Mechanics and Punctuation

7/31/2019 Mechanics and Punctuation

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M echanics & Pu ncu tat ion is excerpted rom Facts, Fallacies, and Fiction, scheduled or publication all, 2

Te rst part oFFFdeals with writing and editing.

Also to be released all 2010: GIMP Supremacy: Te Complete Guide to Mastering the Best GNU Image

Manipulation Program

For assistance:

Editing: Sandra Dugan, [email protected]

Web design: Kolibri Web Design, www.kolibriwebdesign.com, [email protected]

Book design and ormatting: Walton Mendelson: [email protected]

Copyright 2009 Walton MendelsonAll rights reserved under Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions.

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3/24

Te dream of writing a book is a powerful,

the will to do it is strong,

the perseverance unwavering

yet the soul must be open and vulnerable


4/24

Eit Ck Lit 2CopyFactsManuscript

Cpy: cect spelling, gamma and punctuatin

Abbreviations: ont u too ny, n to you u (titl, rony, t.) u orrtly

Capitalization: orrt n onitnt

Compound words: .g. bookcase not book case; I have a credit card, ut credit-card application

Dates: 1950s;March 12 notMarch 12th; ll out t ginning o ntn; l o68

Dangling modiers: orrt il n ungrtil oir

Double comparatives: orrt tslowernot more slower, slowestnot most slowest

Exaggeration: wry o xggrtion; wry omost, all, none, worst, best, t.

Familiar/unamiliar: o t ilir wor ovr t unilir wor, ut know your uin

Favorite words: ng your vorit nur, n, olor, t.

Jargon: voi jrgon xt wn it i rorit or your uin

Miscues: orrt iu

Mixed metaphors: voi ix tor

Numbers: ll t out t t ginning o t ntn; in non-inti work ll out

nur unr on unr

Passive voice: wnvr you u iv voi v ron or it or k it tiv voi

Positive/negative: rr oitiv ovr ngtiv, u it i on ortr

Pronouns/antecedents: k ur t ntnt o vry ronoun i oviou

Quotes: irt quot u quottion rk or lok ortting; inirt quot v no il

ortting

Redundancies: rov tree gi, verdant green, null and void

Shis: orrt i in nur, tn, ujt, voi, viwoint

Show dont tell: xt or ron o ing n ignin, ow ont tll

ense: onitnt wit tn

Unnecessary qualiers: rov t wn ty rnt nkind o, quite, sort o, a bit, very

Weak/strong, abstract/concrete: or lrity n riion rr trong n onrt wor

Facts: check all eal and intenal acts

Manuscipt: make sue yu manuscipt is ppely matted

Formatting: k tt your ortting ollow gui n/or i onitnt

Header: i your u r, k ur it ontin t nry inortion

Pagination: k ur your nurit i in g orr n ll t g

Pictures: k tt ty r rorly ll

Reerences: k ur you v inlu ll t rrn you n n r ortt orrtly

ables: k tt ty r rorly ll


5/24

Mni & Puntution

In t ollowing, tr r ny ltrntiv. So, u wor u wor, n to wit quottion rk or itli. o k t rr ro ing onu, onitnt: iyou u rt u itli, ontinu uing itli. Wr, otr rk tt lo v ovrlingu, u tting o rnttil (wit o, rnt, n ), n vr-i. T vrition oul onitnt wll, ut ty r not quntil. For xl,o oul u or irly lo rnttil, rnt or ligtly or itnt on,n or rut or vry itnt intrrution. T oi oul lo ont viul lrition tt rtin rk rovi on t g.

Wn t iul to u ty t (itli, iol, ol) or untution in iioynrtiwy gin to t t writr, t ron oul to rit. T inorlity o il on

it vrition o ill , ol, ol ll , on to innurl xltionrk. How o t rr Sto! ro Sto!!! or SOP!: ti i wr t writroul xri i kill to ow t kr ining rt ttk. I t writr ut u-u to o iniviulity oul uttrly ruulou in lying i invntion ot rr know n trut in i intnt.

T rul r not univrlly t. Wr rul i our, unlikly to nn ntion only in ol our, I v not inlu it. Wr rul i ontrit orxl, Chicago Manual o Style vru GrnrModern American Usage onrning our l-lii oint; Grnr k u or nI v on t or ronl.

Finlly, t Briti rul o untutionn llingir ro Arin rul. Bu

ot o u in n o quik onrtion o wr rk go r t to gln t rrng: inluing t irn i likly to u or r tn not.

ITALICSFeign wdsorign wor tt r likly to unilir:

beau gestebon vivantschadenreudesine qua non

(ut not ilir wor: roo, ul, ri, quit)Titlesook, gzin, nwr, ly, long o, ovi, work o rt:

Moby DickScientic Americant Wall Street JournalTe Dolls HouseRime o the Ancient Mariner

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Te Last Supper(ut, Hrt o Drkn, T Lottry, T Ro Not kn)

Wds used as wdsrrn to wor itl wor:T wor eecti on iu.

Emphasis wor or r n itliiz to iz it: owvr, it i t voi:Mi Witou w nt, Neveru itli.

