viernes, 28 de junio de 2019
Other Punctuation
Parentheses
Parentheses (always used in pairs) allow a writer to provide additional information. The parenthetical material might be a single word, a fragment, or multiple complete sentences. Whatever the material inside the parentheses, it must not be grammatically integral to the surrounding sentence. If it is, the sentence must be recast. This is an easy mistake to avoid. Simply read your sentence without the parenthetical content. If it remains grammatically correct, the parentheses are acceptable; if it doesn’t, the punctuation must be altered.
Apostrophe
The apostrophe ( ’ ) has three uses: contractions, plurals, and possessives. Contractions Contractions (e.g., let’s, don’t, couldn’t, it’s, she’s) have a bad reputation. Many argue that they have no place at all in formal writing. You should, of course, observe your publisher’s or instructor’s requirements. An absolute avoidance of contractions, however, is likely to make your writing appear stilted and unwelcoming. If you are unsure where to insert the apostrophe when forming a contraction, consult a good dictionary. Avoid two of the most common contraction–apostrophe errors: the contraction of it is is it’s, and the contraction of let us is let’s; without the apostrophe, its is the possessive form of it, and lets is a form of the verb let, as in “to allow or permit.”
Slash
The slash ( / ), also known as the virgule, has several uses, most of which should be avoided in formal writing. Never use a backslash ( \ ) in place of a slash.
Angle brackets
In ordinary writing, angle brackets < > are rarely used. In the early days of the internet, angle brackets were sometimes used to enclose an email or web address. This was thought to avoid confusion about whether certain punctuation marks belonged to the address or to the surrounding sentence.
Braces
Braces { }, also known as curly brackets, are used in various programing languages, certain mathematical expressions, and some musical notation. They should never be used in place of parentheses ( ) or square brackets [ ].
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/braces.html
Parentheses
Parentheses (always used in pairs) allow a writer to provide additional information. The parenthetical material might be a single word, a fragment, or multiple complete sentences. Whatever the material inside the parentheses, it must not be grammatically integral to the surrounding sentence. If it is, the sentence must be recast. This is an easy mistake to avoid. Simply read your sentence without the parenthetical content. If it remains grammatically correct, the parentheses are acceptable; if it doesn’t, the punctuation must be altered.
Apostrophe
The apostrophe ( ’ ) has three uses: contractions, plurals, and possessives. Contractions Contractions (e.g., let’s, don’t, couldn’t, it’s, she’s) have a bad reputation. Many argue that they have no place at all in formal writing. You should, of course, observe your publisher’s or instructor’s requirements. An absolute avoidance of contractions, however, is likely to make your writing appear stilted and unwelcoming. If you are unsure where to insert the apostrophe when forming a contraction, consult a good dictionary. Avoid two of the most common contraction–apostrophe errors: the contraction of it is is it’s, and the contraction of let us is let’s; without the apostrophe, its is the possessive form of it, and lets is a form of the verb let, as in “to allow or permit.”
Slash
The slash ( / ), also known as the virgule, has several uses, most of which should be avoided in formal writing. Never use a backslash ( \ ) in place of a slash.
Angle brackets
In ordinary writing, angle brackets < > are rarely used. In the early days of the internet, angle brackets were sometimes used to enclose an email or web address. This was thought to avoid confusion about whether certain punctuation marks belonged to the address or to the surrounding sentence.
Braces
Braces { }, also known as curly brackets, are used in various programing languages, certain mathematical expressions, and some musical notation. They should never be used in place of parentheses ( ) or square brackets [ ].
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/braces.html
Quotations
Quotation marks
Quotation marks are primarily used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word, as well as some other important uses. Quotation marks and adjacent punctuation Though not necessarily logical, the American rules for multiple punctuation with quotation marks are firmly established. (See here for a brief explanation of the British style.) Commas and periods that are part of the overall sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they aren’t part of the original quotation.
Ellipses
An ellipsis is a set of three periods ( . . . ) indicating an omission. Each period should have a single space on either side, except when adjacent to a quotation mark, in which case there should be no space. Informal writing In informal writing, an ellipsis can be used to represent a trailing off of thought.
Brackets Brackets
allow the insertion of editorial material inside quotations. Clarification If the original material includes a noun or pronoun that is unclear, brackets can be used for clarification.
TAKEN FROM: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/brackets.html
Quotation marks
Quotation marks are primarily used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word, as well as some other important uses. Quotation marks and adjacent punctuation Though not necessarily logical, the American rules for multiple punctuation with quotation marks are firmly established. (See here for a brief explanation of the British style.) Commas and periods that are part of the overall sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they aren’t part of the original quotation.
