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A Brief Guide to Usage

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A Brief Guide to Usage

Once upon a time, there was no . Or , or ; or : or any of their ilk. There were on spaces between words, no paragraphs, no capital letters. Writinglookedlkikethiswhatamess

Over centuries, punctuation (from the Latin punctus meaning “point”) evolved. Today, few who write in English feel totally at ease with the critters.

John Trimble, an assistant professor of English at the University of Texas, in his 1975 book, Writing With Style, quotes one of his students: “The first semester of freshman English I used to write only short sentences so I wouldn't have to put commas in.”

For those who fear to wade where there are commas, semicolons must look like great white sharks. “The average college freshman,” Trimble wrote, “isn't ready for semicolons.”

That's no surprise to Charles Meyer, an assistant professor of English at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green. For his doctoral dissertation, Mayer analyzed 75,000 wards of edited, modern, written American English of three sorts: journalistic, academic and fictional.

“I was surprised,” he said, “how often the rules were broken or not known. It seems that, when in doubt, people use more commas. I found that x0 percent of the marks used were periods and commas. In the better writing, however, there was a greater use of colons and semicolons.”

“To punctuate intelligibly is a commercial and social 'basic unit' or 'minimum requirement;' to punctuate well, a social advantage; to punctuate very well, a social and intellectual distinction,” Eric Partridge wrote in 1953 in “You Have a Point There.”

(The Detroit Free Press)

Revised, 1985

In the presentation of a speech, the writing of a report, or the composition of a letter, all of us, from time to time, have to stop and check on such questions as whether we want, in a sentence, “who” or “whom”, “continual” or “continuous”; or the question mark inside the quotation marks or outside.

The sections which follow may be used as a quick reference guide to answer these and other common questions. However, these are many excellent texts and handbooks available which offer a more comprehensive discussion of these areas of diction and grammar.

Punctuation

Use a comma:

1.To set off an introductory phrase of five words or more unless it tells “when”... or clause from the independent statement. [When, If, Sense, Because]*

When I knew what was happening, I pulled the blinds shut.

If you buy the painting, you should have it sent to your home.

Because his car was not dependable, he took the plane to Chicago.

2.
2.Before the coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, yet, or nor) linking two independent clauses. If the independent clauses are very short, the comma may be omitted.

Bill wanted the job, but John offered it to Mary.

We were standing near the lake, and we could feel the fresh breeze.

I walked but Bob drove.

I cried and Lois Laughed.
2.To set off nonrestrictive (or nonessential) phrases or clauses.

My English professor, who is married and has three children, will lead the group tour.

Chicago, which is known as the “windy city,” has many good restaurants downtown.
2.Restrictive clause are not set off with commas. [essential information]*
Soldiers who have flat feet are not assigned to the infantry.

All students who were absent will be required to do an additional assignment.

The house which is at the corner of Elm Street and Oak Avenue will be moved next week.
2.To set off phases or words in apposition.

Mrs. Spear, fashion director for Century Clothes, was elected president of the Designers Association.

Bill Smith, the contractor, will review the house plans.

Mr. Jones, the artistic director, is being offered a new contract.
2.To set off a name directly addressed.

Thanks for your help, Bill.

If you will write me at your earliest convenience, Mr Barclay, I'll arrange a tour for your group.
2.To set off a mild interjection.

Goodness, aren't you ready yet!

Well, I didn't know that would happen.

Oh, I didn't want you to purchase a new one.
2.To separate adjectives, words or short phrases in a series.

Bill, Joe and Mike went fishing.

I looked in the woods, behind the barn, under the porch and in the basement.

The sign was blue, yellow, and red.
2.To set of a quotation from the reference source in a sentence.

“I shall arrive in Los Angeles before midnight,” said Mrs. Kelly.

Use a Semicolon:

1.Between coordinate, independent clauses not joined by a conjunction.

I went to the bank; it was closed.

Mrs. Spears submitted her monthly report to the Board; it was accepted without comment.
2.Before a conjunctive adverb (hence, however, therefore, consequently, inasmuch as) join two coordinate clauses.

The girls enjoyed their vacation; however, their funds were badly depleted by the end of the second week and they had to return.
3.Before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses if the clauses are very long or have commas in them.

When the race, which has been held every year since 1925, was scheduled, we have 22 contestants; but 5 additional entrants paid their fees to the official registrar, who immediately issued a verified certificate.
4.Unit in a series which contain commas such as city and state or month date and year.

July 15, 1983; June 30, 1981; and August 24, 1984, were important dates for the company.

Memphis,Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama; and Augusta, Georgia; were all places ravaged in the Civil War.

Use a Colon:

1.To introduce a list, statement, a question, a series of statement a quotation, and in some cases, a word.

Each man should bring the following equipment: one sleeping bag, hiking boot, rainwear, a small shovel, and heavy outdoor clothes.
2.Before or after a specific illustration of a general statement.

In the first week he broke a turning rod, dropped a glass test kit, and tore a rubber protection sheet: he was an extremely negligent worker.

Winter arrived with a sudden fury: the temperature dropped to 15° below zero, six inches of snow fell, and the wind howled violently.
3.Following the salutation in a business letter.

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Gentlemen:

Use a Dash:

1.To set off – and emphasize-- parenthetical material.

Rolsted—you know he worked for us in the 1950's--retired in June this year.
2.To indicate when the idea in a sentence has been broken off abruptly.

Do you believe that--
3.To indicate a sudden change in thought within a sentence.

Do you believe that-- no, I'm sure you would never accept it.