Special teminlgyky tr, tr wit il ning, tr to wi t rr

oul irt r on itliiz on tir rt u:A w ll , socialism i nt oting quit irnt to utoin writr tn tooon lik Engl, lt lon Lnin. Wn Engl wrot out oili, nt . .

Indiect qutesinirt quot, tougt, n rinin r oti ut in itli.Wil ti i gnrlly onir iu, it r ontorry in tion.

Misuseso not u itli to init irt quot.

CAPITALIZATIoNDeclaative Sentencesxt vry ort rnttil ntn, gin wit itl lttr:

oy i t rt y o My.

oy i t rt o My (it y irty), n wr ving rty.Petyvry lin o otry oul gin wit itl, unl it w writtn witout itl-

iztion.A lrn onttor viwIn Hor or tn Hor knw.

Jontn Swi (ro On Poetry: a Rhapsody) w no n

n wt I wnt to know iow o you lik your luy oyMitr Dt

.. uing (ro Bualo Bills)Qutatinst rt wor o irt quottion:

Mi Witou i, Follow ll t rul.Fmal Statementsor rolution:

T or ry rolv, Tt o rul r nt to rokn.Ppe Nunsn rivtiv:

Boton/BotoninAri/ArinTo Ho/HoinKrl Mrx/Mrxi

Lk Eri (wn oon noun i rt o ror n; ut: lk Eri n On-trio)Pinting 201 ( i n o our; ut: inting)Frl r Coiion (ut: rl ourt, rl jug)Gnrl Motor (ut: our ony k r)

Epithets and Fictitius Names:t Sun King

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t Grt EnitorB RutJon DoJn Do

Mnths, hlidays, days the week:Novr (ut: ll, ur, or ont)Moril Dy (ut: y irty)

uy (ut: t twl o t ont ll on . . .)Pesnal Titlesoonly, titl r itliz wn ty r u rt o ror n,

ut not wn ty n lon:Pinting 201 i ing tugt y Proor Dvi Jon. (ut: T roor or Joninting l i . . .)

Pesnal Titlesotionl or iortnt gur (t rrn to to itliz):T Print vto t ill; or, t rint vto t ill.

EventsIortnt vnt:Bttl o t BulgWorl Wr I

Kntuky Dry (n: t Dry)Worl Sri (n: t Sri)

East, West, Nth, Suth i rt o t ountry:T Et w it r y t vr urrin. (ut: I you go t, you gt to N.Y.)T Nortt w it y tor. (ut: I you riv nortt, youll gt to Min.)

Gdrrn Go, All, Ju, or Mo, t.:Mo i, I know H look ovr ll t ol o t ln.

Abbeviatinsny rvition r itliz (not ll rvition rquir rioCIA, FBI, FC):titl or ror n: Dr., Mr., Gov.

Dr. Sittitl r ror n: jr. (junior), or. (orortion), ..

o Jon, Sr. (Mr. o Jon, Sr.; ut not: Mr. Jon, Sr.)Gnrl Motor Cor.Lwrn Rwling, P.D.

nur r: r. (ro), v. (vnu)T Wit Hou i t 1600 Pnnylvni Av. (not: H liv on t v. o t qur.)

t or nurl:33 b.c.10:45 a.m. (not: Ti .. I ting.)

roo No. 13 (not: Wt i t no. o your roo?)Initials a pesns name:

J. D. SlingrEllipsis: r n oiion i t nxt rt gin wit itl:

Now w r ngg in grt ivil wr . . . W r t on grt ttl-l o ttwr.

Emphasis:in ot ro, on viw ol ion:

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H w tu B King.Titles: or t titl o ook, rtil, ong, titl o ltur, work o rt, t.:

Prinil wornoun, vr, jtiv, vrr itliz.Minor worrtil, roition, onjuntionr not itliz unl ty r t

rt or lt wor o t titl.Hynt wori itliz wor (rinil wor) i ynt, t on rt

o t wor i itliz.

Te Wind in the WillowsRules or Writers: A Concise Handbook

SYLLABICATIoN (see als HYPHEN)End--line Hyphenatinwor oul not rokn t t n o lin unl olutly

nry, ti i ot on nry in juti txt. T yn i u t t n o lin, not t ginning o t nxt, to rk wor:A wor oul ivi oring to ronunition, uully, y ylll:

knowl-g (not know-lg)

o-ry (not o-ry)i-ing (ut not: i)

Doul ononnt r norlly ivi unl ty rrnt ingl oun:in-nru-itot-r (not ot-r)

Cooun wor (wtr ll oli or ynt) r rokn into tir oo-nnt:

ook-ty-writr

ourt-rtil (not: ourt-r-til)lring-ou (not: lr-ingou)

Prx n ux r trt rt ylll, xt -ed:trn-tionro-viionlng-ingn-ing

Pror n r t not ivi, rking t r t initil i riil, nvr -twn t initil:

E. B. Wit

E. B.-Wit (not: E.-B. Wit)voi rking lt n:

Jon-on

Figur oul kt togtr, rking r o i riil:$2,725,000$2,725,-000 (not: $2,725,0-00

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Nvr ivi wor o tt ingl lttr n lin:-lon

Avoi n-o-lin yn wit g turn

NUMBErSExact numbesl tn on unr, or on or two wor, r ll out:

tirty tunt897 tunt

Cnsistencynur in t tgory oul trt lik witin rgr oul trt t :

O t 435 rrnttiv, only 17 vot gint t ill, n 56 tin.Figuesgnrlly, gur r tl or ( Special Cases):

Dt:Jnury 23, 1989, 33 b.c., a.d. 1061

Ar:17 Millr Vlly, 59 Et 17n Strt

Prntg:55 rnt

Frtion, il:, 0.75

i o y:4:05 p.m.

