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.

[Marla Sharp]

I will look for a bona fide rule for you when I get a chance, but my personal opinion (for what's it's worth) is that a partial word needs the suspended hyphen to show it's incomplete regardless of what punctuation comes after it. 

 

I'll let you know if I find anything more definitive.

[JC]

Thank you, Marla; I appreciate that!

 

 

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Marla!

Great list you have here.  Can I publish it on Cheap and Sleazy?

Oh, and the one on restrictive and non-restrictive phrases is gone, but this is a snapshot of how the site looked before.