Punctuation Points

The sentence, “‘I see beautiful stars in the sky”, Alice commented’”. is a killer for any aspiring author or poet. By inserting the comma and the period after the quotation marks and by not knowing how to properly use quotation marks, the writer has shouted to the literary world, “I am a novice whose work is not worthy of serious consideration.”

Correct punctuation is an essential tool for the writer, a thumbprint regarding his or her professionalism. Punctuation mistakes are red flags that stop the reading process.

As stated in the Author’s Note, any serious writer aspiring to publish should hire a professional line editor or copyeditor to scan his or her material prior to submission, but before doing so, work hard to eliminate punctuation errors. This will permit the editor to better evaluate the content. It will also reduce the amount of proofreading expense incurred by the writer.

Below are twenty-six essential tips to aid the effort.

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1. I have trouble deciding whether punctuation marks are located inside or outside quotation marks. What is the general rule?

The general rule is that commas and periods are located inside quotation marks. Semi-colons and colons are normally positioned outside the quotation marks. When the entire sentence is a question or exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point is located outside the quotation mark. If the entire sentence is a question, the question mark is located outside the quotation mark. When only the quoted material is a question or exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point is inside the quotation mark.

Examples:

“Was Rex correct when he answered, “Brazil?” (no)

“Was Rex correct when he answered, “Brazil”? (yes)

“Annie Hall is my favorite film”, Woody Allen said. (no)

“Annie Hall is my favorite film,” Woody Allen said. (yes)

Olivia screamed, “I love you Brad!” (yes)

Axel hated the phrase, “Be all you can be”; why, we didn’t

know. (yes)

Notes:

2. When is the use of single quotation marks acceptable?

Single quotes are used to signify a quotation within a quotation. They can also be used around unusual or foreign words. Be sure to include the final single quote mark inside the double quotation marks.

Examples:

Paul said to Felix, “I used the words I’m back from the Terminator.” (no)

Paul said to Felix, “I used the words ‘I’m back’ from the Terminator.” (yes)

Osgood began his speech with the words, “My favorite saying is, ‘Ain’t life grand?’” (yes)

“There is a line in a poem,” John said, “that reads ‘all love is hate in disguise.’” (yes)

Pete told me to avoid the ‘varmit’ who fixes trucks with used

parts. (yes)

Notes:

3. When to italicize, when to underline, and when to use quotation marks is a perplexing problem. How can I decide?

Writers should italicize the names of films, books, screenplays, operas, plays, television series, and magazines. Quotation marks are used for book chapters, poems, articles, songs, and short stories. By current publishing standards, underlining for any reason is incorrect. Some writing experts believe that the title of a book not yet published should be in all capital letters. This is optional.

Examples:

Pete and Martin left the movie, A Few Good Men, with haste. (no)

I read MOBY DICK from cover to cover. (no)

Claude and Elizabeth enjoyed A Beautiful Mind. (yes)

His poem, “The Artful American,” won the festival award. (yes)

My favorite song is Roy Orbison’s, “Runnin’ Scared.” (yes)

Notes:

4. When I include numbers in my writing, how can I tell whether to use numerical symbols or write the words out?

This varies from publisher to publisher, and there are exceptions, but the general rule is for numbers from zero to ninety-nine, use words; for 100 and above, use the numerical symbol. One more rule: Never begin a sentence using the numerical symbol.

Examples:

10 girls kissed the boy’s rosy cheek. (no)

Ten girls kissed the boy’s rosy cheek. (yes)

Oliver left me twenty stories to edit. (yes)

Frederick won 2 million dollars. (yes)

Alfred won 4 percent of the vote. (yes)

Jerry raced 59 miles to meet her. (yes)

Judy changed the 100-watt light bulb for the second time. (yes)

Notes:

5. How about when numbers are used to denote age?

There are conflicting opinions regarding whether to spell out numbers or use the numeral symbol. Consistency is more important than which rule is followed.

Examples:

Ralphie turned twenty-five years old last Saturday. (no)

The zoo featured a fifteen-year-old Panda. (no)

The zoo featured a 15-year-old Panda. (yes)

Notes:

6. When should I use brackets in my sentences?

Tough call at times, but brackets are used sparingly to note an explanation or clarification and not simply more information. Use brackets to further offset information within parentheses or to indicate a missing word.

