Tagged Questions
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Punctuation for a Shakespeare quote
I am putting a quote on a plaque, but am uncertain how to punctuate it. Any help would be appreciated.
This above all: to thine own self be true
Do I put in a comma (which is in the original ...
0
votes
0answers
58 views
Should a sentence ending with “Ph.D.” end with one or two periods? [duplicate]
Should a sentence ending with the word Ph. D. end with one or two periods?
He has a Ph.D.
He has a Ph.D..
Is there some established formatting rule for this situation? It might be a ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Use semicolon or period when telling a result of an action?
If you look at these sentences, the second one is result of the first:
Alex shouts and feels pain in his leg, and he rubs the place with hand and looks at the leg. His leg swelled little bit.
So ...
0
votes
3answers
96 views
Comma or full stop after ''come on''?
I’ve always wondered whether you should put a full stop or a comma after come on.
Come on, it’s just over there!
Come on. It’s just over there!
Which one is right?
1
vote
2answers
212 views
Should I use a full stop at the end of text in a table?
The table has a mix of fragments and full sentences. I'm concerned that if I have full stops after the sentences and none after the fragments it will look inconsistent to the reader.
1
vote
1answer
209 views
When to use or omit periods in acronyms, abbreviations, and initials [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations?
I don't understand when or where to use or discard a period when writing short forms.
For example, my college is the ...
4
votes
2answers
265 views
Period or colon? [closed]
Say, I have the following sentence: "The Gaussian Sobolev spaces are as expected defined as follows" and then you do a definition environment after. The question is: how do you end "as follows"? With ...
2
votes
0answers
439 views
How to punctuate a quote within a quote? [duplicate]
Duplicate of:
What’s the difference between using single and double quotation marks/inverted commas?
How are embedded quotations used?
And:
When should end punctuation go inside quotes?
...
2
votes
1answer
146 views
Punctuation outside of quotes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
When should end punctuation go inside quotes?
Here is what I have written:
Is it too late to say, "Don't go. I'm sorry"?
Here ...
6
votes
2answers
212 views
How to correctly assimilate dots, if at all?
I see this sentence:
There are many examples like mining, farming, foresting etc., that are dangerous to society because they cause environmental damage.
Shouldn't "etc.," be written instead ...
3
votes
0answers
73 views
If a question ends in the abbreviation of et cetera, do you still add the period before the question mark? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When “etc.” is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
Example:
How do I pay for the bananas, oranges, etc.?
or
How do I pay for the bananas, ...
1
vote
2answers
753 views
How to punctuate a quoted rhetorical interrogative sentence that ends a declarative sentence?
Below is the sentence I am writing. I am not sure whether I should just end it with an interrogation mark within the quotes, with a period within the quotes, no in-quote punctuation except ...
0
votes
7answers
741 views
Full stop, double stop, period and colon
At different times I see "full stop" used online. Does this just mean a period, or is it something more or less? I would assume it refers to a period specifically at the end of a sentence, but does it ...
2
votes
5answers
1k views
Semicolons at the end of list items
In school, we were taught to end each list item with a semicolon. But I have never actually seen this. Can somebody please confirm this? Should we end each list item with anything at all?
I've seen ...
6
votes
2answers
659 views
How does using a semicolon or a full stop change meaning?
Federal agencies and Wal-Mart are investigating the charges; C. J.’s Seafood did not respond to The Times’s request for comment.
In this statement, what is the effect of semicolon in the meaning ...
5
votes
1answer
866 views
Punctuation of direct speech, edge cases
I recently learned that I have developed a consistent, but entirely wrong approach to punctuating direct speech in fiction. I am in the unenviable position of trying to relearn.
Previously I wrote ...
5
votes
1answer
263 views
What is the name for punctuation marks such as commas and periods that separate things like clauses or sentences?
When I'm editing people's writing, I recently started writing the comment "put an article here" rather than "put a 'the' or 'a' here".
Similarly, right now I have to put, "you need a comma or period ...
5
votes
2answers
378 views
“Don't worry, …”
"Don't worry, it won't hurt much."
Is the comma the correct punctuation mark to use after "Don't worry"? This seems to be the norm, but I feel like there almost two sentences there and that ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Why put a period after your name in the closing of a communication/E-mail? [closed]
I have several co-workers in Europe and all of them tend to put a period after their names in the closing of E-mails, e.g.:
Thanks,
Matt.
I've never seen this, so I am curious if it is proper ...
1
vote
2answers
202 views
What is the proper way to punctuate “but no”?
I'm trying to figure out the proper usage and punctuation of "but no". I think it's one of the following:
You figure I would have made at least one post about Arthur C. Clarke’s “2010” during ...
2
votes
1answer
400 views
Punctuation after valediction [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should you use a comma/period after “Thanks”/“Regards” in email signatures?
When writing a letter, do we put a comma or a period after the ...
4
votes
1answer
207 views
Differentiating comma/period use in mid-dialogue
Best shown by example:
(From Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle)
"But I still felt bad," she went on. "So I dragged myself all the way to your house later--like an idiot.
"Don't worry," I ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Usage of double dots (..) Is it formal?
I am sure that this wouldn't have much meaning, but still want to get acknowledged whether usage of double dots is formal.
I have observed people using double dots in business Emails. Usually while ...
6
votes
2answers
6k views
Use of capitals and full stops in bullet points [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Capitalization for a bullet list
Let's say I have a bullet point list e.g:
Point 1.
Point 2.
Point 3.
Notice I have put a capital letter for the starting letter of ...
