six, Seven, and Eight

Do not use commas if the items are working together or cumulative.

Test: Can the items be joined with and? Can the order be scrambled? If yes to either, use commas.◦ Are you coming to my big fat Greek wedding?◦ I’ve been dreaming about eating a rich dark

chocolate layer cake.

Commas, and Their Complications

Do not use a comma to join two sentences together when the conjunction is anything other than and, but, or, for, nor, so and yet. To do so would be to commit an act of comma splicing.◦ I learned all the rules and regulations, however, I

never really learned to control the guillotine properly.

◦ She checked the numbers a thousand times, nonetheless, they were not the winning combo.

Commas, and Their Complications

To link two main clauses that are closely related thoughts◦ Of course my stomach is rumbling it’s almost

lunchtime.◦ Many criminals leave clues detectives follow the

trail.

Semicolons, Job One

To separate two main clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions include the following:

Semicolons, Job Two

accordingly hence moreover similarly

also however namely still

besides likewise nevertheless

then

consequently

indeed nonetheless therefore

furthermore instead otherwise thus

◦ I thought I had completed the project instead my boss told me that more work was required.

◦ We have prepared an estimate to complete the work in a week however you must sign it before we can start.

◦ The directors’ retreat will be held in two weeks therefore all big decisions will be discussed then.

Semicolons, Job Two

To separate a list of items that already includes commas◦ We hired three new staff members last week:

Jacqueline Heywards manager of management development Joan Fahrenkrug director of management development and Barbara Gross vice-president of management development.

Semicolons, Job Three

To introduce a list◦ You will have to answer the following questions

What is your favorite kind of chocolate? How much chocolate do you eat every day? Do you ever dream about chocolate?

◦ Go to the mall and get me four items a unicorn, an elf, a tiny mastodon, and some pencils.

Colons, Job One

With a greeting in a formal letter◦ To whom it may concern◦ Friends, Romans, Countrymen

Before an explanation in a sentence◦ My dilemma can be summarized as follows my

daughter is in love with the members of Big Time Rush, all she wants for Christmas is tickets to a concert, and they are no longer touring.

Colons, Jobs Two and Three

To introduce a direct quotation◦ The consultant wrote “In these times, it is

impossible to estimate the impact of poor business writing on national productivity and profitability.”

◦ Pete Townsend once sang “I hope I die before I get old.”

To introduce an independent clause that explains or amplifies the first clause in the sentence◦ Our course is clear the elf on the shelf must go.

Colons, Jobs Four and Five

To show that you are using someone’s exact words◦ Release the Kraken! is my favorite line from Clash

of the Titans.◦ It is never too late to be what you might have

been, said George Eliot.

Quotation Marks, Job One

To enclose the titles of poems, songs, stories, book chapters, individual episodes of TV shows, and articles◦ Dreams by Langston Hughes (poem)◦ The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop (story)◦ We Will Rock You by Queen (song)◦ Dow Hits 10,000 by Alan Greenspan (article)

Quotation Marks, Job Two

Do not sprinkle your text with quotation marks used for “emphasis.” Follow these rules instead:

Use quotation marks to enclose a word being defined or discussed.◦ Awesomesauce is not in the dictionary, but it

really should be.

Quotation Marks Gone Wrong

Use quotation marks to set off words you report but wouldn’t have chosen yourself.◦ Every new legislative assistant received a furnished

apartment.◦ Every new “legislative assistant” received a furnished

apartment.◦ Their behavior at the office party indicates that they are

more than just friends.◦ Their behavior at the office party indicates that they are

more than just “friends.” Note: these are “scare quotes,” warning

readers that the word or phrase is used in a different or unusual way.

Quotation Marks Gone Wrong

Do not use quotation marks to indicate slang or humorous expressions.◦ Antoine is the “new kid on the block” in our

department. Do not use quotation marks to add

emphasis to a headline or title◦ That’s Tom Foley, the “County Executive” of

Albemarle County.

Quotation Marks Gone Wrong

Inside quotation marks: periods, commas◦ I love the poem “The Road Not Taken.”

Outside quotation marks: colons, semicolons◦ “Honey Boo-Boo Goes to Broadway”: can this

nightmare be true? Inside or outside, depending on context:

question marks, exclamation points, and dashes◦ She said, “Who needs money?”◦ Did she say, “I need money”?

Punctuation and Quotation Marks