Intition nur:ISBN 0-123-45678-9

Prt o ook or ly:gur 22, tl 9, At II, n 2

Ext ount o ony:$1,714

Initial numbesinitil nur r writtn out (i t nur i vry lrg, rontrut tntn o it i not t t ginning):

Fiy-v rnt o t tunt wr lo to iling lt ring.Nintn vnty-v w n xtionlly wt yr in Clvln.

Cmpund numbesin nur l tn unr, yn r u:tirty-on (ut: on unr tirty-on)

Lage numbeslrg, roun nur n xr in nur n unit:$2.7 trillion

6.1 illion yrSpecial Cases:

Sinti ug (ttil, tnil, ttitil, yil quntitiitn, r,rur, t.) r xr in gur:

27 il120 volt10 oun

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73.2 FNoninti ugollow t rul govrning t lling out o nur, ov; x-

t rtionl quntiti, wi r uro to writ out, n oul xr gur:

8 x 11 rArvitioni n rvition or t unit o ur i u, t quntity i xr

nur:

27 i.120 v.73.2 F

Dil & Prntgil n rntg r gnrlly t in rntg. In i-nti writing u %; in gnrl writing u rnt:

T intrt rt i 17 rnt.T tuy ow oitiv orrltion o 23%.

BLOCK QUOES

I quot trilnot ilogui longr tn our or v lin, rougly y wor, it oul t o y innting t quot, oti t ty n ling r ru too. On titril n quit long, tu t u o t llii i on oun r, Ellii, g xxx;lo:Paagaphs1) t oning lin o t rt rgr norlly ollow t originl; it i not

r wit n lli, vn i it o not trt wit t rt ntn, unl it itl oitt wor t it ginning; 2) to init n oitt rgr(), u out out lli twn t quot rgr; 3) ollowing t rt quot rgr,intrnl rgring oul ollow t originl; 4) n llii o not n quot, unlt lt rt o t lt ntn i oitt:

An y, r il nition o untution . . . . t growt o rint- ook ollowing Gutnrg n tl ovl ty rinting in t i-1400.

. . .

In t nturi on itr i o Gutnrg, rtori n logi wr n-trl to ny goo ution: n t ut not to n, or wnt, tlriying ntur o untution. . . . So tr igt v n ull . . . towrlrition. . . .

. . .

. . . . to lrg xtnt, tyttr wr ronil or t vlont n u o

untution.Lead-int rol wit lok quot i tt too on t rr will not r t. T

Sntor ll lir, r t lttr to rov it:wo i going to r it? T killwritr will u l-in, wi igt inlu rt o t quot, or not. T i i to lt rr into t quot nturlly:

W orgt ow w lrn to r n ow rt it w ro tlking. But in t, twrittn wor nnot rrou t okn wor:

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. . . litn to gi ortor n k ow? T rint wor n o littlor tn rt t wor, n uggt t ning. For on ting,your wor r rozn in l, wit no oortunity to t glzlook in your rr y n jut your tory to k it or intrt-ing, or to xlin wy oting i iortnt to i.

Emphasis Squr Brkt, g xxxPetyltoug vrl lin o otry y quot in lin, o r on quot n-

tr on t g, rrouing loly oil t originl lignnt. Altoug not lok quot, ti trtnt, lik lok quot, t t quot tril rt ro t itxt:

w rillig, n t lity tovDi gyr n gil in t w:

All iy wr t orogov,n t o rt outgr.

Misuseo not ut lok quot in quottion rk or itli, unl t originl tril iitl in quottion rk or itli. Bu ti woul otrwi itk, or lrity, it

woul rorit to ont, or xl: [itli in originl].

oN PUNCTUATIoN

An y, r il, nition o untution i tt it i t writtn vrion o gtur,inftion, il xrion, n oy lngug in t okn wor. It u t rr: to lowown, to u, to look or rltioni twn ting n i. At on ti in Ron ln-gug, tr wr vry w untution rk, no itliztion, , or rio. Altougtr xl o untution going k to t nint Grk, t vlont n oi-

tion o untution w know it, rlll t growt o rint ook ollowing Gutnrgn tl ovl ty rinting in t i-1400.

