Questions tagged [punctuation]
This tag is for questions about punctuation. This encompasses marks such as the period/full stop, comma, dash, and parentheses, used to separate structural units and perform other roles that clarify the meaning. USE THE 'SYMBOLS' tag for currency symbols, accents and so forth.
2,928
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Do you capitalize words after mentioning a book with a punctuation mark in it?
If someone uses the name of a book/object with punctuation in it, does one need to capitalize the word after?
Do I write:
In the book Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? the main character...
Or
In the ...
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0
answers
46
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Can a Nobel Laureate Make a Grammatical Faux-pas?
I have been reading Samuel Beckett's novel Watt. In the first section, comes the following paragraph.
You are not asleep, my dear, said Mr Nixon.
I grow drowsy, said Mrs Nixon.
Here is a man you ...
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4
votes
3
answers
348
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Are "compared with" and "compared to" participle phrases?
Is "compared with" in the sentence below a participle phrase?
If so, why shouldn't a comma precede it? If not, what role is it playing?
The number of people who regularly eat fast food was ...
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1
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Is given by(:) <eqn>; acquires the form of(:) <eqn> [closed]
Does one need to put a colon in the following cases?
The equation of motion is given by:
<eqn>
The equation of motion takes / acquires the form of:
...
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0
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1
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34
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Punctuation inside and outside of a quotation? [duplicate]
How to punctuate a quotation which is an exclamation, at the end of a sentence which is a question?
The quotation is "Fire!"
The sentence is:
Did he really shout "Fire!"?
OK, this ...
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votes
2
answers
51
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Confusion between full stop and comma usage while writing a letter
I was writing a letter that ends as follows:
Awaiting to hear from you.
With Regards,
(My name).
Now, my question is whether I should use a full stop or a comma after the "awaiting to hear from ...
3
votes
0
answers
31
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Usage of commas in the English language [closed]
English is not my mother tongue, and I have a question regarding commas.
In many languages grammar and punctuation rules are fixed, not using a rule is a mistake.
My impression is that in English ...
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1
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76
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Is there a name for the misuse of a hyphen/dash?
I'm wondering if there is a name for the misuse of a dash in English Grammar. For clarity, I say 'dash' because I see them used in a way that the writer may think is an em dash, but more often writers ...
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votes
1
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45
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Can I place a modifier after a colon?
Can I place a modifier after a colon?
For example:
She opened the door, planning to go outside.
vs
She opened the door: planning to go outside.
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0
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31
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Punctuation marks just before colon or semi-colon [duplicate]
Is it possible to use punctuation marks such as commas, periods, and question marks just before colons or semi-colons?
The error appears when accessing some URLs, e.g.:
List items ...
Can I set ...
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1
answer
35
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Usage of a semi colon if the previous phrase appears to contradict the next?
I am a new to English grammar and was trying out the question:
During the English neoclassical period (1660–1789), many writers imitated the epic poetry and satires of ancient Greece and Rome. They ...
0
votes
3
answers
74
views
Should there be a space after an em dash if the dash is used to cut off the end of a sentence and a new sentence begins afterwards?
Usually an em dash is used without any spaces on either side, especially when the punctuation is in the middle of a sentence. However, how should it be used if it were used at the end, such as when it'...
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votes
3
answers
56
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An introductory appositive phrase or not?
while studying for the SAT, I came across some sentences which confuse me.
1. One of Bohr's peers, Austrian-Irish physicist Erwin Schrodinger, suggested that expecting quantum behavior in the broader ...
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6
votes
6
answers
490
views
An introductory appositive phrase?
I came across this question while studying for the SAT.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in the Virginia colony, which was still under the control of Great Britain at the
time. ...
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2
votes
2
answers
89
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Sentence Structure Question (Is it acceptable?)
I just came across this sentence while studying for the SAT and wonder if it makes sense.
The women soon disperse, SOME entering the shallow waters at the beach, OTHERS venturing out onto the rocks to ...
- 137
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2
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62
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Period vs. Colon? [closed]
I came across this question while studying for the SAT.
What the humanities teach are valuable skills. These include the ability to think critically; to construct, analyze, and respond to arguments; ...
