Webster's New World Punctuation: Simplifed and Applied (Webster's New World)

361 Pages·2005·4.12 MB·English

by  Geraldine Woods

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TM
PUNCTUATION
Simplified and Applied
Geraldine Woods
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01_59916X ffirs.qxd 9/14/05 5:31 PM Page i
TM
PUNCTUATION
Simplified and Applied
Geraldine Woods
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For Kyra,the first of the next generation.
Webster’s New World®Punctuation:Simplified and Applied
Copyright © 2006 by Wiley,Hoboken,NJ
Published by Wiley,Hoboken,NJ
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Woods,Geraldine.
Webster’s New World punctuation :simplified and applied / Geraldine Woods.
p.cm.
ISBN-13:978-0-7645-9916-3 (isbn-13 :pbk.)
ISBN-10:0-7645-9916-X (isbn-10 :pbk.)
1. English language—Punctuation—Handbooks,manuals,etc. I.Title.
PE1450.W66 2006
428.2—dc22
2005023688
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
PART I: The Punctuation Marks
1 The Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
As an Endmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
In Parentheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
In Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
In Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
With an Ellipsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
In Listsand Slide Presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
In Titles and Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
In Memos and E-mails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
In Web Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
In Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
2 The Question Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
To Ask a Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
To Express Uncertainty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
To Make a Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
In Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
In Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
3 The Exclamation Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
As an Endmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
In Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
In Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
In Parentheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
4 The Comma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
To Create a Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
In a Set of Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
To Set Off Nonessential Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
To Set Off Interrupters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
When Combining Two Complete Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . .50
To Indicate Direct Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
In Personal and Company Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
In Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
In Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
In Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
To Set Off Introductory Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
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iv Punctuation: Simplified and Applied
With Short Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
In Mild Interjections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
In Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
With Parentheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
To Indicate Omitted Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
In Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
To Avoid Misreadings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
5 The Semicolon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
To Join Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
With Adverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
In Complicated Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
To Separate Items in a Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
With Parentheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
With Quotation Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
6 The Colon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
To Introduce a List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
To Introduce a Quotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
To Join Two Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
To Designate Time and Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
In Business Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
7 Quotation Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Direct Quotations in Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Blocked Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Quotations with Words Omitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Quotations with Words Added . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Indirect Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Definitions and Translations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Special Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Punctuating Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Distancing Quotation Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
8 The Dash and the Hyphen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
The Dash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
The Hyphen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
9 Parentheses and Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Parentheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
10 Ellipses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
To Replace Omitted Words in Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
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Contents v
To Show a Trailing Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
In Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
11 The Slash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
To Indicate Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
To Link Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
To Link Word Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
In Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
In Web Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
In Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
In Quoting Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
In Citations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
12 The Apostrophe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
To Show Possession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
In Contractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
In Expressions of Time and Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
To Form Some Plurals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
PART II:Punctuation in Common Writing Formats
13 Personal Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Absence Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Thank-You Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
Invitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Letter of Complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
Letter to an Elected Official . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Letter of Sympathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200
14 Business Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Cover Letter for a Job Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Information Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206
Performance Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
Letter of Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
Letter Ordering Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Letter Returning Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
15 Memos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
To a Supervisor, Reporting on a Business Trip . . . . . . . . . .218
An Agenda for a Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220
Status Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
Announcing a Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
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vi Punctuation: Simplified and Applied
Warning to Improve Job Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
Policy Memo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
16 E-mails and Faxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
An Informal E-mail to a Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232
E-mails to Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234
E-mail Notice of Travel Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
E-mail Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238
Fax Cover Sheet 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240
Fax Cover Sheet 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242
17 Presentations and Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
Traditional Bulleted List: Complete Sentences . . . . . . . . . .248
Traditional Bulleted List: Incomplete Sentences . . . . . . . . .250
Nontraditional Bulleted List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252
Resume 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254
Resume 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256
18 School Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259
Book Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260
Essays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262
Laboratory Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264
Laboratory Report, Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266
Research Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268
19 Desktop Publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .271
Newsletter Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272
Web Posting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274
Advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276
Pamphlet Cover and Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .278
PART III: Citations
20 Modern Language Association Citation . . . . . . . . . . . .283
Citations in the Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284
Citations in the List of Works Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .291
21 American Psychological Association Citation . . . . . . .301
Citations in the Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301
Citations in the Reference List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308
22 The Chicago Manual of StyleCitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317
Citations in the Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318
The Reference List or Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .329
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .341
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Introduction
A popular French entertainer once explained that “a kiss can
be a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point.” This
sort of “punctuation” easily attracts interest, but until recently
many grammarians and copy editors assumed that their pas-
sion for a properly placed semicolon was rare. Yet a substan-
tial number of people do care about punctuation and would
indeed like to know, for example, when a comma is called for.
Moreover, everyone should care because punctuation is the
roadmap that tells the reader how to arrive at the writer’s
meaning.
Imagine that a worried student goes to a fortuneteller for
advice about an important exam and receives this note:
The way you are studying you will take the test and pass
not experiencing a miserable failure.
How is the student to react? Should the worrier open the
book and study madly in an effort to avert disaster? Should
the student, reassured by the prediction, take in a movie
instead? The answer depends on the punctuation:
The way you are studying, you will take the test and pass,
not experiencing a miserable failure.
The way you are studying, you will take the test and pass
not, experiencing a miserable failure.
The preceding example illustrates what American writer
Edgar Allan Poe meant when he said, “The writer who
neglects punctuation, or mispunctuates, is liable to be misun-
derstood.” The primary reason to place a punctuation mark in
your text is to clarify the message, making sure that the reader
grasps what you are trying to say.
vii