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Punctuation Police Wanted
- Thread starter MACDRIVE
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It's based on a sentence containing a 'zero subject'. It should read 'I/We thank you'. This agrees with its use within a proper sentence: I would like to thank you for coming to my party last night. No capitals there. On a poster, of course, normal grammar rules give way to consistency, design, etc.^
Really? I've seen it both ways and never could figure out which way is which, but now I know. Thanks.
ColonYeah, I'm still trying to figure out when to use a full colon and when to use a semicolon. I think semicolons are really cool; yeah... I know I'm weird.
noun a punctuation mark
) indicating • that a writer is introducing a quotation or a list of items. • that a writer is separating two clauses of which the second expands or illustrates the first. • a statement of proportion between two numbers : a ratio of 10:1. • the separation of hours from minutes (and minutes from seconds) in a statement of time given in numbers : 4:30 p.m. • the number of the chapter and verse respectively in biblical references : Exodus 3:2.Semicolon
a punctuation mark (
indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma.
Comma splice! Comma splice!
So, what is a comma splice? And is it a good thing or a bad thing?
a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place of thousands in a large numeral.So, what is a comma splice? And is it a good thing or a bad thing?
Easily. In She's broken 'broken' is an adjective. In your example it's a verb.
There are two kinds of verbs: transitive and intransitive:
The former takes an object. I kick the ball. I is the subject, kick is the verb and the ball is the object.
The latter takes no object. I slept. Subject and verb only. You don't sleep someone. You just sleep. (With someone is a different matter
)Your example (Jimmy threw his baseball into the window and it broke) is an example of an intransitive verb (in the past tense).
Your post reminds me of my 8th grade Latin class where we had to conjugate all those verbs....
Noteworthy is the fact that my 8th grade Latin teacher was also arrested for being a participant in a kiddie porn ring composed of Northeast prep school teachers.A comma is a splice, it breaks up the sentence.So then a comma splice and a comma are the same thing?
Wanting to hear about your punctuation mistakes is not weird. I think it's a sign of pride. Some people want their cars to be polished and good-looking, while others may want their prose to be polished and good-looking. In both cases, this can influence the impression they give others as well as the way they feel about themselves.
I'm fairly careful with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and I don't mind when people point out my mistakes (except when it takes a thread off-topic.) Since it won't be off-topic here in a punctuation thread, you are welcome to point out the mistake I purposely put in this post.
I'm fairly careful with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and I don't mind when people point out my mistakes (except when it takes a thread off-topic.) Since it won't be off-topic here in a punctuation thread, you are welcome to point out the mistake I purposely put in this post.
Well first of all, your word structure is incorrect. It should be,"Jimmy threw the baseball into the window, and the window broke." Your sentence was implying that the ball broke instead of the window.
I may of course be completely incorrect, an if this is the case, I would be more than happy for any other suggestions.
Try the '' instead; your typesetters would probably appreciate it.
En-dash, em-dash; all good depending on style. Although personally I prefer the en-dash with spaces on either side, rather than an unspaced em-dash. To my eye this can look a little obtrusive and slightly old-fashioned, depending on the typeface.
Suddenly you have to start thinking about the 'subject' and the 'object' of the sentence and before you know it you've discovered that Latin was simpler than this. The English language is full of exceptions that prove the rules and these are no better exemplified than when talking to a small child. Children (those that actually have parents that take the time to read and play with them) make great leaps and bounds in language development and will often try to use the rules that they learn to develop their sentences. There they are, so proud of their efforts, and then you turn round and say, "No, Jonny. It's not 'breaked', it's broke". <Hilarity ensues>
Now where on earth did the boobs come from? I thought that I had read through the whole of this thread and I saw no mention of boobs (and I'm as eager to spot them as the next red blooded male).
I like your avatar macboobspro, that's a great episode.
If you're so enamored of the em dash, perhaps you could take the time—and I suggest this in the most humble manner—to actually type one, instead of taking the lazy way out and hitting -- which is total crap. Especially since you have a Mac—Opt+Shift+- is easy to hit and the Opt+whatever method of accessing special characters is far better than Windows' clunky Alt+#### ********.
EDIT:
Try the '—' instead; your typesetters would probably appreciate it.
Dammit, BV, here I am thinking I'm the only one who will point that out, and I don't even bother to read page 2. Why you gotta steal my thunder, baby?
Blue Velvet said:
I always substitute hyphens for en dashes in emails and forum posts because I'm unsure as to whether the en dash will display properly across different browsers and email clients. Can anyone shed any light on this?
Blue Velvet said:
I favour the em dash with hair spaces on either side.
