Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
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writing:punctuation [2012/11/04 22:40] 127.0.0.1 external edit |
writing:punctuation [2016/04/27 15:19] (current) |
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| ===== The Slash ===== | ===== The Slash ===== | ||
| - | In writing the slash is usually used to show two things that are the same (often with different names) or opposites. If it were spoken, the slash often translates to the word "or". Unlike other punctuation, this one doesn't mean that the next word needs to start with a capital. (Since it is often used in the beginning or middle of a sentence.) | + | In writing the slash is usually used to show two things that are the same (often with different names) or opposites. If it were spoken, the slash often translates to the word "or". Unlike other punctuation (like the period), the next word after the slash doesn't need to start with a capital (unless the next word is a name like in the example). |
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
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| The apostrophe is used to show 2 different things... | The apostrophe is used to show 2 different things... | ||
| - | 1- Ownership. This shows that someone or something owns the behaviour or action or possesion in the sentence. Usually the thing being owned is close to the one doing the owning in the sentence order. This also does not require a capital to follow the apostrophe, however it usually must be followed up with an "s". (The only exception is if the word already ends with an "s" and the next word starts with an "s".) | + | |
| + | 1- Ownership. \\ | ||
| + | This shows that someone or something owns the behaviour or action or possesion in the sentence. Usually the thing being owned is close to the one doing the owning in the sentence order. This also does not require a capital to follow the apostrophe, however it usually must be followed up with an "s". (The only exception is if the word already ends with an "s" and the next word starts with an "s".) | ||
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
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| - | 2- Contractions. This shows that two words that normally stand on their own are combined. This only applies to certain word combinations though usually involving the words "not", "is" or "are". Like: isn't (contraction of is not), it's (contraction of it is), they're (contraction of they are). Much like the other apostrophe use, this also does not require a capital to follow it. | + | 2- Contractions. \\ |
| + | This shows that two words that normally stand on their own are combined. This only applies to certain word combinations though usually involving the words "not", "is" or "are". Like: isn't (contraction of is not), it's (contraction of it is), they're (contraction of they are). Much like the other apostrophe use, this also does not require a capital to follow it. | ||
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
| <code>It's great that Superman stopped the meteor.</code> | <code>It's great that Superman stopped the meteor.</code> | ||
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| ===== The Ampersand ===== | ===== The Ampersand ===== | ||
| - | The ampersand simply means "and". It could easily be replaced with "and", the meaning wouldn't change at all. Traditionally this is used for names only though. Also, the transition is one way only... So you can put "and" in instead of "&", but it's generally not acceptable to place in "&" instead of the word "and". | + | The ampersand simply means "and". It could easily be replaced with "and", the meaning wouldn't change at all. Traditionally this is used for names only though. It is not acceptable to place in "&" instead of the word "and" in most other places. (So using it in other places in a sentence, aside from names, is not acceptable.) |
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
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| The ellipsis is a set of 3 periods that has 2 commonly used meanings. | The ellipsis is a set of 3 periods that has 2 commonly used meanings. | ||
| - | 1- used at the end of the sentence. It generally indicates that the writer is trailing off and that there is more coming. (If spoken out loud this would be them ending midway through a sentence.) | + | 1- Used at the end of the sentence. This generally indicates that the writer is trailing off and that there is more coming. (If spoken out loud this would be them ending midway through a sentence.) |
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
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| - | 2- used in the middle of text to show that not all of it has been quoted/copied. It is usually done to highlight specific sections of text that are relevant to a conversation. | + | 2- Used in the middle of text to show that not all of it has been quoted/copied. It is usually done to highlight specific sections of text that are relevant to a conversation. |
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
| <code>Luthor ... plotting to kill his nemesis</code> | <code>Luthor ... plotting to kill his nemesis</code> | ||
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| ===== Brackets ===== | ===== Brackets ===== | ||
| - | Brackets are used to show a visual distinction in the text, that an idea is related to the sentence at hand and warrants mention right then and there, but is awkward or doesn't quite fit or make sense on it's own. The text in the brackets should be able to be removed without really affecting the sentence. Try to avoid using too many brackets though, especially brackets within brackets. | + | Brackets are used to show a visual distinction in the text, that an idea is related to the sentence at hand and warrants mention right then and there, but is awkward or doesn't quite fit or make sense on it's own. The text in the brackets should be able to be removed without really affecting the sentence. Which is often how you can tell whether you're using brackets properly. If you can remove the part in brackets and the sentence can still be understood then it's likely they've been used properly. |
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| + | A few tips for using brackets are: | ||
| + | * Try to avoid using too many brackets though. | ||
| + | * Especially avoid brackets within brackets. (That tends to just create confusion.) | ||
| + | * Limit how much you put inside brackets in the middle of a sentence since it can make following and understanding the whole sentence harder if there is a 3-4 line part in brackets right in the middle. | ||
| Example usage: | Example usage: | ||
| - | <code> Lex fired an energy blast (from his lexo-suit weapon) at the man of steel</code> | + | <code> Lex fired an energy blast (from his lexo-suit weapon) at the man of steel.</code> |
| + | |||
| + | ===== Comma ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Commas are one of the most misunderstood (and often incorrectly used) punctuation mark. Like other punctuation marks they go directly after the word and then a space is placed after them. They are used to give a brief pause in the text so that if a person were reading the text it's their cue for them to stop for a second to take a breath. | ||
| + | |||
| + | They have several different uses... | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1- Separation of parts a sentence. | ||
| + | This shows that a second and smaller sentence (that is related to the first sentence) is there. This second part may not have enough to be all on it's own so is instead joined into the first sentence with a comma. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Consider this example : | ||
| + | <code>Superman jumped in front of the energy blast, just as Luthor predicted he would. </code> | ||
| + | The section after the comma itself isn't a complete sentence on it's own. It depends on the first sentence to make it's meaning clear by providing the subject (Superman) and the action (Superman's jump). | ||
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| + | 2- Lists. | ||
| + | Commas used to show lists are done for only lists which have more than 3 items. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <code> Luthor yelled at Superman that he was going to kill him, Lois, and Jimmy. </code> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | 3- Like brackets, to highlight information that could otherwise be removed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <code>Superman never even paused, he had heard threats like these countless times, as he grabbed Luthor's blaster and crushed it.</code> | ||
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| + | |||
| + | 4- In numbers to break up groups of 3 to make them easier to read. | ||
| + | Like in this case: | ||
| + | <code> The blaster shattered into 1,000 tiny pieces. </code> | ||
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