Punctuation 2nd quarter

Abbreviations

-An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase -Many abbreviations are followed by a period.

Comma Tests

1: Insert the word "and" between the adjectives. If it fits sensibly, use a comma between them. If not—do not use a comma. 2: Change the order of the adjectives. If the order can be reversed sensibly, use a comma. If not—do not use a comma.

Use commas to set off (to surround with commas) nonessential subordinate clauses and nonessential participial phrases.

A nonessential (or nonrestrictive) subordinate clause or participial phrase contains information that is not necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence.

Do not confuse a compound sentence ( a sentence made of 2 independent clauses) with a simple sentence that has a compound verb. Generally, a comma does NOT precede the conjunction joining the parts of a compound verb.

Compound Sentence: Han brought charcoal and lighter fluid, but she forgot matches. Simple Sentence: Han brought charcoal and lighter fluid but forgot matches.

Nonessential Clauses:

Emilia Ortiz, who lives across the street from me, won a scholarship to Stanford University. The capital of Massachusetts is Boston, which is sometimes called the Athens of America.

An ACRONYM is a word formed from the first (or first few) letters of a series of words. Acronyms are written WITHOUT periods. The abbreviations for many agencies and organizations are written as acronyms.

Ex. AMA, American Medical Association, USN, United States Navy

**After spelling out the first use of the names of agencies and organizations, abbreviate these names and other things commonly known by their acronyms.**

Ex. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, most Eastern European nations applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic subsequently joined NATO in 1999.

Abbreviate the designations for the two halves of the day measured by clock time. The abbreviation A.M. stands for the Latin phrase ante meridiem, meaning "before noon." The abbreviation P.M. stands for post meridiem, meaning "after noon." Both abbreviations follow the numerals designating the specific time.

Ex. Andrew works five days a week from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.

Abbreviate titles and academic degrees that follow proper degrees.

Ex. Harry Connick, Jr. John H. Watson, M.D.

Abbreviate the two most frequently used era designations, A.D. and B. C. The abbreviation A.D. stands for the Latin phrase anno Domini, which means "in the year of the Lord." It is used with dates in the Christian era. When used with a specific year number, A.D. precedes the number. When used with the name of a century, it follows the name. The abbreviation B.C., which stands for "before Christ," is used for dates before the Christian era. If follows either a specific year number or the name of the century.

Ex. In A.D. 1452, the Ottoman Turks invaded Constantinople. By the end of the first century A.D., the Romans had conquered much of Europe. Cleopatra was a Greek-speaking queen of Egypt in the first century B.C.

You may abbreviate social titles whether used before the full name or before the last name alone.

Ex. Mr. Xavier Jackson, Mrs. Laval

In regular text, spell out the names of months and days whether they appear alone or in dates. Both types of names may be abbreviated in tables, notes, and bibliographies.

Ex. Our next meeting will take place on the last Tuesday in October.

You may abbreviate civil and military titles used before full names of before initials and last names. Spell them out before last names.

Ex. Sen. John Glenn, Senator Glenn

If a statement ends with an abbreviation, do not use an additional period as an end mark. However, do use a question mark or an exclamation point if one is needed.

Ex. That is Patrick Lewis, Jr. Do you know Patrick Lewis, Jr.?

When the last adjective in a series is thought of as part of the noun, the comma before the adjective is omitted.

Ex: -I mailed the package at the main post office. [Together, "post" and "office" name a place.] -For lunch we had smooth, creamy broccoli soup. [Together, "broccoli" and "soup" name a thing.]

Commas: Use commas to separate items in a series.

Ex: -The camp counselor distributed baseballs, bats, volleyballs, tennis rackets, and bandages. [words in a series] -We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. [phrases in a series] -I know I will pass the test if I take good notes, if I study hard, and if I get a good night's sleep. [clauses in a series]

When the last two items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, the comma before the conjunction is sometimes omitted when the comma is not needed to make the meaning of the sentence clear.

Ex: -The entertainers sang, danced and juggled. -John, Sue and Marian went fishing. -John, Sue, and Marian went fishing.

If all the items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, DO NOT use commas to separate them.