Ellipses
An ellipsis is a set of three periods ( . . . ) indicating an omission. Each period should have a single space on either side, except when adjacent to a quotation mark, in which case there should be no space. Informal writing In informal writing, an ellipsis can be used to represent a trailing off of thought.
Brackets Brackets
allow the insertion of editorial material inside quotations. Clarification If the original material includes a noun or pronoun that is unclear, brackets can be used for clarification.
TAKEN FROM: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/brackets.html
Hyphens and dashes
Hyphen
For most writers, the hyphen’s primary function is the formation of certain compound terms. The hyphen is also used for word division, which is briefly explained here. Never use a hyphen in place of an en dash or an em dash.
En dash
The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—). The typical computer keyboard lacks a dedicated key for the en dash, though most word processors provide a means for its insertion.
Em dash
The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Otherwise, confusion rather than clarity is likely to result. Do not mistake the em dash (—) for the slightly narrower en dash (–) or the even narrower hyphen (-). Those marks serve different purposes and are further explained in other sections.
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/brackets.html
Hyphen
For most writers, the hyphen’s primary function is the formation of certain compound terms. The hyphen is also used for word division, which is briefly explained here. Never use a hyphen in place of an en dash or an em dash.
En dash
The en dash (–) is slightly wider than the hyphen (-) but narrower than the em dash (—). The typical computer keyboard lacks a dedicated key for the en dash, though most word processors provide a means for its insertion.
Em dash
The em dash is perhaps the most versatile punctuation mark. Depending on the context, the em dash can take the place of commas, parentheses, or colons—in each case to slightly different effect. Notwithstanding its versatility, the em dash is best limited to two appearances per sentence. Otherwise, confusion rather than clarity is likely to result. Do not mistake the em dash (—) for the slightly narrower en dash (–) or the even narrower hyphen (-). Those marks serve different purposes and are further explained in other sections.
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/brackets.html
Pausing points
Comma
The comma might be the most troublesome punctuation mark. This is largely due to the many different ways the comma is used. Sometimes, the comma indicates a pause that would occur if the sentence were spoken aloud. Other times, the comma separates grammatical components of the sentence. Finally, there are mechanical and stylistic uses of the comma that are simply conventional. The presence or absence of a comma can change the meaning of a sentence—sometimes dramatically. In extreme cases, an erroneous comma can make a sentence mean the exact opposite of what the writer intended. A careful writer must be a careful user of commas.
Semicolon
The semicolon is sometimes described as stronger than a comma but weaker than a period. In certain uses, this is a reasonably accurate definition. Yet there is more to the semicolon than that.
Colon
The colon has primarily three grammatical uses and several non-grammatical uses.
TAKEN FROM: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/colon.html
Comma
The comma might be the most troublesome punctuation mark. This is largely due to the many different ways the comma is used. Sometimes, the comma indicates a pause that would occur if the sentence were spoken aloud. Other times, the comma separates grammatical components of the sentence. Finally, there are mechanical and stylistic uses of the comma that are simply conventional. The presence or absence of a comma can change the meaning of a sentence—sometimes dramatically. In extreme cases, an erroneous comma can make a sentence mean the exact opposite of what the writer intended. A careful writer must be a careful user of commas.
Semicolon
The semicolon is sometimes described as stronger than a comma but weaker than a period. In certain uses, this is a reasonably accurate definition. Yet there is more to the semicolon than that.
Colon
The colon has primarily three grammatical uses and several non-grammatical uses.
TAKEN FROM: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/colon.html
TERMINAL POINTS
Period
The period is perhaps the easiest punctuation mark to master. It ends a sentence. Difficulty generally arises only when the period is used with other punctuation marks.
Question mark
The question mark is used at the end of a direct question. Indirect questions take a period.
Exclamation Point
The most flagrant way a writer demonstrates contempt for his readers is by ignoring punctuation altogether. A close second is the abundant use of the exclamation point. Some writers even use three or more exclamation points, lest the reader not fully grasp the significance of what is being said. To be effective, the exclamation point should be used in moderation.
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/
Period
The period is perhaps the easiest punctuation mark to master. It ends a sentence. Difficulty generally arises only when the period is used with other punctuation marks.
Question mark
The question mark is used at the end of a direct question. Indirect questions take a period.
Exclamation Point
The most flagrant way a writer demonstrates contempt for his readers is by ignoring punctuation altogether. A close second is the abundant use of the exclamation point. Some writers even use three or more exclamation points, lest the reader not fully grasp the significance of what is being said. To be effective, the exclamation point should be used in moderation.
Taken from: https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/
viernes, 14 de junio de 2019
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