Examples:

Theodore was the image of his father [now deceased], but better

looking. (yes)

(To elaborate on the discussion [of December 3], see the professor.) (yes)

Johnson stated his opinion [of] the amendment in the

newspaper. (yes)

Notes:

7. When should I use parentheses in my writings?

Parentheses provide clarification or additional information about words being used. Do not use them too often, especially in the same sentence, or where commas would suffice.

Examples:

Tickets will be available (at a discounted rate) after dinner. (yes)

The alley cat (a mixed-breed) loved tuna. (yes)

When Freddie danced with Ruth (she was a foot shorter), he hunched over. (yes)

Notes:

8. What words are capitalized?

A good general rule is that only sentence beginnings and proper nouns are capitalized. Watch capitalizing terms following a colon unless what follows is a proper noun or a complete sentence.

Examples:

The coach set the following goals: win twenty games and the

conference. (yes)

The Summers family posted the menu: Turkey and dressing will be served. (yes)

He listed the suspects in order: Polly, Dave, Sue, and

Leonard. (yes)

The lineup for today’s ballgame includes: shortstop, Mike, and

pitcher, Ted. (yes)

Notes:

9. Whether to use commas, and how many to use, drives me crazy. What is the scoop?

The serial comma (the final comma in a list, usually before the words “and” or “or”) is being phased out of use. However, include the serial comma in case of ambiguity or for clearer meaning, such as if the last element is two like items separated by “and.”

Examples:

We gathered sticks, rocks, twigs, and bark. (no)

We gathered sticks, rocks, twigs and bark. (yes)

She asked whether we were interested in going to the movie, going dancing, spending time at the lake that evening or resting until tomorrow’s trip to the amusement park. (yes)

Books, uniforms, notepads, and pens and pencils were all

supplied. (yes)

She wanted to know if I preferred washing, drying, or putting away the dishes. (yes)

Notes:

10. I’ve never understood the use of hyphens and dashes. Why is this so confusing?

It isn’t. Hyphens are versatile tools since they can be used for many different functions. Single hyphens can join two or more words that serve as a compound adjective before the noun they are modifying. If they appear after the noun, no hyphen is required. Double hyphens, or dashes, are used to emphasize certain parts of a sentence or to permit a break in the sentence. They also separate complete thoughts.

Examples:

Jonathan was born into a society considered low class. (yes)

Jonathan was born into a low-class society. (yes)

John Dillinger is a well known criminal. (no)

A well-known criminal is John Dillinger. (yes)

Sylvia leased a house in Italy—somewhere in Tuscany—for the

summer. (yes)

There were twenty-nine cats entered in the competition. (yes)

Notes:

11. Semi-colons should be banished from the English language. Is there a need for them?

The function of a semi-colon is similar to that of the dash, but the semi-colon can also be used with conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, nevertheless) to introduce a new thought. Short sentences do not necessarily need semi-colons. Instead, commas may be appropriate. Use semi-colons in lists, especially of phrases.

Examples:

Ollie loved Sylvia; but she did not know it. (no)

We tried to drive to Oregon; however, steep mountains blocked

our path. (yes)

Ethel and Ricky watched the sky; the stars were glimmering in the

night. (yes)

Wanda ordered tuna on rye a pickle spear; potato wedges with cheese, four apple turnovers, and a large coffee, all to go. (yes)

Notes:

12. Is a comma required before the beginning of a quote in a sentence?

A full-sentence quote should be introduced by a comma, but partial quotes and entertainment titles (books, television, plays, film) don’t require a comma to introduce them.

Examples:

Pat recognized the play, Of Mice and Men, as a classic. (no)

Humphrey Bogart said, “Here’s looking at you kid.” (yes)

The author titled his play “To Love or Not to Love.” (yes)

Oscar wrote the book “Ugly Men Love Olivia.” (yes)

Notes:

13. Deciding whether I need a comma to separate clauses in a sentence is difficult. Is there a general rule to follow?

If there are subjects in both clauses, separate the clauses with a comma. If there are not, do not use the comma.