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3
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A colon vs. A dash in a sentence
I came across this question while studying for the SAT.
After World War I, Percy Spencer was hired to work in the research _____ later known as Raytheon Manufacturing.
A) lab of American Applicance ...
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0
votes
0
answers
26
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Punctuating Dialogue That Runs with Sentence [duplicate]
How would I punctuate this line of dialogue?
Example 1 (minimal punctuation): Jane handed me the phone with a “here she is” before leaving the room.
Example 2: (comma): Jane handed me the phone with a ...
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0
answers
31
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What is the correct punctuation when using two adjacent parentheticals in the middle of a sentence? [duplicate]
I was reading an amateur novel which had this sentence:
Humans by nature, at least in this day and age are fickle creatures.
My immediate thought was that the comma placement was wrong. My first ...
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0
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34
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"This leads to the question" followed by a comma or a colon
I am saying something along the lines of "this leads to the question, why does x happen" or "this brings up an interesting question, why does x happen" but I'm not sure if it ...
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1
answer
40
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How would you join a dependent clause to an independent clause that ends with a list?
Here is an example:
I have developed my ability to identify the factors that impact my physical, mental, and emotional health[,] and am beginning to apply this understanding to make informed ...
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1
vote
2
answers
96
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Why should there be a comma in this sentence before "because"?
It was supported by stating that a reliable fabric supplier has been found and that a major competitor is no longer making alpaca overcoats, because of which demand will be high.
Why is there a comma ...
3
votes
0
answers
37
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Commas in an introductory phrase for both a time shift and a new setting
So let’s say I’ve got an introductory phrase that introduces both a new setting and a new shift in time, sort of like a “scene change” phrase. For example, let’s say those two elements are “later” for ...
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1
answer
64
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Should I include a period in a quote when the quote is in middle of a sentence?
I have the following sentence:
In a disappointed and irritated tone, my mom suddenly said, “I always thought Sue would marry a Chinese person” right in front of him.
Do I need to include a period ...
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2
answers
41
views
Is there a name for a sentence including both past and progressive verbs in different clauses (but not past progressive verbs)?
Say I have a sentence where the first clause is in simple past tense, but the following clauses are in present progressive:
"I hesitated, sipping at my tea to gather myself."
"She ...
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0
votes
2
answers
47
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Why are quotation marks omitted from this passage from a book from 1897? [duplicate]
In William James's The Will to Believe, he writes:
After all, though, you will say, Why so much ado about a matter concerning which, however we may theoretically differ, we practically agree?
Later, ...
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votes
0
answers
15
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How to write slashes with multiple words on either side [duplicate]
If I wanted to separate something like "family member" and "friend" with a slash, the first thing I would try is this: "family member/friend". But that looks like it is ...
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votes
1
answer
59
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Should there be a comma after the word "and" in this sentence with a subordinate and indendant clause after the word "and"?
I believe I've got the proper comma placements for these two sentences:
"The ball fell to the ground, and he caught it after it bounced."
"After it bounced, he caught it."
...
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0
votes
1
answer
73
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How do you use single quotes and possessive apostrophe on same word?
I'd like to write
.. using OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo model ..
except the word 'OpenAI' must be in single quotes (it's a requirement of the institution I'm writing for).
'OpenAI''s
seems like the most ...
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votes
1
answer
48
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Most elegant/correct spacing method for "/" with multi-word operands?
Suppose one wants to give alternative single words around a slash, like: alpha/beta. This is simple, and the convention seems to be no spaces.
But what if one wishes to give something like "BBC&...
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3
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What do you call these symbols on either side of some text?
Usually as part of a heading / sub-heading, you can often see symbols like in the image below on either side of the text:
I don't mean these symbols specifically, just the general name for these ...
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2
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74
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How to punctuate a question about a long, non-interrogative quote?
The quote is,
I am going to the store. I will probably buy some food. It's getting late.
I want to ask a question about whether someone would have said that. This post is about putting a question ...
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1
answer
56
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What do you think is the error in this sentence? [closed]
Identifying Errors:
Two issues in particular (1) graft and corruption and poor quality of public service (2) need the attention of the government (3) to understand it fully and provide the solution to ...