Tr i no wy tt t writtn wor n rrou t okn worlitn to giortor n k ow? T rint wor n o littl or tn rt t wor, n uggtt ning. Lonr Slin (Te Alphabet Versus the Goddess: Te Confict Between Word andImage) rgu tt t writtn wor l rin, nlytil n ulin; wr t oknwor i rigt rin, otionl, n inin; n t vry ntur o ning ng witt rint wor. Wtr you gr or not, it only tk w inut o writing to rliz ttit i irnt ro tlking. For on ting, your wor r rozn in l, wit no oortunityto t glz look in your rr y n jut your tory to k it or intrting, or

to xlin wy oting i iortnt to i.In t nturi on itr i o Gutnrg, rtori n logi wr ntrl to ny goo

ution: n t ut not to n, or wnt, t lriying ntur o untution.Movl tl ty rinting, owvr, rougt ook to ol wo ution w not orl or olt. So tr igt v n ullin rkting n: riv null l towr lrition.

Stting ty i ty onuing. It i not jut lting, on-y-on, lttr, ut inrting

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ll i o i tok twn lttr n wor to t lin tigtly gint t n o ooing tik. o lrg xtnt, tyttr wr ronil or t vlont n uo untution. (For xl, Alu Mnutiu, 1449/14501515, i rit wit introuingt iolon, n invnt itli ty n t okt iz ook.) I uggt tt ti rvvrl uro. Inrting o, or otr untution, i ir tn ing tn tiny io tlti i v n ot ru. I u untution k your ook ir to rn unrtn or to t ulir nxt oor, ll otr ting ing qul, youll gt

or uinuing t u o untutionru ot woul nt t ulir,tror, woul uin rkting nti nw tur. (Pol l tiiouttitu rgring orrt lling. For xl, I v iil o 16t ntury ition oOn Civility. On on r t wor ting i ll ting, ting, tyng, n tyng. In only liv tt ti w on to v ony on tytting n tt rr i not invrition in lling.)

For wt vr ron, w v untution; w n on it to lriy our unrtning owt w r; n it n to u orrtly.

Fun xl o t nity o untution o ro wor g: King Crlwlk n tlk l n our r i w ut o: or, King Crl wlk n tlk,

l n our r, i w ut o.T Briti yt rr to rio ull to. Conir on wy, tr i ontinuu

o to: (,) (;) (:) (.)(!) n (?) ing il onition o ton. T to, in rt, initt oltn o n or tougt, or ty oul qut wit u ro ort to long.In rt, ti i rtoril untion. Tr i lo logil untion: roviing ning tt inot otrwi oviou ro t wor lon. Witin o liit, t u o rtin ty ountution n on (rtriz y wr o n otr untution, to lo) orlo untution (rtriz y or o n otr untution).

T writr gol i towr lrity, unrtning, n o ringi t rr o notunrtn you, wt o you gin y uing or or l o? I untution rk i in

unrtning, k it: i it o noting, rov it. Tr i noug itn twn kingn roving untution, illy wit ot ng in wor orr, gur o ,n grr to rovi roo or t gi tylit n t untionlly otnt writr.

MULTIPLE PUNCTUATIoN:Multiple maksotly involv quottion rk, rnt, rkt, , n rvi-

tion:T U. K., wr I vtion lt yr, i ving wt ring.S i (I lwy litn rully), Wy int you tll ?

Sentence endi n rvition tt n wit rio i t ultit wor, oit t ullto (rio).

I intn to vtion in t U.K.Same placewn two irnt rk r ll or t t lotion, only t trongr

rk i kt:Wo out, Kill t king! (no qution rk)Wr i your owork? k Mi Witou. (no o)

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SOPS

PErIoD(.)Full stp: rio i u to ow t n o lrtiv or n irtiv, ntn, or rgnt:

Mi Witou il, lik t igt il t ou.Stn tr.I oulnt.

requests: olit rqut uully tk rio, not qution rk:Will you l n your tlogu.Will t uin l wlo our kr.

Sentence within a sentence: o not u rio t t n o t intrnl ntn:On Stury (it y irty), w r ving rty.Mi Witou rly, Wll, lt not lt tt n gin, w unxt.

Abbeviatins: ot, not ll, rvition n initil tk rio ( ri lit):Ninitil r ollow y rio (not: rt n, u Bnjin, Crl, or

Willi n rvit, Bnj., C. W.; t oul not u unl t rr-ring to ow rtiulr ron ign i n: Bnj. Frnklin):

H. L. Mnkn (ut or ron known y tir initil: FDR, JFK)Hrry S. run

itl or nrvit titl (not: ivil n ilitry titl r ll out i ol-low only y t lt n):

Dr. SitMr. JonM LukSn. Knny (or: Sntor Knny)Gn. Gorg Wington (or: Gnrl Wington)

itl, gr, t., r n:

Mr. To V. Pir, Sr. (ut: Mr. Pirno Sr. i t n i not givn in ull;Jr. n Sr. r r y o)Lowll Hn III, P.D. (Mr., M, Mr., Dr. r ro i notr titl i u)

Countri:U.K.U.S.W. Gr.

U.S. tt:Ariz. (or: AZ)Mi. (or: MI)

Yr, ont, y, n ti:a.d. 1066 (a.d., a.h., a.m. n a.s. r t yr, n r in ll )445 B.C. ( b.c., b.c.e., b.p., n c.e. ollow yr, n r in ll )Jn. (oti J)F. (oti F)Sun. (oti Su)a.m.

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Gnrl:r.univ..g.Q.E.D.t.