5
votes
2answers
550 views
Spaces after periods in abbreviations
Should I put spaces after periods in the following examples?
A.B. Buffington (between the initials)
Vol.2, No.6, pp.195-200
I see people missing spaces in their academic writing all the time and I ...
-5
votes
0answers
121 views
If parentheses close the sentence, where should period be? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
In which cases is a comma/period placed inside or outside of parentheses?
Consider the following sentence:
Now, it is highly attributable that professionally I never ...
4
votes
1answer
344 views
Punctuating a Sentence Containing a Question
If a sentence contains a complete question, but ends with a statement, should it be punctuated with a question mark?
Example:
Could she go to the store, he wondered
15
votes
5answers
1k views
What do you do when a sentence ends with a decimal?
In a sentence like "The answer is 0.8." the period looks awkward after "0.8". Is there a rule for a situation like this? Sometimes I put a space before the period like this: "The answer is 0.8 ." ...
3
votes
5answers
4k views
Correct punctuation in company names
My father's company is named the following:
Xyz Trading Co. (L.L.C.)
I find the use of periods excessive, at the abbreviation of company and the last period in the parenthesis.
Is it ...
5
votes
3answers
850 views
Should a period be placed within quotation marks if it would conflict with a punctuated item that should be used or typed verbatim?
Gee whiz! Just when I thought I had the "period within quotation marks" rules set firmly in my personal punctuational code, I hit upon this sentence:
All message IDs are pre-pended with the value ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Should I use a period at the end of a headline?
I am working on copywriting for my website, and am wondering whether or not I should use periods at the end of my headlines. The headlines will probably be used both as headlines for news articles, ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Where should the period be put when an entire sentence is quoted at the end of a sentence?
As in the following:
A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss”.
A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Should there be a period after an equation?
This isn't a pure English question, but it is about writing style: Sometimes entities that aren't words end up being in sentences.
I know that when mathematical expressions are inline as follows:
...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Punctuation with “The question is…” '.', '?' or ' “… ?” ' [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Position of question mark when sentence doesn't end with question
Take this statement for example:
That's not the question. The question is what was Colonel ...
0
votes
1answer
139 views
AVC or A.V.C or A.V.C [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations?
Okay, so in School I was always tought that when we want to abbreviate, we must use a full stop "." inbetween each letter, ...
2
votes
4answers
684 views
Punctuation around the word “OK” at the end of a sentence
If a sentence ends in "OK", and the sentence is a request, usually there is a comma before the OK and a question mark after it.
The comma signifies a pause, correct? What if there was no pause, then ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Where to put the periods when using a parenthetical sentence?
I have two complete sentences; the second is in parentheses, essentially a comment on the first. Where do I place the periods? I would use this:
They played opera. (I covered my ears.)
Is this ...
4
votes
4answers
530 views
What to do if a sentence ends with “Yahoo!”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Just like the title of this question.
I was reading an article about CAPTCHAs on ...
2
votes
2answers
977 views
…Capital letter after period(s)?
Excuse my terrible English knowledge, but I have been wondering this for some time already:
What is correct for the next phrase?:
And he was there. alone. sad. and crying...
or
And he was ...
0
votes
0answers
128 views
Where do I place the closing character when I end a sentence with parenthesis? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where does the period go when using parentheses?
Which of the following should I use? Are there any exceptions to the rule?
I enjoy breakfast (sometimes).
I ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Punctuation placement in speech [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Is it ever acceptable for a period to come after a quote at the end of a sentence?
How much punctuation is appropriate when ending a sentence with a full-sentence ...
6
votes
2answers
301 views
Is there any general rule of thumb that can be followed for where and when to add commas and full stops?
I always mess up with my writing by adding commas and full stops (periods) in the wrong places. Is there any rule of thumb or some other way that I can follow to avoid this problem?
27
votes
2answers
2k views
When should end punctuation go inside quotes?
I have been/am being taught that end punctuation should always go inside quotes. For example, you are supposed to write:
Marvin thought it was "awful."
The problem is I do not see how does this ...
6
votes
1answer
892 views
Periods for bullet point items
In a 'bulleted' list should items that happen to be complete sentences end with a period?
5
votes
1answer
579 views
A colon after “following”
When I reference to the next sentence or sentences using the term following, is the preferred way to use a colon or a full stop?
An example:
Consider the sentence 'I wash the clothes'. Replacing ...
141
votes
15answers
10k views
How many spaces should come after a period/full stop?
In the past — or at least, when I was in elementary school — periods/full stops were followed by two spaces. Lately, it's become more and more common to see just one space. In the modern ...
15
votes
2answers
6k views
Should you use a comma/period after “Thanks”/“Regards” in email signatures?
Normal practice is to end emails with a Thanks or Regards. My question is should there be a comma or a period or nothing after Thanks/Regards?
Thanks,
John Doe
Or
Thanks.
John ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
In which cases is a comma/period placed inside or outside of parentheses?
Are there cases where a period is placed inside parentheses? In which cases the period (or a comma) should be placed inside the parentheses?
1
vote
2answers
11k views
Where does the period go in an MLA in-text citation?
I've always been confused when citing like:
"The windows misted over from the heat and the smoke inside.” (Hemingway 1)
Does the period go inside the quotes (as above)? Or after the citation ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Punctuation around abbreviations
I always stumble when using abbreviations in a sentence, as they inherently contain a period in them. How do I use a comma or a semicolon after an abbreviation? How about a period?
E.g. (This is an ...
