Punctuation and grammar

[Marla Sharp]

Since punctuation and grammar are a big part of most of our professional lives, I thought it would be great to have a section where we share our favorite reference sites on the Internet. Here are some of my favorites:

CAPITALIZATION:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/01/
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp

COMMAS IN GENERAL:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
(#4 explains when to use a comma before "because.")
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.html

COMMAS WITH CLAUSES AND PHRASES:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_clause.html

COMMAS WITH CONJUNCTIONS:
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/grammar_subordinate.html

COMMAS WITH INTRODUCTORY ADVERBS:
http://grammartips.homestead.com/adverbs2.html

COMMAS WITH RESTRICTIVE/NONRESTRICTIVE PHRASES:
http://www.writingcenter.emory.edu/restrictive.html

COMMA VS SEMICOLON:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commacomp.html

COMMAS WITH GERUNDS, PARTICIPLES, AND INFINITIVES (oh my):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/627/01/

COMPOUND WORDS (one word, two words, hyphenated):
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/compounds.htm
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/HyphensEnDashesEmDashes...
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000127.htm

NUMBERS:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedit/handbook/numberdate.html
http://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp

QUOTATION MARKS:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quote.html

And here is a nifty site that offers free video punctuation and grammar lessons:
http://www.grammarbook.com/videos.asp

That site also offers a free weekly e-newsletter that's interesting.

[Jenny Griffin, RMR CRR CCRR CRC]

Marla, thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. I have been driving myself even more crazy with punctuation questions these days, and I look forward to getting some clear answers here!

[Marla Sharp]

Jenny, you're very welcome. I hope you get some good stuff out of these sites. I know how you feel. Sometimes I think finding the right punctuation is the hardest part of our jobs.

I also have a list of punctuation questions I've been gathering for a while. And Art Cochran (http://www.csrnation.com/profile/ArtCochran) answered them for me. I've attached the Word document here. It's helpful as well.

[Cathryn Bauer]

Good one, Marla! Also worth mentioning is the free podcast, "Grammar Girl," available from the Apple Store. Strongly recommended.

[Marla Sharp]

Good site! Thanks, Cathryn.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

[Kyung]

God, I love you Marla.

Will you marry me?

No, wait. I'm already married. Alas, it is not meant to be. But when I am in my personal punctuation hell, I will think of you as my savior.

[Brenda Rogers]

I've added this page to my Favorites so I won't have to go looking for it later. Thanks, Marla!

[Kyung]

How do you add this page to your favorites?

[Marla Sharp]

Hit Alt A, and the Favorites menu will pull down. Choose the first one, Add to Favorites. Choose a folder to keep it in. I have a folder for just reference sites for reporting.

And you can also grab the itty bitty icon that's to the left of the Web address. This one just looks like a piece of paper with a blue lowercase "e" in it. Grab it and drag it to your links line, which should be just below your Web address. Let me know if that made any sense.

Thanks for the proposal, Kyung. I am deeply flattered, but... :P

[Brenda Rogers]

All I do is click the little star with the plus sign up in the left-hand corner of my screen and the page goes to my Favorites. I have a bunch of reporting references, but this one gets its very own spot so I don't forget about it and I don't have to go searching for it!

[Marla Sharp]

I never even knew that was there! Thanks, Brenda.

[Brenda Rogers]

Sure, Marla. The star opens the favorites file. I'm nosy; I had to check all those things out. lol

[JC]

What a great list of resources!  Thank you for compiling this.

 

I'm brand new to this site, and joined after seeing the wealth of information here.  I found CSR Nation while searching for an answer to a punctuation question.  I'm hoping someone here can offer their input.

 

I have been a proofreader of depositions for 14 years.  On occasion, I have had to punctuate an interrupted thought where the last word before the em dash was incomplete.  I learned (from what source, I can't remember!) that an en dash should not precede the em dash.  Here's an example:

 

I went to the store on Fri- -- no, it was Saturday.

Aside from a source to justify my removal of the dash, my own thinking is that it would be the same as having a comma, period or semi-colon before the em dash.

 

Any bona fide rule about this would be greatly appreciated!