Extionwn gny n orgniztionl n r rvit ty r gnrlly

givn in n witout rio:FCAAAIBMAFL-CIO

Listsu rio to nurt it in lit:1. t2. orng n lon

With qutatin maks, paentheses, and backetsrio r l witin quottion rk(xt ingl quot in rtiulr linguiti n ilooil u). Wn rnt or

rkt nlo n innnt ntn t rio i l ini. I t nlo ttri rt o t inluing ntn, t rio i l outi.

Mi Witou i, Your r on Knt i u Mony.Dr. Lrt i not n ortiori.S i tlk out t nol vg.My vorit tory i T Pit n t Pnulu.T rol o ign n olit. (I work n rt irtor or n yr.)On t untion o t nl i itt ow to nl ooitionl lnt.Wn I t ty (I u Inign), I oniou o t tyl o writing.

EXCLAMATIoN PoINT (!)Exclamatin pintst init n outry or n ti or ironi ont (u r-

ingly; Mrk win i, uing n xltion oint i lik luging t your own jok):Sto!You n y tt gin!Wt you tol your o w rtinly olit!

With qutatin maks, paentheses, and backetsl ini wn rt o t quot orrnttil tril; l outi wn it i not:

Mi Witou yll, Gt out o y l!

Gt out! yll t i.Mi Witou (I oul v i!) ll n in ront o t l.I i, o olitly, Pl xu !

Misues: Editial ptesto not u n xltion oint (in rnt or rkt) toow rott ini quot.

In t ting, Cirn Nwou i I wlo iring oint o viw. Tt iwy I v invit Dn Rtr n Ann Coultr [!] to k nxt wk.

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QUESTIoN MArK (?)Questin makoti ll n intrrogtion oint, i u to rk t n o qu-

tion:Wr r w going?Wo wrot Moby Dick? k.I k, Wo yll, Fir!?W it Ptrik Hnry wo i, Giv lirty or giv t!?

Cn I rnt t ovi? w t only qution I w tinking out uring t ltur.It i ti? ( lrtiv or irtiv ntn n tt qution)

Emphasisto giv il i to intrrogtiv lnt in ntn:I Proor Winton otnt? rr? wll noug?

Seies ri o qution, vn i ty r not olt ntn:Wn you ir Proor Winton i you know w otnt? Prr to l-tur? Wnt ill?

Uncetaintyu witin rnt to ow out or unrntinty out t ringwor or t:

Tr wr 153 (?) tunt in ttnn.

Joquin Prz w orn in 1450 (?) n i in 1521. (lo: 1450 .)Exceptins:

Inirt qutiono not u qution rk wit inirt qution:S k i w wr rr.

Rqut ourtou rqut uully tk rio:Will you n t roo oon you n.Will you l ri or t nt.

With qutatins, paentheses, and backets l ini wn rt o t quot or rn-ttil tril; l outi wn it i not:

Bo k t onutor, Wn o w gt to Cigo?

T invtigtor k wo i, Dvi int gt to t tor until nin?I ti t ook you wr tlking out (I v notr oy i it int)?I v oy o t Mozrt Requiem, (or w it writtn y Hyn?).

Misuse: iny and humo not u t qution rk, uully n in rnt, tot writr uor or irony:

T North Coast Review uli tr o Gorg Svrn o (?) in t lt iu.

SEMICoLoN (;)Independent clausesu iolon twn two innnt lu (two, loly on-

nt ntn):no onjuntionwn ty r not join y onjuntion (and, but, or, or, nor, n

yet):T tor lt or vrl y; w i not know i w woul vut.

xlntory xrionwn ty r join y n xlntory xrion:T tor il u igt t o now; on t otr n, w noug oo tonjoy our nor luion.

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onjuntiv vr(, wn, in, r, or, t.) wn ty r join y onjun-tiv vr:

W wr now in two wk; nvrtl, w grt ti.Seieswn ny it o ri itl ontin o:

T ook w oil y Jon Dvi n Lorn Sit, lirrin wit t Clv-ln Puli Lirry; Sr Norri; Juy Littl; n Dvi Jon, roor o MivlLitrtur, Clvln Stt Univrity.

Emphasisy giving longr u twn it, t iolon y u to rtit in ri to giv t i:

Following t itr, t Print ok wit lrity n riion; ty n on-iion; ignity n rolution.

Qutatinswn quottion i ollow y iolon, t iolon i l outi tloing quottion rk:

My ttorny i, Your i wll uort; on t otr n, I jut oulnt orto ro.

Misuse: instead a clnon iu ollowing t luttion in uin lttr or ttingo ri:

Dr Mr. Jron; . . .T our or ti ook inlu; Wl Plin Engli, Fowlr T King Engli . . .

CoLoN (:)Gnrlly, t olonrw ttntion to wt ollow, tu uggting t olt o oting

jut trt:Linking olon n link two rt lu or r to init o kin o t orwr

(introution to t, u to t, gnrl to i, ri to onluion):Art i rt in olitu: li i ounity.

Listintrou lit o it, uully r y n xrion u t ollowing or

ollow:T oitt rov t ollowing: t ugt will ov or rovl, t uil-ing oitt will rviw t ln, n t riv will ov to notr roo.