Examples:

Paulie glanced in the girls’ locker room, but didn’t see any naked girls. (no)

Scott glanced in the girl’s locker room and didn’t see any naked girls. (yes)

Sheila watched the stars, but Pete watched her. (yes)

Claude rounded the bend and headed for home plate. (yes)

Mary washed dishes in the cramped kitchen, and Bob cleared the table. (yes)

Notes:

14. How can I tell if I have written a “run-on” sentence?

This occurs when the writer uses a comma where a period would be appropriate. Avoid writing long sentences when breaking them up would provide more clarity.

Examples:

John went to the bathroom and then walked into the living room and then left for the movie before he went to see Claudia about their exam grades. (no)

There was a smell in the air of burnt toast and he loved that

smell. (no)

Pete loved Alicia. He also loved Cathy and Julie. (yes)

Art was a fan of Sammy Sosa; he watched Cubs games all the time. (yes)

Notes:

15. When is the use of a long dash (called an em dash) appropriate?

Use of a long dash indicates there is a break in the sentence. In Elements of Style, the dash is defined as “a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.”

Examples:

Paulie was a cool guy—and lived in Las Vegas in the winter. (no)

Paulie was a cool guy. He lived in Las Vegas in the winter. (yes)

Sally wanted to teach him a lesson—that he better not mess with her. (yes)

The principal stood out—in the minds of many—because he always wore white socks. (yes)

Notes:

Note: Em dashes (roughly the width of an ‘m’, and different from an en dash or hyphen in its look and usage), are symbols that aren’t on a standard keyboard but are available in word processing software either as a key command or symbol to be inserted. If you’re not sure how to insert them, use two hyphens with no spaces between words or hyphens.

Examples:

She waited—and waited—for the bus.

She waited–and waited–for the bus.

Notes:

16. Is the first word of a quote capitalized?

Doing so is dependent on how the quote is introduced. Complete phrases require capitalization, but partial quotes may not.

Examples:

The jury foreman stated, “That they live up the street.” (no)

The jury foreman stated, “We find the defendant guilty as charged.” (yes)

Eleanor explained Ruth’s behavior by saying “she’s just not herself.” (yes)

Notes:

17. I am mixed up about apostrophes and single quotation marks and sometimes my computer is too. What’s the story?

There is a difference between an apostrophe and a single quotation mark. Your computer will often automatically insert the wrong one. An apostrophe is in the shape of a ‘9’ and an open quote mark is in the shape of a ‘6’. You might have to manually insert the correct symbol and override your word processing software. Remember, an apostrophe is used to show possession (Sheila’s dog, the school’s gym, all four tires’ tread), and in contractions or where letters or numbers are missing (don’t read, where’s my car, I’m here, ’44 was a good year).

Examples:

She screamed, “There is a ‘Cadillac-size’ cockroach in the cabinet.” (yes)

I don’t want any ‘cause they’re stale. (no)

I don’t want any ’cause they’re stale. (yes)

She grew up in the ‘70s. (no)

She grew up in the ’70s. (yes)

Notes:

18. Apostrophe rules are confusing. What is acceptable?

Apostrophes are used to form possessives of proper and common nouns, but not pronouns. When a contraction is used, the apostrophe will designate what has been eliminated. Apostrophes are occasionally used to designate plurals of letters such as “abc’s” or “the three r’s” for clarity.” Never add apostrophes to make a noun plural.

Examples:

Sammy ran after the lost dog’s. (no)

Don’t leave me home with Sally. (yes)

Peter was a 1960s kind of guy. (yes)

Peter was a ’60s kind of guy. (yes)

Bob Clark’s vacation home is splendid. (yes)

The Clarks’ vacation home is splendid. (yes)

Notes:

19. Use of “it’s” or “its” bugs me. Does it make a difference?

“It’s” is the contraction for “it is.” To test usage, read out loud the sentence you are forming. If you stumble using “it is,” then “its” is correct.

Examples:

Ray told his children, “Its time to leave for the park.” (no)

Ray told his children, “It’s time to leave for the park.” (yes)

The school was proud of it’s principal. (no)

The school was proud of its principal. (yes)

Notes:

20. I’m confused about how to indicate the possessive of words ending in “s”. Help please.

Typically, if a word ends in “s,” and the word is singular, add an apostrophe and an “s” to the end. This may look awkward, but it is correct. If the word is plural and ends in “s”, simply add the apostrophe.