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1
answer
49
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Do interjections like “but hey” have commas between them?
It seems like the correct spelling is “but, hey,” however, especially when followed by a clause, the pauses (perhaps) become excessive and the comma is frequently dropped.
For example: “But hey, at ...
1
vote
1
answer
68
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How do I use question marks in quotes in quotes? [duplicate]
For example, would I write:
"What do you mean by, 'It's not over yet?'"
Or
"What do you mean by, 'It's not over yet'?"
The thing the speaker is quoting is not a question, so where ...
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votes
4
answers
2k
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Are these uses of em dashes extant in English-language fiction?
I'm giving some authoring advice to a newer writer. She has a curious convention where she uses an em dash at the end of a sentence in the narrative when she wants to indicate an abrupt change of ...
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0
answers
33
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What is the most proper way to add -ing to acronyms? [duplicate]
Sometimes acronyms represent actions. For example, a Super Smash Bros. player may be said to be "DI-ing" (Directional influencing).
In these situations, what would be the best-established ...
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votes
1
answer
74
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Exclamation point at greeting [closed]
Question:
What is the context of the structure "Hi name!" ?
Some time ago, I saw this, and after some research, I found out that this is grammatically valid Exclamation point in a greeting.
...
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1
answer
31
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E.g.: or E.g: (punctuation) [duplicate]
Which is correct?
I tried to learn the rules talking about using dots in the English language, but wasn't able to find any answer to my specific question.
I don't like lots of trees, e.g.:
I don't ...
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vote
2
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views
Should a sound be capitalized or punctuated with "!" in the middle of a sentence?
He ran fast as the wind out of the cave when the rock went "clunk" on his head.
I am not sure how to write clunk here.
...went "Clunk!" on his head.
...went "clunk" on ...
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31
votes
5
answers
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views
Why are "i.e." and "e.g." written in lower case with periods, while "NB" is typically written in CAPS with no periods?
According to my armchair research on common abbreviations of nota bene, it appears that NB is the most common now, with N.B. being more common in centuries past after taking over the "original&...
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1
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Is it "God of" or "King of" [the UK]?
I was going though this oath :
I, Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of My other Realms and Territories, King, Defender of the ...
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1
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34
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One interesting comma
Now I'm defending my work devoted to one interesting comma, found by me personally, which I first thought was simply wrong, but then I fell in love with it, and I still am.
I need your assessment of ...
user470503
0
votes
1
answer
67
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What does “This might easily be, the house having been long deserted” mean?
This passage is from Charles Dickens’s Little Dorrit, chapter 29:
There was a fair stroke of business doing, as Mistress Affery made
out, for her husband had abundant occupation in his little office, ...
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1
vote
1
answer
43
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Sentence-final Title of Work with Terminal Punctuation
[I am sure this question has been asked here before but I couldn't find anything - so please point me in the right direction!]
If I have a (italicised) title of a work that features some terminal ...
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1
answer
34
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A question about punctuations [duplicate]
Can i say
How can you even express “we don’t know anything”?, for you must think
that we know at least one thing, namely, “we don’t know anything”.
2
votes
3
answers
163
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How to use conjunction or punctuation for two or three adjectives next to each other?
I have been reading on ordering of multiple adjectives. I understand that when there are multiple adjectives they are usually arranged in a certain order (opinion, size, quantity, etc.). For example:
...
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votes
0
answers
19
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Ellipses and Parentheses and Period [duplicate]
After the word her, the ellipses does not have a space before or after the parentheses. Correct format please re spacing ... and space before parentheses?
Also, should there be a period after the ...
2
votes
1
answer
230
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How to Read Picture/Image Index in Book
Often when I read a book and see an image or picture, there's always something like "picture 1-a" or "1.a". Sometimes it's also written in the following form "Picture 1.10&...
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votes
1
answer
91
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Use of a comma to separate two items in a list
I wanted to ask a question about the use of commas when separating two items in a list.
I was reading an article in Reuters concerning two different banks listed in the headline:
Deutsche bank, ...
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