Punctuation

1. Punctuation • Tells readers how words are grouped together and how they are separated • Primarily determined by sentence structure (not by breathing) • Choices governed by rhetorical situation and stylistic effect Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

2. Clauses • Group of words with subject and main verb • Two types of sentence-level clauses • Main (independent) clause • Subordinate (dependent) clause • At least one main clause in every complete sentence Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

3. Main Clause • Begins with a subject • May be joined together with a coordinating conjunction • and, or, for, nor, yet, but, so Tomorrow, the team meets at noon. I know that the team meets at noon. The team will meet at noon, but I am busy until 12:30. The team meets at noon because that’s when everyone can come. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

4. Subordinate Clauses • Begins with a subordinate conjunction • because, although, if, as, when, etc. or relative pronoun • that, which, who, etc. The team will meet at noon because the room is unavailable in the morning. The meeting is scheduled so that the team can use the conference room. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

5. Punctuating Clauses Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

6. Conjunctive Adverbs • Often confused with subordinating conjunctions • Can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a clause However, the design isn’t finished yet. The design, however, isn’t finished yet. The design isn’t finished yet, however. • Common conjunctive adverbs include however, therefore, thus, hence, nevertheless, consequently Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

7. Punctuating Conjunctive Adverbs Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

8. Phrases • A phrase is a group of words belonging together but lacking verb, subject, or both. • Phrases usually named for first grammatical element. • Prepositional phrases: in the software, on the desktop, of the designer, with the customer • Verbal phrases: to run the program, going at top speed, conceived by the designer • Adverbial phrases: before distribution, after development, during the design phase Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

9. Punctuating Phrases Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

10. Relative Clauses • Begin with relative pronouns such as who, whom, which, that • Modify nouns • Are embedded in another clause • Are either restrictive or nonrestrictive Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

11. Types of Relative Clauses Restrictive relative clauses • Provide essential information about the subject or define the subject Team leaders who lack patience intimidate new members. (Not all team leaders lack patience.) Nonrestrictive relative clauses • Provide additional information about the subject not essential to the meaning or needed to define or identify the subject The replacement part, which was promised for two weeks, was finally shipped yesterday. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

12. Punctuating Relative Clauses Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

13. “that” or “,which”? • Use that with a restrictive clause The process that I like best is too expensive. • Use a comma and which with a nonrestrictive clause The problem, which should have been solved long ago, is finally resolved. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

14. A Word of Caution How you punctuate relative clauses can radically change the meaning of a sentence. Environmentalists, who have no respect for industry, annoy her. Environmentalists who have no respect for industry annoy her. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

15. Punctuating Lists Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

16. Explanations Following Sentences • When a complete sentence implies a question, place a colon before the answer. • What follows the colon can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or a paragraph. We have only one thing left to do: celebrate! Their performance was exceptional: despite supply problems and unseasonably wet weather, they completed the project on time and under budget. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

17. Inserted Information • Commas, parentheses, or dashes separate inserted information from the rest of the sentence. • Commas suggest minor interruptions. Jill Smith, President of MBI, will visit the site next week. This procedure, which is clearly superior to the existing one, will be unpopular with certain departments. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

18. Inserted Information • Parentheses often indicate optional information and clarifications. Some organisms live in an anaerobic (airless) environment. • Parentheses are also used to enclose numbers or letters. The procedure involves three basic steps: (1) strip, (2) dip, (3) dry. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication

19. Inserted Information • Dashes provide a greater sense of separation or emphasis than commas or parentheses. All three models – XL,XM, and XN – are in stock. • Dashes are also used to signal asides. Dashes are effective – if not overused. Everyone must now wear identification cards – a consequence of the recent rash of thefts. Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication