Punctuation Pointers

1. Punctuation Pointers

2. On today’s menu… • Apostrophes • Commas • Semicolons • Colons • Quotation marks

3. Apostrophes, Job One • 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.

4. Apostrophes, Job Two • 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.

5. Apostrophes, [Optional] Jobs Three and Four • 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.

6. Apostrophes, Job Five • To show possession • For a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s (’s) • Maryssister likes to wear white shoes out of season. • Someoneshelicopter is in the lobby.

7. Apostrophes, Job Five(the saga continues) • 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 mensbathroom moves more quickly. • The childrens playground was destroyed by Godzilla.

8. Apostrophes, Job Five(the saga continues even further) 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.

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

10. Possessives vs. Contractions: You’re/your(getting closer to the 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!

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

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

13. Commas, Job One • 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.

14. Commas, Job Two • 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.

15. Commas, Job Three • 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.

16. Commas, Jobs Four and Five • 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.

17. Commas, Jobs Six, Seven, and Eight • 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

18. Commas, and Their Complications • 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.

19. 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.

20. Semicolons, Job One • 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.

21. Semicolons, Job Two • To separate two main clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions • Coordinating conjunctions include the following:

22. Semicolons, Job Two • 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.

23. Semicolons, Job Three • To separate a list of items that already includes commas • We hired three new staff members last week: Jacqueline Heywardsmanager of management development Joan Fahrenkrugdirector of management development and Barbara Gross vice-president of management development.

24. Colons, Job One • 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.

25. Colons, Jobs Two and Three • 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.

26. Colons, Jobs Four and Five • 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.

27. Quotation Marks, Job One • 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.

28. Quotation Marks, Job Two • 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)

29. Quotation Marks Gone Wrong • 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. • Awesomesauceis not in the dictionary, but it really should be.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. Punctuation and Quotation Marks • 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”?