Tagged Questions
-1
votes
0answers
67 views
Punctuations and “tumbles down the hill”
He jump but hardly reaches the stone and tumbles down the hill. He tries to catch some other edge or stone as he falls and catches a small hole with his two fingers in the left hand.
Something ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
What punctuation mark should I use? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the proper use of [square brackets] in quotes?
What do brackets in a quote mean?
When I add information beside a word in a Bible verse, what bracket should I ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
When writing out large numbers in words, should commas be placed at thousand separators?
Would a number, say,
5,629,296
be written with commas:
Five million, six hundred twenty nine thousand, two hundred ninety six
or without commas:
Five million six hundred twenty nine ...
0
votes
2answers
360 views
When to use ellipsis (suspension points)
Continuing this thought:
Learning English as a second language I was taught that suspension points meant uncertainty, omission of words or interrupted thoughts. There are plenty of threads ...
3
votes
1answer
140 views
Colon between “that is” and formal definition
Is it appropriate to use "that is" followed by a colon when defining something formally? I have the following example:
Let γ be the set of groups that hold variables accessed by C, that is:
γ ...
2
votes
0answers
89 views
Is there some guideline that I can point to about the overuse of bold and underline? [closed]
I am getting really tired of getting emails and PowerPoint presentations in which half of the words bold and underlined. There is also excessive use of exclamation points, all caps, and overly strong ...
7
votes
3answers
225 views
Can I say this in English: “Hard- and Software”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that has common parts
In German we can use a hyphen as indication that there is a continuation of the current word ...
4
votes
1answer
311 views
Inconsistency in Strunk and White regarding serial comma
From Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, Chapter 2, Lesson 2:
In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a
comma after each term except the last
Thus write,
...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Comma after To at the beginning of a sentence
I am just writing my master thesis and I am unsure whether to place a comma in sentences starting with "To".
Here are some examples:
To be able to improve the performance[,] it is important to ...
0
votes
0answers
70 views
Comma usage for multiple words [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Comma before last item in a list
Is it correct to write:
a,b, or c
a,b, and c
Is the comma used after b correct?
3
votes
4answers
3k views
Standard format for phone numbers? [closed]
I've recently noticed a wider variety in how phone numbers are presented, both in print and online, specifically with regard to spacing & punctuation.
Examples:
+1 (555) 123 4567
+1 (555) ...
3
votes
2answers
843 views
When is it appropriate to use non-breaking spaces?
I started using non-breaking spaces between a number and a unit of measure (10_ft), and within a name (Dr._John_Smith). I like the "look" of using non-breaking spaces to prevent titles from wrapping, ...
3
votes
4answers
215 views
Using the semicolon in my sentence
I am writing an essay and don't have a fundamental understanding in using semicolons, and in fact writing as well.
My sentence is below:
Group dynamics is the study of the processes and functions ...
5
votes
5answers
875 views
Is the phrase, “Use commas sparingly” a valid piece of advice?
I am currently in the process of collaboratively editing a research paper, and participated in a meeting about it today. During the discussion, the head of the group made a blanket statement about ...
0
votes
3answers
4k views
How to write a bulleted list? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Question about Capitalization for a Bullet List
Periods for bullet point items
Should each item be in uppercase or not? I've seen both forms:
Yada, yada, yada, ...
7
votes
1answer
3k views
To hyphenate or not?
As a non-native speaker of English and an engineer by training, I always get confused about hyphenation and almost always end up referring to Google every time I need to make that decision.
Does ...
6
votes
1answer
875 views
Question mark usage/position when sentence ends with a declarative quotation?
Who said "I am hungry?"
The quotation is not a question, but do I put "my" question mark there anyway?
This is related to, but not the same as Position of question mark when sentence doesn't ...
4
votes
1answer
273 views
May en-dashes be used in sports scores?
The accepted answer to the authoritative question When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? currently has this to say regarding the en-dash:
An en-dash is use to connect values in a ...
55
votes
1answer
3k views
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?
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.
