Hi, Victoria,

Thanks for your feedback.   Morson's Rule 97 Example C applies and I totally missed that one.    And it looks like they don't use a comma before the quotes.  So I'm good!!   Thanks for your help!!!  

Would you capitalize "mini-me"?

TIA

A. I called her -- I called her mini-me.

Unless that's her official nickname, I wouldn't cap it. :)

So my question is what is the correct way to punctuate the "why bother"? Colon or comma before and what is the rule?
TIA

And, I mean, I remember, you know, the staff members all saying, you know, well, I could go tell Sam; but nothing is going to happen, so it's kind of like, why bother?

And, I mean, I remember, you know, the staff members all saying, you know, well, I could go tell Sam, but nothing is going to happen. So it's kind of like why bother?

Thanks, Quyen.  I like that much better.

:)

Is this an instance where there would not be commas around "Amy Smith" since there is only one representative?
TIA

And I also contacted State Farm, the representative Amy Smith and left a message requesting a return phone call.

According to the experts:  And I also contacted State Farm, the representative, Amy Smith, and left a message requesting a return phone call.

Thanks, Michelle, I had the rule backwards in my head, LOL...

How would you punctuate this sentence?  I feel like there should be something in between "expenses" and "freight."

TIA

A. I'm talking about profit, minus expenses, freight, that sort of thing.

How about:

A. I'm talking about profit -- minus expenses -- freight, that sort of thing.

Hmm. Maybe not.  But I think it looks odd with just the commas.

Me too, Victoria.

By the way, how are you doing?  Are you keeping busy still?

I'm doing well.  I've been busier this quarter than I imagined possible during what's normally my famine time.  I'm enjoying the feast.

I just wish I could work while my body sleeps. :)

And you, Janiece?  Keeping busy?

Yes, Victoria, I have been in what I like to call a "Goldilocks" pattern for a few months.  I'm not so busy I'm having to stay up all night.  I'm paying the bills.  I like it. :-)  I don't like it when it is too busy or too slow.  It is rare to have this kind of a work pattern in this profession.  I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

What about this one:

A. I'm talking about profit, minus expenses, freight -- that sort of thing.

Would you hyphenate "garden variety" in this instance?

MR. JONES: I don't remember, Candy. Is this a garden-variety emotional distress claim?

TIA

Webster's says yes.

Thank you, Victoria.

I have another question.  How would you punctuate this one?

A. No, I guess. I mean, I would answer her back: Stop; leave me alone; no; what don't you get; OMG; things like that.

TIA :-)

Holy. Moly.  That's foul.

I'm a semicolon girl, so I like how you have it. 

Would you capitalize the words "police department" in this instance?

A. I'm a detective with the St. Joseph police department.

TIA

I would only if it's the official name of the police department.  My research showed a PD with that name in Mo and MN.

If he'd said "with the local police department," or "the police department in St. Joseph, I wouldn't cap.

What is the correct way to punctuate this? My real question is after the quote starting with "and then". TIA 
He used his head to point toward the pictures that were in Detective Strong's folder and said, "Is that the reason you're here?" and then began to make comments about the female wanting to be hit.

Perfect as is.

Thanks, Victoria! :-)

You got it!

Don't work too much.  Take some time to enjoy your weekend. :)

Is this punctuated correctly? My question is mainly "would be: They reserve," do I need a colon at that spot? I'm not sure how to handle.
TIA

Q. Is that -- another way to say that would be: They reserve the right to later deny indemnity for -- to that insured; would that be true?

How about this one?

Q. And for every one of those defendants that I've identified, all those various categories: insured, uninsured, under a reservation to later deny or fully indemnify, you owe those defendants the exact same duty; isn't that correct?

I like dahses.

And for every one of those defendants that I've identified, all those various categories -- insured, uninsured, under a reservation to later deny or fully indemnify -- you owe those defendants the exact same duty; isn't that correct?

I like dashes, too.  I think it looks great like that, Kyung.

As far as the other one, Janiece, I personally like the colon for those.  Some people don't like them.  I'd guess that Ms. Wakeman Wells would say the sentence can be written without any punctuation between "would" and "be."

I wouldn't put anything between would be and they.

Thanks, Kyung and Victoria.

I wouldn't use the comma either. 

What is the correct way to punctuate this? I worried about in between received and certifications. TIA
Q. Do you have any special training that you received, certifications, licenses, things of that nature?

Do you have any special training that you received? Certifications? Licenses? Things of that nature?

Do you have any special training that you received?  Certifications, licenses, things of that nature? 

I use the comma because "things of that nature" doesn't really mean anything by itself. 

bus. dev.

bizdev

biz dev

BizDev

I see it so many different ways on the Internet. What is the most common/correct (if there is a correct way) spelling?

Thx!

I'm not sure where to write this question. How would you format this question? I don't know much about Excel columns and rows.

#1) Q. And then we have the -- in Column A H we have expenses paid before and then expenses paid after.

#2)  Q. And then we have the -- in Column AH we have expenses paid before and then expenses paid after.

My preference would be:

Hi, Quyen.

It might be helpful if you were to post the sentence you're asking about for your "issue/issued" issue -- er, conundrum.

double A batteries

double "A" batteries

double-A batteries

or

AA batteries

???

He said "double A batteries."

TIA.

Hi, Quyen,

I don't have a rule but in just looking at their packaging I would be inclined to go with AA batteries.  

Janiece :)

Very logical, Janiece.  ;)

Thx.

What's your preference:  the sixties or the '60s? 

Thx.

personally I go with the '60s.

Random, probably dumb question....does anyone use the en dash in transcripts? Is that a thing, or no?

I use both en dash and em dash.