Punctuation II
The Question Mark • A direct question is followed by a question mark. • Where did you put the sheet of data? • But not an indirect question • He asked me where we put the sheet of data.
The Exclamation Point • Use an exclamation point to express exceptional feeling. • We have done all of this work for nothing! • The solution to the problem was right in front of us all the time! • Use an exclamation point for special emphasis. • Keep away from the boiling water! • Do not touch that specimen!
Exercise 1 Although I am generally rational, I am superstitious I never walk under ladders or put shoes on the table If I spill the salt, I go into frenzied calisthenics picking up the grains and tossing them over my left shoulder I know that not putting a hat on the bed comes from the time when head lice were common and you didn’t want them in your bed Would I put a hat on my bed now Wow Do you think I’m crazy
The Dash • Use a dash to set off parenthetical material that needs emphasis. • Everything that went wrong - from the leaking faucet to the broken window - was blamed on our negligence. • All the details of our research - even the timing, the equipment, and the material - are included in the study plan.
Use a dash to set off an appositive that contains commas. • In a rural area the basic needs of living - food, clothing, and shelter - are less expensive than in a large city. Unless there is a specific reason to use the dash, do not use it in scientific writing. Unnecessary dashes make writing choppy.
The semicolon • Use a semicolon to connect major sentence elements of equal grammatical rank. Use a semicolon between closely related independent clauses not joined with a coordinating conjunction. • I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor; rich is better. • Love is blind; envy has its eyes wide open. • When I was a boy, I was told that anyone can become president; I’m beginning to believe it.
Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression. (The transitional expression can be a conjunctive adverb or a transitional phrase.) • Conjunctive adverbs are: accordingly, also, besides, however, instead, nevertheless, meanwhile, subsequently. • Transitional phrases are: after all, as a result, at the same time, for example, in addition, in conclusion.
We were told that the main road was blocked; however, we decided to try it. • They will not go to school today; instead, they will have a filed trip. • We studied English writing very carefully; as a result, we can write well in English. • Our car had a flat tire; in addition, we ran out of gas; consequently, we were late for the meeting.
Use a semicolon between items in a series containing internal punctuation. • Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Battlestar Gallactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.
Avoid abuses of the semicolon • Unless you water the newly planted flower soon[;], the roots will dry out. (between a subordinate clause and the rest of the sentence) • Another delicious dish is the chef’s special[;], a roasted duck rubbed with spices and stuffed with rice. (between an appositive and the word it refers to) • Some favorite film starts have homepages on the web[;], John Travolta, Brad Pitt, and Emma Thompson. (to introduce a list) • Five of the applicants had worked with spreadsheets[;], but only one was familiar with database management. (between independent clauses joined by and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)
Exercise 2 • The researchers tried to work all night but they fell asleep. • If an animal does something we call it instinct if we do the same thing we call it intelligence. • I remember when he couldn’t write his own name now he’s a journalist. • The people in the line who managed to get tickets were very happy. • The Republic of China consists of the island of Taiwan and island 161 km off the Asian Mainland in the Pacific two off-shore islands Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu and the nearby islets of the Pescadores chain.
The Colon • Use a colon between independent clauses if the second summarizes or explains the first. • Faith is like love; it cannot be forced. • Smiling confidently, the young man stated his major goal in life: he aimed to be chairman of the company before he was thirty.
Use a colon after an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive, or a quotation. • The daily routine should include at least the following: twenty keen bends, fifty sit-ups, fifteen leg lifts, and five minutes of running in place. • Consider the words of John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Use the colon after the introduction in a business letter. • Dear Sir or Madam: • Use the colon in indicating time of day. • 5:30 p.m. • Use the colon in expressing a ratio. • The ratio of women to men was 2:1.
Avoid abuses of the colon. A colon must be preceded by a full independent clause. • Avoid using it between a verb and it object: • Some important vitamins found in vegetables are [:] vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, and Vitamin C. • Avoid using it between a preposition and it object. • The heart’s two pumps each consist of [:] an upper chamber, or atrium, and a lower chamber, or ventricle.
Avoid using it after such as, including, or for example. • The trees on our campus include many fine Japanese specimens such as [:] black pines, ginkgoes, and weeping cherries. • We have reviewed our writing carefully, including [:] spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
The Apostrophe • Use an apostrophe to indicate that a noun is possessive. • The children’s money • The professor’s briefcase • The hostess’s party • Joyce and Greg’s new camper • John’s and Mary’s expectations are different.
Form the possessive of plural nouns that end in s by adding ’. • both diplomats’ briefcases • the birds’ wings • The specimens’ numbers • Do not use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. • its own conference room • whose technique • The book is yours, not ours. • The disks are his, not mine.
Exercise 3 • Some examples of reptiles are : lizards, snakes, crocodiles, and turtles. • Albert had a major role in life never eat anything larger than your head. • The equipment in our laboratory includes instruments such as microscopes dynamometer analytical equipment and strain measuring devices. • In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much as mine. • The puppy’s favorite activity was chasing it’s tail. • The instructors laboratory manuals have been updated with the latest information.
Le parc japonais est beau et calme Ritsurin Park, Takamatsu La fille japonaise est belle mais bavarde
