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.Like dashes, they shouldbe used sparingly.The Millennium Dome (in spite of all the problems) wascompleted on time.Both dashes and brackets can usually be replaced by com-mas if they are in the middle of a sentence.I saw, or thought I saw, a white figure disappearing intothe woods.The Millennium Dome, in spite of all the problems, wascompleted on time.M A K I N G S E N S E O F P U N C T U A T I O N / 93Square brackets are used when words within a quotation are not part of the original material.The lecturer stated, ‘I consider this play [Hamlet] to beShakespeare’s greatest.’Explaining parenthesesExtra ideas that are inserted in this way to expand thesentence are known as parentheses.If said aloud, they are spoken in a lower tone and there is a pause either side ofthem.They resemble ‘throwaway’ lines.Do not use parentheses too frequently or they will lose theirimpact.They will interrupt the ‘flow’ of your work andirritate your reader.Used sparingly, they are effective butusually it is better to rework them into the main structure ofyour sentence.Think carefully before you use them andmake sure they are used correctly and add something to yoursentence.REMEMBERING THE QUESTION MARKA question mark is always placed at the end of a question.Do remember it.So many people forget to include it.If you have used a question mark, you do not require a full stop as well.Where are you?It’s not raining, is it?If you are reporting a question that someone else has said,you do not need a question mark.94 / I M P R O V E Y O U R P U N C T U A T I O N & G R A M M A RShe asked if I had change for a pound.However, if the actual question she asked is used, a questionmark is required.‘Do you have change for a pound?’ she asked.Notice that the question mark goes inside the inverted commas.There will be more about dialogue in Chapter 7.Single words that ask a question are also followed by aquestion mark.How?Why?When?Where?Who?What?AVOIDING THE EXCLAMATION MARKLike the dash, the exclamation mark should be used rarely if it is not to lose its effect.Do not use it for emphasis.Your choice of words should convey this.If a speaker exclaims, anexclamation mark should be used after the words.‘Don’t touch me!’ she exclaimed.The word ‘exclaimed’ does not have to be used.It can besuggested, as in the following sentence:‘They’ve won!’ she shouted.An exclamation mark can also be used to indicate anelement of irony.The speaker or writer is commenting with‘tongue in cheek’.M A K I N G S E N S E O F P U N C T U A T I O N / 95He was given a new bike for Christmas.Now he’s set towin the Olympics!You must not use a full stop as well as an exclamation mark.Neither is it correct to use several exclamation marks foremphasis.Use them rarely or they will lose their effect.CHECKLIST◆ A semicolon can separate main clauses.◆ Do not use a comma instead of a semicolon or full stop.◆ Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon or a colon.◆ Don’t forget the question mark after a question.◆ Don’t overuse the exclamation mark.PRACTISING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNTPunctuate the following passage:David flung open the office door and sat down at his deskhe had a great deal to do would he complete the reportin time he knew he should not have left it till the lastmoment switching on the computer he keyed in the pass-word and started to list the items to be included the state-ment from the assessors the secretary’s report the year’saccounts and the government recommendations crash hestarted what was that rushing to the window he looked outtwo men or was it more were running across the road.See page 156 for suggested answers.6Handling Apostrophesand AbbreviationsApostrophes have two purposes.They can be used to showpossession or to indicate the omission of a letter or letters.SHOWING POSSESSIONWhen a noun has something belonging to it, an apostrophe isplaced at the end of the word and the ‘possession’ follows.When a singular noun shows possession, the apostrophe isput at the end of the word and an ‘s’ is added.The horse’s coat shone.Clive’s cricket ball broke the window.The dog tore the child’s coat.The apostrophe comes before the ‘s’ when singular.Coping with the ‘s’If there is already an ‘s’ at the end of the word, the rule still applies.Some words end in double ‘s’.The princess’s gown was the most beautiful at the ball.The witness’s evidence was false [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.Like dashes, they shouldbe used sparingly.The Millennium Dome (in spite of all the problems) wascompleted on time.Both dashes and brackets can usually be replaced by com-mas if they are in the middle of a sentence.I saw, or thought I saw, a white figure disappearing intothe woods.The Millennium Dome, in spite of all the problems, wascompleted on time.M A K I N G S E N S E O F P U N C T U A T I O N / 93Square brackets are used when words within a quotation are not part of the original material.The lecturer stated, ‘I consider this play [Hamlet] to beShakespeare’s greatest.’Explaining parenthesesExtra ideas that are inserted in this way to expand thesentence are known as parentheses.If said aloud, they are spoken in a lower tone and there is a pause either side ofthem.They resemble ‘throwaway’ lines.Do not use parentheses too frequently or they will lose theirimpact.They will interrupt the ‘flow’ of your work andirritate your reader.Used sparingly, they are effective butusually it is better to rework them into the main structure ofyour sentence.Think carefully before you use them andmake sure they are used correctly and add something to yoursentence.REMEMBERING THE QUESTION MARKA question mark is always placed at the end of a question.Do remember it.So many people forget to include it.If you have used a question mark, you do not require a full stop as well.Where are you?It’s not raining, is it?If you are reporting a question that someone else has said,you do not need a question mark.94 / I M P R O V E Y O U R P U N C T U A T I O N & G R A M M A RShe asked if I had change for a pound.However, if the actual question she asked is used, a questionmark is required.‘Do you have change for a pound?’ she asked.Notice that the question mark goes inside the inverted commas.There will be more about dialogue in Chapter 7.Single words that ask a question are also followed by aquestion mark.How?Why?When?Where?Who?What?AVOIDING THE EXCLAMATION MARKLike the dash, the exclamation mark should be used rarely if it is not to lose its effect.Do not use it for emphasis.Your choice of words should convey this.If a speaker exclaims, anexclamation mark should be used after the words.‘Don’t touch me!’ she exclaimed.The word ‘exclaimed’ does not have to be used.It can besuggested, as in the following sentence:‘They’ve won!’ she shouted.An exclamation mark can also be used to indicate anelement of irony.The speaker or writer is commenting with‘tongue in cheek’.M A K I N G S E N S E O F P U N C T U A T I O N / 95He was given a new bike for Christmas.Now he’s set towin the Olympics!You must not use a full stop as well as an exclamation mark.Neither is it correct to use several exclamation marks foremphasis.Use them rarely or they will lose their effect.CHECKLIST◆ A semicolon can separate main clauses.◆ Do not use a comma instead of a semicolon or full stop.◆ Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon or a colon.◆ Don’t forget the question mark after a question.◆ Don’t overuse the exclamation mark.PRACTISING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNTPunctuate the following passage:David flung open the office door and sat down at his deskhe had a great deal to do would he complete the reportin time he knew he should not have left it till the lastmoment switching on the computer he keyed in the pass-word and started to list the items to be included the state-ment from the assessors the secretary’s report the year’saccounts and the government recommendations crash hestarted what was that rushing to the window he looked outtwo men or was it more were running across the road.See page 156 for suggested answers.6Handling Apostrophesand AbbreviationsApostrophes have two purposes.They can be used to showpossession or to indicate the omission of a letter or letters.SHOWING POSSESSIONWhen a noun has something belonging to it, an apostrophe isplaced at the end of the word and the ‘possession’ follows.When a singular noun shows possession, the apostrophe isput at the end of the word and an ‘s’ is added.The horse’s coat shone.Clive’s cricket ball broke the window.The dog tore the child’s coat.The apostrophe comes before the ‘s’ when singular.Coping with the ‘s’If there is already an ‘s’ at the end of the word, the rule still applies.Some words end in double ‘s’.The princess’s gown was the most beautiful at the ball.The witness’s evidence was false [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]