Qutesu olon to introu quot (ot on in orl writing):T Srtry Gnrl r t oru: W r r, toy, to . . . (ut oy introu i it i run into t txt: T Srtry Gnrl w onrn tt o-l, ro tir worl ountri . . .)

Salutatinsin orl orronn, olon on ollow t luttion:Dr Dr. Jkon:

Pptinsinit rtio

W v 15:1 tunt-tr rtio.Timeinit our n inut:

10:15Misuseo not u t olon to introu il lit, illy in inorl writing:

o lik: izz, ri ikn, l i, n r. (inorrt)

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CoMMA (,)T o i t lt ti rk, ut in ny wy it i t ot iortnt or ning,n it to u. It n u in n on tyl ( ligt u o o), n lo tyl (irly vy u o o). Wil t vi ln towr, Wn in out, lv it out, itug oul not rit on out ut ningul u.Seies items o i l twn it o lit. Tr i t out wtr

to inlu o twn t lt n nxt-to-lt it. T rol i tt n i

gnrlly l twn t lt two it: witout o, ti oul init o-oun it. Jon lik grit, ri toto, gg n on; or . . . gg, n on. Art gg rt ro t on (gg, n on)? Or, o Jon lik ixtur o ggn on? I Jon lik ixtur: Jon lik grit, ri toto, n gg n on.Inluing t o rvnt iguity.

For rkt, Jon lik grit, ri toto, gg, n on.Seies adjectivesjtiv tt quliy noun in t wy ( Misuses or i-

rnt wy) r rt y o:T luggi, ollut Cuyog Rivr ugt r vrl ti. (not: i you n yluggi n ollut o n utitut or t n)

Intducty phase subdinate clauseu t ujt norlly o t t gin-ning o ntn, t o rt t r ro t ujt:

Ytry wn I w wing, t tlon rng. (not: 1. witout t o, tiu uggt: Ytry wn I w wing t on . . . 2. ny utoriti ug-gt ort on to tr-wor introutory r o not n o. On viw itt i t i no oiility o onuion oit t o; notr viw i tt wtvrtyl t utor oo, oul onitnt rovi tr r no iu.)

Cmpund sentenceswn t lu o ooun ntn r join y onjuntion, o i l or t onjuntion:

Jon tui rlntlly, n it i o wn took t x.

Paentheticals o t o t ginning n n o rnttil wor, r, orlu, oitiv, nonrtritiv lu, intrjtion. (T r not ntil to unr-tning t ntn. In n, ot nonrtritiv n otiv r rnttil.):

Dnil ountry o, wi on n grn, i lot nr Jron.My tr, Rl, wrot tr ook.Mny ol rgu tt t lt r ill, lt ont, igt unontitu-tionl.Y, I i I lik t ook.Wn w look into t rol, l, ting gon too r.

Mistaken junctinoti wor oul r i join:

o Di, Sit vot i li.Emphasist o n u to iz t ontrt twn oorint ntn

lnt:Proor Sor gr vrly, ut irly.

Identical wdsto k ring ir, iilr or intil wor y rt y o:

Wt it i, i goo r.

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Diect addessu o to t o wor u in irt r:o, I int k or your r toy.

Paticipial phasesSalutatinsin inorl lttr o i u r t luttion:

Dr o,Addesseso rt t lnt o n r u witin txt:

317 Aril Loo, Sout Art, NM

Dateso rt t lnt o n r wn it ollow ti orr:T rogr trt Aril 23, 2010, . . . (no o in: 23 Aril 2010 . . .)

MisusesSri o jtivi t jtiv in ri quliy noun irntly, or wn on -

jtiv quli noun r ontining notr jtiv, o not u o:Jon Srvi i roinnt, rl, jug. (orrt: roinnt, rl jugrl jug i noun r)

Bor or r rio not ut o or or r ri:Dvi lik, grit, tot, gg, n on, or rkt.

Sujt n vro not ut o twn t ujt n t vr, or vr ro it

ojt:T two uoitt tt ovrigt, t uy.

Inirt quoto not ut o or n inirt quot:o i, woul rr t rort ovr t wkn.

OHER MARKS

APoSTroPHE ()Pssessivesn otro i u to ow oion:

Jon ook (ingulr)t tunt l (lurl)o Jon or Jon (wor ning in )Hv you n to o n Jrry vorit r. (joint oion)Jn n Dvi xttion wr quit irnt. (ow rt oion)

Cntactinsotro r u to init t oiion o lttr, n t ontrtiono t rining. Contrtion r onir inrorit or orl writing; owvr,tr r ny xl o goo, orl writing tt u t. Ty n grou orrorit to inrorit:

int (i not)

nt (nnot)youll (you will)it (it i)lt (lt u)

For o rility o ontrtion r t rrv or ilogu:woulv (woul v)oulv (oul v)

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o voi onuion, ont u, n wit ution in ilogu:it (it woul, or it ?)wor (wo r, or wor?)oulntv (oul not v)

Plualsto lurliz rony, nur, lttr, n wor:CPA (otionl)1990 (otionl)

P.D.y (otionl) n qA, I, M (X or B igt otionl, ut wr t lurl witout n otrooul onuing, u t otro)

MisusesPesnal pnunsi, r, your, our, tir, it, wo r oiv n

o not tk n otro:Tt i i ook. (not: Hi ook.)Hr l. (not: Hr ook, or r ook.)

