Punctuation is the term used for the marks, such as the period/full stop, comma, dash, and parentheses, used to separate structural units, and perform other roles that clarify the meaning.
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How do you quote a passage that has used '[sic]' mistakenly?
The usage of '[sic]' is well defined for quoting a passage that you believe has an error in it: nearest to the mistake you place '[sic]' within the quotes. For example, suppose I write a letter from I ...
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 ...
61
votes
13answers
12k views
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?
Should I put a comma before last item in list?
I would like crackers, cheese and some soda.
I would like crackers, cheese, and some soda.
55
votes
1answer
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When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash?
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8answers
3k views
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses (for example, if I (meaning myself) write like this)?
41
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13answers
1k views
If an insertion in parentheses ends with a smiley, how do I distinguish between the two?
I know smileys are not part of written language (yet), and any questions about them are irrelevant to linguistics and are kind of not serious. So take my question with a smiley then.
It bugs me ...
37
votes
6answers
3k views
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Some words are written without hyphens (nonaggression, nonbeliever), and some words are written with a hyphen (well-intentioned). Is there a schema in the use of a hyphen?
36
votes
3answers
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What is the correct possessive for nouns ending in “‑s”?
What is the possessive of a noun ending in ‑s? Are these both right, or is the second one wrong?
the boys' books
the boss' car
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5answers
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Should I use a semicolon or a dash to connect two closely related sentences?
When you want to connect two closely related sentences, you can use a semicolon or a dash. (You can also use a dash for other kinds of non-sentential relations). How would you choose whether to use a ...
30
votes
3answers
2k views
Why does the multi-paragraph quotation rule exist?
The answer to this question clearly explains the standard rule that when you have multiple quoted paragraphs, each new paragraph starts with an opening quotation mark, but only the final quoted ...
30
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8answers
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Is there a standard ordering for the question mark and the exclamation mark used together?
We've all wanted to express certain questions, rhetorical or not, with annoyance, excitement, surprise, frustration and so on. What better way than with both a question mark (?) and an exclamation ...
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 ...
25
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6answers
1k views
How does one correctly use a semicolon?
How does one correctly use a semicolon? It is probably one of the more difficult punctuation marks to master in my opinion.
24
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6answers
4k views
Is it ever acceptable for a period to come after a quote at the end of a sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it correct to use “punctuation outside of the quotations”, or “inside?”
I've heard that you should always place ending punctuation inside of quotes, no matter what.
...
24
votes
3answers
1k views
Why we capitalize all race names but our own
This question about alien species and planets brought up something I've been thinking about on and off for years.
We capitalize names of alien races like Vulcan, Timelord, Cylon (well, maybe not ...
24
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6answers
1k views
Punctuating question tags: A question mark is always required, isn't it. (Well, isn't it?)
Consider the sentence:
You didn't leave the dog in the car, did you?
In oral English, this statement may be spoken with a rising intonation or a falling one. If the former, it suggests that ...
23
votes
12answers
3k views
Can a word be contracted twice (e.g. “I'ven't”)?
I've seen a contraction of two words. I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to contract twice. Is it possible and how should it be punctuated?
Update: Ok, to sum up the answers so far
This ...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
How should I punctuate around quotes?
The American convention in quotations is (typically) to place punctuation inside quoted text. But I always run into situations where the punctuation of the quote interferes with the punctuation of the ...
20
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3answers
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What's the difference between using single and double quotation marks/inverted commas?
I'm quite unsure regarding the usage of single quotation marks (') and double quotation marks (") in English.
I had thought that double quotation marks were usually used to quote sentences from ...
18
votes
6answers
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Should I always use a comma after “e.g.” or “i.e.”?
It seems that "e.g." is always followed by a comma but "i.e." is not. Why is that?
17
votes
5answers
728 views
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Certain brands, such as Yahoo!, insist that the exclamation is part of their name. In writing about such a brand or company, is the inclusion of the vanity punctuation right, wrong, or optional?
I ...
16
votes
7answers
19k views
Where does the period go when using parentheses?
Where should the period go when using parentheses? For example:
In sentence one, I use this example (which has a parenthesis at the end.)
Should the period be inside, or outside of the ...
16
votes
3answers
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Is it ever correct to have a space before a question or exclamation mark?
In written English (mainly online) I often come across sentences ending with a question or an exclamation mark with a space before it. Is it always just an error or a typo? Or there are cases when it ...
16
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5answers
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Why is the unit of measure placed before the value for currencies? Are there other measures where the unit precedes value?
$1,000 is pronounced as "one thousand dollars".
Reading from left to right, it seems like it would make more sense to write the value as:
1,000$. This way the pronunciation of the value follows the ...
16
votes
1answer
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Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
"My Ex-Wife Hates Me"
or
"My Ex-wife Hates Me"
15
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5answers
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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 ." ...