Ex: -We ran and walked and even limped to the finish line. -He said that neither poverty nor discrimination nor discouragement prevented Derek Walcott from becoming an accomplished writer.

Independent clauses in a series are generally separated by semicolons. Short independent clauses, however, may be separated by commas.

Ex: -We swam laps in the cool, refreshing pool; after that, we jogged around the lake; and we exercised with free weights, stationary bicycles, and rowing machines. -We swam, we jogged, and we exercised.

A statement (a declarative sentence) is followed by a period.

Ex: Barb needed a ride home. Margaret Walker's poems celebrate the trials and triumphs of African Americans

Use a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase IF the phrase is long or IF two or more phrases appear together.

Ex: During the long bus ride home, we sang songs and told stories to amuse ourselves. -By the light of the harvest moon in September, we went on a old-fashioned hayride.

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding the noun.

Ex: I've had a long, hectic, tiring day.

A single, short prepositional phrase is NOT followed by a comma UNLESS the sentence is awkward to read without one or unless the phrase is parenthetical. *prepositional phrase= starts with a preposition ends with a noun/pronoun

Ex: In the book the writer develops a clever plot. -In the book, review pages 236-290 -In the book, the critic praised the writer's plot.

Personal Names- Abbreviate given names only if the person is most commonly known by the abbreviated form of the name.

Ex: Louis J. Halle , John F. Kennedy , W.E.B. DuBois , Ida B. Wells

A request or command (an imperative sentence) is followed by either a period or an exclamation point.

Ex: Open the door, please. (request) Open the door. (mild command) Open the door right now! (strong command)xx

Use a comma before; and, but, or, nor, for, yet, or so, when the conjunction joins independent clauses. *Independent clause= complete sentence*

Ex: Patrick brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the potato salad. -We got there on time, but Jeff and Maria were late. Order of sentence: comma then conjunction

Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase. *participial- a verb form that can be used as an adjective*

Ex: Shivering, the couple hurried into the warm lobby of the movie theater. -Callin for a timeout, the referee blew his whistle and signaled. -Exhausted after a three - mile swim, Diana emerged from the water.

Use a comma to set off a mild exclamation such as "well," "oh," or "why," at the beginning of a sentence. Other introductory words such as "yes" or "no" are also set of by commas.

Ex: Sure, I'll go with you. Oh, look at that car! No, I haven't taken the exam yet.

In regular text, spell out the names of units of measurement, whether they stand alone or follow a spelled-out number of a numeral. Such names may be abbreviated in tables and notes when they follow a numeral. Most such abbreviations are written without periods. However, do use a period after the abbreviation for inch (in.) to prevent confusion with the word in.

Ex: The speed limit here is sixty miles per hour. 1 tbsp. vinegar 5 oz cumin

Words customarily used in pairs—such as macaroni and cheese and law and order—are set off as one item in a series.

Ex: We could order a sandwich, macaroni and cheese, or soup.

An exclamation (a exclamatory sentence or strong interjection) is followed by an exclamation point.

Ex: What an exciting game that was! Oh, no! Not again!

A direct question (an interrogative sentence) is followed by a question mark.

Ex: What score did you get on the road test? You weren't nervous?

Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. *Adverb: modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb

Ex: When you've gone to this school for a while, you'll know around, too.

Generally an adverb clause that comes at the END of a sentence is NOT preceded by a comma.

Ex: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his first opera when he was twelve years old.

Abbreviations and Geographical terms 2:

In regular text, spell out every word in an address. Some words should be abbreviated in envelope addresses and may be abbreviated in tables and notes.

Abbreviations and Geographical terms 1:

In regular text, spell out names of states and other political units whether they stand alone or follow other geographical terms. Abbreviate them in tables, notes, and bibliographies.

Nonessential Phrases:

Kelly, waiting outside the stage door, got the band leader's autograph. Born in Detroit, Robert Hayden was educated at the University of Michigan of Michigan and later became a distinguished professor there.

If the independent clauses contain commas, a semicolon may be required to separate them.

One of the cats had brown, black, and yellow spots; and the other, younger one was pure black.

An END MARK

a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point- used to indicate the purpose of a sentence