Writing skills
Possesive
No apostrophe is needed for ____ pronouns My, mine, our, ours, your, yours, his, her, hers, their, theirs
Semicolons with conjunctive adverbs
To separate independent clauses connected with a conjunctive adverb. Follow the adverb with a comma. A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that joins independent clauses. Conjunctive adverbs are punctuated differently than regular conjunc- tions. The first independent clause is followed by a semicolon; the conjunctive adverb is followed by a comma. Examples: Our copy of the central warehouse catalog arrived after the budget deadline; consequently, our requests are late In the book An American Childhood, Annie Dillard recounts her experiences as a child; furthermore, she questions and speculates about the meaning of life.
Semicolons
To separate independent clauses joined without a conjunction. Examples: Three doctors began the research project; only one completed it. Discard the packaging; save the paperwork for accounting. The hour is over; it's time to stop working.
Semicolons
To separate independent clauses that contain commas even if the clauses are joined by a con junction. The semicolon helps the reader see where the break in thought occurs. Example: The team needed new equipment, updated training manuals, and better professional advice; but since none of this was provided, they performed as poorly as they had in the previous competition.
Dash
Use a ___ to indicate omitted letters or words. Examples: "Oh, da- I can't believe I forgot to mail that package "Hello?-Yes, I can hear you just fine.-Of course—i think i can. —Good!—I'll see you later.—"
Dash
Use a ___ to mark a sudden break in thought or to insert a comment. Examples: Here is your sandwich and your-Look out for that bee! I remember the day-what middle-aged person does n't - that President Kennedy was shot John is sorry-we all are-about your unfortunate accident.
Dash
Use a ____ to emphasize explanatory material. You don't have to use a dash, but you may. Examples: Knowing yourself-your thoughts, values, and dreams-is the most important knowledge. "The writer is by nature a dreamer-a conscious dreamer."Carson McCullers
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to write two-word numbers betweer 21 and 99 as words. twenty-six, thirty-three, sixty-four, seventy-two, ninety-nine
Dash
A ____ is a very specialized punctuation mark reserved for only a few special situations. However, many writ- ers use it incorrectly in place of other marks. Dashes call attention to themselves. A careful writer uses them sparingly. Dashes are very effective if used correctly, but they lose their impact if overused. Remember to distinguish a dash from a hyphen when typing. A dash is two hyphens.
Colon in a letter
A colon signals the reader that what is to follow is a business matter, something to be taken seriously. This is particularly true if you include the position, but not the name of the per son to whom the letter is addressed. However, even in a business letter, the closing is followed by a comma. Examples: Dear Mr. Strange: Cordially, Dear Operations Manager: Respectfully submitted,
Singular nouns endjng in s
A singular noun that ends in s still takes apostrophe s, though some writers omit the s and only the apostrophe. Examples: Roger Maris's batting record Lotus's personal organizer
Singular
Add ('s) to ____ nouns
Already All ready
Already is an adverb meaning as early as this, previously, by this time. All ready means completely ready, totally ready?. Examples At age four, Brigitta is reading already (as early as this). We had already (previously, by this time) finished. Are we all ready (completely ready) to go?
Hesi hint
Apostrophes are not used to make something plural. When using apostrophes ask yourself whether you're trying to show that there is more than one thing. If so there is no apostrophe Ex: There are a lot of potatoes in the refrigerator. Cut out the potatoes' eyes.
possession
Apostrophes are used to show
Effect
Consequences
When not to use a colon
Do not use a colon if the list of items comple- ments a verb; in other words, if it completes the meaning begun by the verb. Look at the previous sample sentences rewritten in such a way that a colon is not necessary. Examples: The people cast in the play were Kristin, Horatio, Thom, Alley, and Benito. For our trip, we packed cameras, dress clothes, scuba equipment, and beach wear.
Everyday/Every Day
Everyday is an adjective meaning ordinary, usual. Every day means each day Examples: These are out EVERYDAY (usual) low prices The associates sort the merchandise EVERY DAY
Hyphen
If the words functioning as a single adjective follow the noun, they are not hyphenated. The cabin the hikers saw in the clearing was run down. A police officer who is ill trained is more of menace than a protector. The consultant employed by the company was high powered.
Comma splice
It is when a comma is used in place of a semicolon to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. A ____ can be corrected by putting a semi- colon in place of the comma or by adding a conjunction after the comma.