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4answers
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Meaning of “My friend, who lives in Paris, is a teacher” with and without commas
Can anyone help me understand the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
My friend who lives in Paris is a teacher.
My friend, who lives in Paris, is a teacher.
To me it ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
How does one correctly punctuate a sentence that declares that one has a question? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Punctuation with “The question is…” '.', '?' or ' “… ?” '
Position of question mark when sentence doesn't end ...
15
votes
5answers
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What is the best way to punctuate a list of questions in a declarative sentence?
In my report a need to write a list of example questions that someone might ask, but I would like to do it in a sentence rather than a separate list. Here is an example:
This poses questions such ...
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 ...
15
votes
3answers
438 views
You don't want to answer this word-placement question, now do you?
Prompted by this question I got to thinking about the placement of the word now.
If it's placed before the comma, it refers to an immediate condition:
You don't want to answer this word-placement ...
15
votes
5answers
912 views
Is it correct to use “punctuation outside of the quotations”, or “inside?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
When should end punctuation go inside quotes?
Or is it region specific? I was always taught that when ending a quotation, that ...
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 ...
14
votes
4answers
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How do I emphasize a word using the standard punctuation system?
I've seen people on the Internet stressing a certain word using "*":
I do not *like* it, I *love* it!
I think there is no such punctuation as "*". So I'm wondering if I can use some other way to ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
What is this symbol called: “¶” [closed]
I'm trying to find out what this symbol means and if it has a name:
¶
I've seen it being used in word processors.
14
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2answers
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What is the correct spelling of “buyer* remorse”?
Apostrophical query:
a) Buyers Remorse
b) Buyer Remorse
c) Buyer's Remorse
d) Buyers' Remorse
My guess is b or c, as it seems like any example is talking about the remorse of one specific buyer, ...
14
votes
8answers
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Is it proper to omit periods after honorifics (Mr, Mrs, Dr)?
I've been reading the Economist lately and they apparently don't punctuate honorifics like "Mr.", "Mrs.", e.g.
The popular rejection of Mr Mubarak offers the Middle East’s best chance for reform ...
14
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6answers
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Any authoritative source on British rules on space before question mark?
A space before a question or an exclamation mark. Can it be correct? is affirming what I always use, but now some translators at my office said that I always need a space before. I am sure they are ...
14
votes
2answers
570 views
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?
14
votes
4answers
885 views
Italics and punctuation
This might be a tad off-topic, but I am looking for an English-specific answer.
When I’m using italic text to denote emphasis or a quotation, should the italicisation extend to the punctuation ...
13
votes
8answers
5k views
Is it acceptable to use “especially” at the beginning of a sentence?
Whenever I see a sentence starting with "especially," I always get the impression that this is not grammatically correct. From example:
The high water-salt ratio will not be good for you. ...
13
votes
3answers
501 views
Is Hyphen Really the Longer – line instead of the shorter dash - line?
I had a discussion with some people today on hyphen and dashes. They had concluded that hyphen, which is used to link two connecting words (book-bag) is the longer line – instead of the shorter line ...
13
votes
6answers
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Where should the comma be placed in the salutation of a letter?
Sometimes I see a comma after the proper name:
Hello Mr. Black,
In order to give you....
But my native language is not English and I think that the comma in this phrase should be placed ...
12
votes
1answer
558 views
Really nice, Mat
I see a lot of people saying things such as
Nice work, Nick
Or
Thanks, Mat
Is the comma really needed? I'm not 100% sure because my spelling and grammar is not great, but I think it reads ...
12
votes
6answers
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Using a comma before “but”
I was once told by an English professor that a comma should never be used before but in a sentence. For years, I have followed her advice but sometimes I just feel like it just needs to be there. On ...
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5answers
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How to punctuate a quoted question within a question?
How would I punctuate the bold portion?
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Wait," I replied, "did you just ask me Who are you?"
I would use the following:
"Wait," I replied, "did you just ask ...
12
votes
2answers
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Any reference on the usage of a backtick and single quotation mark like `this'?
Why do I sometimes see a backtick with a single quote `like this'? What's the name of this usage? What are some good references so I can find more information by myself?
12
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4answers
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Is it appropriate to put a comma before “which”?
On Server Fault, we were discussing this question in chat. There are non-native speakers in the chat and somehow we got on the topic of grammar and proper use of commas.
The sentence of interest:
...
12
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5answers
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“Do's” and “don'ts” or “do's” and “don't's”?
I am making a list to my children telling them what are some of the things they should do and shouldn't. Under one side is "do", and the other is "don't".
Would I write "do's" and "don't's"?
Cause ...
12
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5answers
517 views
Which type of comma is used here?
I was reading a book called "The Penguin Guide to Punctuation" by R. L. Trask. It seems that the book doesn't explain all the uses of comma. It says "There are four uses of the
comma, called the ...
