Technical Style: PunctuationPunctuation

Unlocking the mysteries!

Technical Style: Punctuation• The punctuation you

use most:

commas ,

semi-colons ;

colons :

• The supporting players:

hyphens -

dashes --quotation marks “x”

parentheses ( )

Commas separate these elements• items in a series:

• I bought onions, peppers, celery, and beans.

• Do you have to put a comma before the final “and” in a series?

• main clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction:• The data were conclusive, and the results were correct.

The coordinating conjunctions are and, yet, so, for, but.

• coordinate adjectives:• The sparkling,valuable, antique crystal . . .

Commas set off these elements

• modifying phrases and clauses (non-restrictive information):

• The table in the corner, which had just been overturned, was set upright again.

• introductory phrases:• Having searched the literature, we then set

about synthesizing our material.

Commas and Non-Restrictive Information

• Non-restrictive clauses should be surrounded by commas (or dashes). Think of the commas as little hinges: if the enclosed phrase is flipped out of the sentence, would the meaning really change? – The three model runs, all performed on Saturday,

produced varying results.

• Restrictive information should have no surrounding commas because this info. is vital to the meaning of the sentence.– Three of the model runs performed on Saturday had

indeterminate results.

Restrictive Information

• Under what circumstances should the name “Margaret” be enclosed in commas?– Lynn’s sister, Margaret, was impressed.

– This is correct ONLY if Lynn has only one sister.

Which and That• Many restrictive clauses begin with which or that.

What’s the difference?– He buried the evidence that was incriminating.– He buried the evidence, which was incriminating.– The presidential candidate gave an acceptance address

that was a sure sign he would run an aggressive campaign.

– The presidential candidate gave an acceptance address, which was a sure sign he would run an aggressive campaign.

• Generally, use a comma before “which.”

Do not do this!

• Don’t use a comma alone to join two independent clauses:– The equipment was broken, the students were

refusing to come to class.

• Don’t let one comma chop a subject off from its verb or verbs:– The final criterion, acceptability addresses the

approval of the public.,

Semi-colons . . .

• Join independent clauses that either do not have a conjunction or do have a conjunctive adverb.– Without a conjunction:

• The evidence was convincing; the jury found him innocent.

• Use this form only when you feel the conceptual link is strong enough between the two independent clauses that you need no linking word.

– With a conjunctive adverb:• The evidence was convincing; nevertheless, the jury found

him innocent.

Semi-Colons Linking Two Independent Clauses

• Semi-colon is placed before the conjunctive adverb. These adverbs are used to link main clauses, not dependent clauses:– Examples: finally, however, moreover, similarly,

therefore, thus, nevertheless• incorrect: The manager was late to the meeting,

however the assistant was on time.

• correct: The manager was late to the meeting; however, the assistant was on time.

Conjunctive adverbs are not the same as subordinating adverbs!

• Subordinating words link parts of a sentence together by subordinating one of the clauses (or turning it into a dependent clause):

Examples: after, although, because, since, when, while

• incorrect: The manager was late to the meeting. Because the plane was late.

•correct: The manager was late to the meeting because the plane was late.

Semi-colons also . . .

• Separate elements that contain interior commas or some visual complexity (e.g., formulae):– I bought celery, carrots, and beans; fish,

chicken, and beef; and rice and potatoes.

Colons • Colons introduce lists:

• like this

• and this

• Make sure the introductory clause is a main clause (can stand on its own).

• Do NOT do this:• The criteria are: cost, size, and adaptability.

• Correct:• These are the criteria we used to evaluate solutions:

cost, size, and adaptability.

Colons (con.)

• Colons can also link two main clauses if the second restates, defines, or illustrates the first:– No one was surprised by her promotion: she

was by far the best candidate.

Punctuate these!

• John who should have known better erased all the disks on the computer

• Any employee who works overtime this week may have Friday off.

Punctuate these . . .

• We can consider competing for that project but we already have too much work.

• No one was surprised by her promotion she was by far the best candidate.

• Cash flow is our most pressing problem consequently Mr. Edwards will make it the focus of his speech.

Lists

• Introduce most lists with a colon. Do not use a colon between a verb or preposition and its object:

– Wrong: The criteria were: cost, quality, and service

– Right: We used the following criteria:cost, quality, and service

Vertical Lists• Use bullets carefully – don’t overuse.

– Use when all elements in list are equally important and have no special rank, sequence, or significance.

– Consider using when listed items are long (more than one line) but are not prioritized.

• Make a vertical list of one or two-word items only when you really want to emphasize those items.– “The work reported here is divided into two sets of

experiments, each focused on a different topic:• permeable membranes

• non-permeable membranes

Too many bullets spoil the document!

• Blah blah blah blah

• blah blah blah– blah blah– blah blah

• blah blah– blah blah

– blah blah

Vertical Lists (non-bulleted)

• Use numbers or lowercase letters, followed by a period.

• If each item is complete sentence, you may use period after each; otherwise, use no ending punctuation:

The hydroponic system included the following components:

1. a sealed reservoir

2. an aquarium vibrator air pump

3. an automatic household timer

Lists Within a Sentence

• Do not introduce list with a colon when the list is short (three or fewer items, or one-word items):

correct: The elements in the test included zinc, lead, and tin.

• You may use numbering to separate items within the list:

The sequence of testing proceeded according to published standards: 1) take soil borings, 2) dry in oven, 3) analyze chemical composition.

Lists, lists, and more lists . . .

• Lists within sentences are not as emphatic as vertical lists. But be careful of overusing vertical lists.

Hyphens

• Join compound words used as modifier before a noun:– blue-green sea

• Join a prefix to a word:– self-conscious

• Join confusing units:– six-foot lockers– six foot-lockers

• Usually join written out fractions and numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine

Dashes

• Set off interruptions, long appositives, strong reversals:– The work of three researchers – Zhang,

Barnett, and Liu – was particularly influential.

• Use two hyphens to make an em dash (to distinguish it from a hyphen).

Quotation Marks

• Set off direct quotations and titles of sections or parts of a longer work:– He said, “I can no longer remain here.”– His last article, “The Influence of Uncertainty in

Risk Calculations,” was published in Risk Analysis.

• Generally, commas and periods go inside ending quotation marks; semicolons and colons go outside.

Punctuate this . . .

• He stated in his speech we will attempt to revise our quality processes.

Parentheses(the shy notation)

• Try not to use them (they only invite skipping over).

• (Certainly, don’t put any useful information inside them.) And never put a whole sentence inside them!