Examples:

Jack Nicklaus’ wife shouted “hooray” when he sank the winning putt. (no)

Jack Nicklaus’s wife shouted “hooray” when he sank the winning putt. (yes)

James Johnsons’ girls decided to try out for the play. (no)

James Johnson’s girls decided to try out for the play. (yes)

Notes:

21. When should I use ellipses and how should they be spaced?

Ellipsis points serve a dual purpose: to indicate missing words in a sentence or to permit a sentence to trail off without an ending. Proper usage requires leaving a space after the word before the use of the ellipses and before the next word once the ellipses have been used. If one is used after a complete sentence, a fourth dot is used to represent the period.

Examples:

This is a fine mess. . . . Get the hell out of here. (no)

President Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear . . . but fear itself.” (yes)

“Romeo,” she called, “let me explain . . . ” (yes)

Notes:

22. Do I leave one space or two after a complete sentence and the beginning of the next one?

It is now correct to use one space after a period when using word processing programs. For those of you who love the typewriter, two spaces are permissible.

Notes:

23. What is the correct punctuation to be used with parentheses?

Punctuation is positioned after the use of the closing parenthesis. If the material inside the parenthesis requires its own punctuation, position it accordingly.

Examples:

Alex ran toward Felix, (a half-breed) who scampered away. (no)

Alex ran toward Felix (a half-breed), who scampered away. (yes)

The best of times (why should it be questioned?), bring out the best

in man. (yes)

Notes:

24. Should I indent each paragraph, and if so, how many spaces? Also – should there be spaces between my paragraphs?

Publishers’ requirements vary, but the current trend is to add a line space between paragraphs and use no indentation.

Examples:

See writing samples in Appendix.

Notes:

25. What in the world are split infinitives? Do I need them?

Stay away from them or you will be shot. Infinitives are verbs that have a “to” in front of them like “to catch,” or “to think.” The trouble arises when words such as “so,” “really,” and other “ly” words separate the “to” from the verb. This causes a split infinitive and is unacceptable.

Examples:

Jimmy loves apples, but loves to also eat bananas (no).

Jimmy loves apples, but he also loves to eat bananas (yes).

Ben and Jerry wanted to really watch the television program. (no).

Ben and Jerry really wanted to watch the television program. (yes)

Notes:

26. I think exclamation points are nifty. Is it okay to use them?

Less rather than more is the standard rule. Too many exclamation points provide a hint that you are not a professional writer. Never use !!!!!! – it is totally unprofessional. One exclamation point is all you need, if that, since your writing should show enough emotion through strong word choice.

Examples:

I love to ice skate!!!!!! (no)

Freddie won first prize! (yes)

Black Sox slept with a grin on his face! (yes)

Sally exclaimed, “What an exciting game!” (yes)

Notes:

Miscellaneous Tips

Never use “%” in text, but rather spell out “percent.” It is alright to use the symbol in illustrations or charts.

Never us “&” in text unless it is part of a logo or business name. Always spell out the word “and”.

Avoid using overused or trite phrases such as “the fact that,” “is a person who,” “as to whether,” or “in regard to.” They sound like filler and add only unnecessary verbiage.

Be careful not to use “of” where “have” is required. “Phil should have gone to the market,” is proper while “Phil should of gone to the market” is not.

Helpful Reminders

Good writing requires hard work even for the best wordsmiths. Many best-selling authors and poets have spent years writing one book.

There are few absolutes regarding grammar and punctuation rules in the publishing industry, but rather accepted standards and conventions. This book has presented universally accepted guidelines, but be certain to check the style guide used by the publishing company you are submitting your material to.

Remember – typos and other errors tend to cluster. If you find one mistake, read each sentence around it and you’ll likely discover more.

Reading your text out loud is a good way to discover errors. Another is to wait a few days after you have composed material and then look at it with a fresh perspective.

Better yet, have a professional proofreader scan the text before any submission. This will enhance your chances for a mistake-free manuscript.