Plualsotr tn t lurl ntion ov, o not u n otro:Al $4.95 ozn. (not: Al $4.95 ozn.)

BrACKETS ([ ]) See Squae Backets

BULLET ()

Bullt rw ttntion to lit it. Ty r rtiulrly uul wn nur lit oulily rnking.

DASH, EM ()Inteuptinn i u to rk t intrrution o ntn. I t ntn r-

u, on rk t n o t intrrution. T intrrution n il n nonrtritiv oitiv, norlly t o y o, to rnttil rrk, to un n rut ng:

My trRl xriv i.Hi ookuli ix yr gow grnr quit it o li.I wrot iow on v I writtn n ll, ling y ut nvr

ontt .Emphasisn n utitut or o in ri to rovi i:

T lt ti nyon w iling n ruirng n iorint t ny lin, only to turn n run k to t.

Afethughtn n rt n rtougt or urri ning to ntn:. . . t ny linonly to turn n run k to t.

Speecht n init ltring or intrrut ( Ellii ot):

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IIno, wr go, w wr olly lot wit nigt lling n tor -roing.You ont n wY! Dn you! Youv l u to r li.

ClnT n utitut or olonLi i rly irn irly r.W wr wr lrg ontrt: ror ontrt, tn rnt roylti, ix-ont

tour, n tlviion rootionl ot.2-em dash 2- init iing lttr:

Tr r lttr trougout t l.

DASH, EN ()Tt n i u to n to:

19141919175227 untt CigoLo Angl rout

Vesust n i u to n vru:t AliFrzir t

Jiningt n i u to ow joint utori:RullWit (owvr: Bulwr-Lytton, wo i on ron, n wo oounn i join y yn)

ELLIPSIS DoTS ( . . . )Ellii ointrio ot o in tr, n n : . . . (rt y norl lt-tr ing), . . . (rt y tin ), or (t llii gly); t ing i ttr o

tyl, n n noting, ut t ing oul onitnt.omissint norl u o llii ot i to init n intntionl oiion uully inquot:

T vlu o lirl rt ution . . . i no longr ignint in worl o witiliztion. (T quot oitt wor twn ution n i.

Exiting untutionotr untution n u on itr i o t llii oint:Erly ui rorn, . . . i t xli y Anrw Minz. Hv you ri? . . . Hi roring r tunning.

Four ot1) Four ot wit no or t init tt t ring ntn iolt:

Iv Fourt Syony w rvi twn 19241926. . . . T Crngi Hll r-ir y t Arin Syony Ortr w in 1965.

2) Four ot wit or t init t ring ntn i inolt:Iv Fourt Syony w rvi . . . . T Crngi Hll rir y t ArinSyony Ortr w in 1965.

Blok quotS Blok quot, g xxx.Speechin n llii n ow n unokn ltrntiv, non-nurt qun,

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iln, or triling tougt:Lurzi Borgi il wtly. My I or you o . . . win?W wnt on t Mttrorn, Dv i xitly, Pirt o t Crin, t WilWt . . .I know oug, ut . . . I int know . . .My tr i lt ont. W grt ti, lik vtioning in Miign . . .

HYPHEN (-)Hyn oin or init rk in wor:Cmpund wdsn lo, ynt, on, n un:

ook (lo)rt-ti (ynt)ull oon (on)ull- n rt -ti workr (un)nti-Siti (ut ntioil: ooun wit rx r norlly not ynt un-l 1. t on wor i itliz or i nur (r-1890); 2. rt vowl (o-

o); 3. to voi onuion (r-ovr, ning to ovr gin; rovr, ning to gtk or to gt wll)

Plurlooun wor lik tr-in-lw, or ttorny gnrl r lurliz y lyingt lurl or to tt lnt tt i ujt to ng in nur:

tr-in-lwttorny gnrl

I t ooun i irril in nturrgnt jor, itnt rtryit i t lnt, rgrl o lnt, tt tk t lurl or:

rt rgntrgnt jor

uty lirrinitnt rtri o n

Prl jtivit two or or wor k n or r intn to k n wnty r togtr n jtiv, to wor oul ynt:

rit-r lition (ut: H tr rit r.)ll-uin lon (ut: Tr r ovr tr unr ll uin own-town.)

Wd beaksn-o-lin yn r u to rk wor o tt wor ing i vn. Sg 134, Syllition.