Maybe/May Be
MAYBE is an adverb meaning perhaps. MAY BE is a verb phrase meaning might be. Example: MAYBE (perhaps) the next batch will be better be than this one. On the other hand, it MAY (might be) worse.
Always Split A lot.
There's no such word as alot. There's a word allot, but it means to portion out something. Example: I thought it was all right that we allotted tickets to A LOT of our best customers.
Subordinating conjunctions
These words can be used as subordinating conjunctions and usually are in the beginning if a sentence fragment
Colon
Use a colon to emphasize a word, phrase, or clause that adds particular emphasis to the main body of a sentence. Again, the part before the colon should already be a complete sentence. Example: The financial problems our company has been experiencing have been caused by one thing: poor planning.
Colon
Use a colon to introduce a formal quotation. Example: John E. Kennedy ended the speech with these notable words: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
Colons
Use a colon to introduce a list of items, as long as the part before the colon is already a complete sentence. Examples: These people were cast in the play: Andrea, Horatio, Thom, Alley, and Benito. We packed these items for the trip: cameras, dress clothes, scuba equipment, and beach wear.
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to join fractions written as words. three-fifths, five-sixteenths, five thirty-seconds
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to join numbers and adjectives. fifty-four-year-old woman, ten-dollar profit, two-thousand-acre ranch, twenty-minute wait
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to join numbers to words used as a single adjective. three-yard pass, eight-inch steel, two-word sen- tence, five-stroke lead
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to join two or more words that function as a single adjective preceding the noun. The hikers saw a run-down cabin in the clearing. Much has been written about the Kennedy- Nixon debates. An ill-trained police officer is more of a menace than protector. The company employed a high-powered consultant A soft-spoken answer to the angry accusation ended the disagreement.
Hyphen
Use a hyphen to write the time of day as words. twelve-thirty, four-o'clock appointment, six- fifteen A.M., one-fifty-five in the morning
Semicolon
Use a semicolon to separate items in a series if the items contain commas. Unlike items in a series separated by commas, a semicolon is used even when there IS a conjunction. The dates we are considering for our annual party are Thursday, June 5; Saturday, June 7; Sunday, June 8 or Monday, June 9. When we go to the lake , I am sure to take a pizza pan, a popcorn popper, and pancake griddle; fishing tackle, life jackets, and ski equipment; and puzzles, cards, board games, and my guitar. The expansion committee is considering locations in Columbus, Ohio; Orange, California; Minton, Tennessee; and Jacksonville, Florida.
Colons
Use colons Between two sentences when the second explains the first. Examples: Brenton shouted and threw his fists in the air: He had just set a new world record. Between the title and the subtitle of a book. Examples: Internet Starter Kit: A Complete Guide to Cyberspace Beyond 2000: A Futuristic View of Time Between volume and page number or between chapter and verse. Examples: World Book Encyclopedia V: 128 New Age Journal of Medicine IX: 23 John 3:16 Between hour and minute. Examples: 12:53 A.M.
Hyphen
When a series of similar number-word adjectives is written in a sentence, use a hyphen/comma combination with all but the last item in the series. Precut particle board comes in two-, four-, and six-foot squares.
Apostrophe
When there is more than one word in the possessive adjective-for example, with a compound noun, a business or institution, or jointly possessed items-add the apostrophe (s)to the last word of the compound. Examples: someone else's problem mother-in-law's visit board of directors' policy Pope John Paul II's death Proctor and Gamble's product Wayne and Judy's log cabin
Apostrophe
Words showing periods of time or amounts of money need apostrophes when used as possesive adjectives Examples: day's pay month's vacation morning's work two cents' worth dollar's worth
Comma splice
Wrong: Henry lives across the street, he has been there for 25 years Correct: Henry lives across the street, he has been there for 25 years. Correct: Henry lives across the street, and he has been there for 25 years This is an example of a
Comma splice
Wrong: Mary heads the search committee, John is the recorder. Correct: Mary heads the search committee; John is the recorder correct: Mary heads the search committee, and John is the recorder Example of...
Comma splice
Wrong: Sid gave demonstrations all summer long, he returned in the fall. Correct: Sid gave demonstrations all summer long he returned in the fall. Sid gave demonstrations all summer long, but he returned in the fall. Example of...