PArENTHESES [( )]Prntwor, r, ntn n nlo y rnt. T n init:Inteplatinsintroltion n rrk y t writr:

W njoy out viit wit t OConnor (Flnnry n r otr) lt Augut.running textto iy n utority, nition, or rrn in on own txt:

W ok o orgniz ri (LG 241) n ow it intrt wit t govrnnt

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22/24

(LG 310) . . .Inteuptinsin , rnt r u to init gnrl rtion:

Aoring to t trnrit o t intrviw Mr. Ru int tink t iu w riou,Wn I rt r t ution (lugtr), i tt i wt ty oul ll . . .

reeence lettesrrn lttr or nur r on rt y rnt:501()(3)

QUoTATIoN MArKS ( )Qutequottion rk r u to wn quoting oon irtly (owing vrition in

untution):Bo rn y il ytry, Co Wilon tol t rortr.How r? k.Bo intrrut, Co, I only rn l il.I tougt, Co Wilon rt i , you i y.Wt jrk! t rortr n lo i notook n wlk out.I int n

You i.Qute within a quteor quot witin quot, u ingl rk (oning n loing):

I tol you, Dvi i, I rn y il ytry.Jn ng Sing Hy Song.Di you k, Wn i t tr r u??

Wdswn rrring to wor wor, u quot:T origin o rrnli i intrting.

S-calledwn oting i o-ll-ut-not-rlly:I Syt i grt intr, I vnt n it.

Nelgismsinvnt wor r ontin in quottion:

Unr t tl i Hnry uy.Titlestitl o gzin rtil, ort tori, ong, o r tk quottion rk:

i ng Dolin or i nor.T nor i w Dolin.

PunctuatinPrio & orio n o r gnrlly l witin t loing quottion

rk, vn i tr i no o or rio in t quot ttr t tt l:It w Linoln wo i, For or n vn yr go.

Colon & iolon rio n o go outi t loing quottion:Mozrt quikly oo i Juitr: Otto Klrr ly it lowly.

Misuseny ol ut inirt quot in ingl quottion rk:Wrong: Cr tougt T ntor look too rinly wlk towr t.Wrong, ut u oionlly: Te senators look too riendly, Cr tougt wlk

towr t.Corrt: Cr tougt t ntor look too rinly wlk towr t.

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23/24

SQUArE BrACKETS ([ ])Cmmentsu rkt to nlo itoril ont, orrtion, or xlntion:

T Nort Ariin [i] xlorr . . .Digo Ortiz rto Glo [Sni titl in ull: rtto Glo or Cluu-l y otro gnro unto n l Mui Violon nuvnt uto n luzEitor] i onir tri o litrtur or t viol g.T glo [ornntl irovition] r oi u tt . . .

Mny rorr n [t] glo r oi u tt . . .Dr. Jon ontn tt B rrr t ring Wgnr vlo lot twounr yr ltr:

Aoring to Switzr, B r toward the highest notes [-i ], tu w v to onir urrnt originl intrunt r-orn rti lly rviionit.

Paenthesesrkt y u rnt witin rnt:Ortiz trti on ornnttion (originlly uli in Ro [rtto Glo . . .]in 1565) i toroug xlition . . .

VIrGULE (/)Virguloonly l, vrity o u:Peortn or r:

Hi r gt 23 i/gl.oin t ontrution n/or t l n or:

Ti ig i ontrty n/or t ligting i too rigt.Andtwn two wor it n n n:

Evry tr/tunt to o our rviw urvy.Petyto rt run-in lin o otry:

Wn Lr y B your tr wt? y, it. I ry, w not. / I your v oion or, I will rink it w tlking to . . .

Factinsto rt t nurtor n t nointor:17/32

Datesto rt t lnt o t, u inorlly:5/21/10

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24/24

A Goo Ditionry: Millnou Ting

PREPOSIIONAL IDIOMS

In rring ti ook, I ro ti:Altoug iio [r: roitionl iio] nnot r, t rul writrwill not tror u tt n u t l. Hi iioti u-g oul onor to t wor-link gnrlly tl. A goo itionrywill ontin ttnt o iioti ug ollowing wor wi n uxlntion. T writr oul illy rul to onult i itionrywn uing rtin wor-grou o roition lu noun, jtiv, or vr.Hrry Sw, Jr., Writing and Rewriting.

I took Mr. Sw ort lit n look u t wor in y Rno Hou Ditionry o tEngli Lngugrguly grt itionryo t rt twlv wor, tr w no xlor ntion o it orrt u in rooitionl iio. I l rtilly vinit. Y, wn MiWitou i look u t orrt lling, n I rli, I nt look it u u I ontknow ow to ll it, I w wrong. But i uggt looking u t orrt roitionliio, I woul v n rigt . . . woul v n.

Hr i t rol, i I v lwy r n r t ortr wor or utooil , r,n I writ, I wi Mi Witou n it y r, I v no ron to look u r. I Iv lwy r S w oblivious or urrouning, wy woul I k? Eilly inving look u twlv xl, I knw it woulnt in y itionry. Atully it w! I

oul v i, S w oblivious to r urrouning.Do it ttr? A ont go, I nwr qution on t CS oru, n I oun yl

tuk, i it oting i precursor to orprecursor o? Arntly i i o. Y, I tink it i i-ortnt, not or your rtr, unl you n to inlu Mi Witou, ut or you, iyou r t oniint nrrtor. Hr i rtil, iioynrti lit:

Prl Proition(tt r i lit o not n tr int ttr, ortr, wy to y oting)

rt ooring to

olongi ontnt tort roroo o gint twn or wit

i i

r r k

or oo to toi rot t ot ot t n ot t ril ot t oint o

i k

k o

u oyon t r oy int oy t l oy n oy virtu oy wy o

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