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Dates - Month-Day-Year

Comma After the YearWhen you indicate month, day, and year, put a comma after the day and after the year (unless some other punctuation mark, like a period or question mark, follows the year). Include these commas even if the month-day-year expressio...

Dates - Day-Month-Year

If you depict dates by day-month-year, not month-day-year, do not use commas. Make certain you use a consistent system throughout the document. Those disliking the required commas for month-day-year expressions used as adjectives (e.g., "your July 1,...

Dates - Month-Year

If you omit the day and just include the month and year, do not use a comma: In January 1945 he was born in a large southern city. We now wish to respond to your July 2006 letter.  Previous: Dates - Day-Month-YearNext: Commas and Elliptical Expr...

Commas and Elliptical Expressions

Use a CommaUse a comma to show the omission of a word or words readily understood from context: In Illinois, there are seventeen such institutions; in Ohio, twenty-two; in Indiana, three. ExceptionThere is an exception. When, in spite of the omission...

Commas with Quotation Marks

Comma Goes Inside YouWhen the context calls for a comma at the end of material enclosed in quotation marks, the comma should be placed inside the quotation marks: We should study the report on "discrimination in the workplace," which was written by t...

Chapter 3 - Semicolon

IntroductionTop writers do not use the semicolon as much today as they did in the past. As a matter of style, you should try to avoid using too many sentences consisting of two independent clauses joined by a semicolon. The mark does have its uses, h...

Semicolons and Independent Clauses

A semicolon separates two or more independent clauses joined without a coordinating conjunction: The Court required police to warn suspects of their constitutional rights; in doing so, it made judicial history.  Previous: Chapter 3 - SemicolonNe...

“However” and Other Conjunctive Adverbs

Conjunctive AdverbsConjunctive adverbs include however, therefore, thus, furthermore, and others.If you use a conjunctive adverb to join two independent clauses (compound sentence), then use a semicolon, followed by the conjunctive adverb, followed b...

Semicolons Separating Elements in a Series

Semicolons Instead of CommasWe reviewed this rule when we discussed the serial-comma rule in the discussion on the comma above. It bears repeating, however. When elements in a series are long and complex or involve internal punctuation, they should b...

Semicolons with Quotation Marks

Semicolon Comes OutsideThe semicolon should be placed outside ending quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon in the quotation is dropped: The agency reviewed those petitions that were "timely"; it ignored those th...

Chapter 4 - Colon

The colon joins two independent clauses (compound sentence), introduces lists, and sets up quotations. Previous: Semicolons with Quotation MarksNext: Colon and Independent Clauses...

Colon and Independent Clauses

Colon Acts like a PeriodMany writers use the colon between two independent clauses, especially when the subject matter of the second clause expands on, or exemplifies, the subject matter of the first. Some writers start the second clause with a capit...

Introducing a List

A ListUse the colon to introduce a list or a series: The committee's study focused on the most critical areas: development of software, needed changes in computer systems, and recruitment of new engineers. Use of namely, that is, etc.If the list or s...

Introducing Statements or Quotations

Introduce Formal StatementUse the colon to introduce a formal statement, an extract from a passage, or a speech in a dialogue: Remember the rule: A colon may be used to introduce a statement.I now quote from the committee's ruling: "As we stated befo...

Colons with Quotation Marks

Colon Comes OutsideThe colon should be placed outside quotation marks. When matter ending with a colon is quoted, the colon is dropped: The employee has two objections to the practice of "early retirement": He wants to continue working, and the polic...

Chapter 5 - Dash

Functions of the DashThe dash is one of the most effective punctuation marks of all. It can halt readers in their tracks—it makes them pay attention—as they read through your words of wisdom. Basically, the dash creates the biggest of the "punctu...

En and Em Dashes

Types of DashesThere are several kinds of dashes, differing from one another in length. There are en dashes (short), em dashes (medium), and 2‑ and 3‑em dashes (long). The term em dash is a printer's term meaning the width of the letter "m." The ...

Em Dashes - No Spaces

No spaces come before and after the dash. The dash—a most effective punctuation mark—halts readers in their tracks.  Previous: En and Em DashesNext: Chapter 6 - Parentheses...

Chapter 6 - Parentheses

IntroductionParentheses, like commas and dashes, may be used to set off amplifying, explanatory, or digressive elements. If the parenthetical elements bear a close logical relationship to the rest of the sentence, use commas. If the logical relation...

Amplify, Explain, or Digress

Use parentheses to enclose material that amplifies, explains, or digresses from the central message in the sentence: The disagreement between the president and the treasurer (they had fought over the issue a number of times) ultimately destroyed the ...

Numbers in Lists Within Text

Use parentheses to enclose numerals or letters marking divisions or enumerations within the text of your writing. Remember, in indented and vertical lists, the period sets off the number or letter: He discovered the various abuses in (1) recruiting, ...

Parentheses and Other Punctuation

Drop Other PunctuationBefore the closing parenthesis, drop almost all punctuation, such as commas, semicolons, and colons.PeriodsRetain a period inside the closing parenthesis if you've written a complete parenthetical sentence. Put the period outsid...

Chapter 7 - Brackets

IntroductionBrackets are used to enclose editorial interpolations, corrections, explanations, or comments in quoted material.SicResist the temptation to use "[sic]," which in Latin means "that's your mistake, fella, not mine," to point out a mistake ...

Parentheticals Within Parentheses

If you write a parenthetical statement and need to include another parenthetical statement within it, then enclose the second one in brackets: While visiting Virginia, Dr. Smith and his assistant (Fred Jones, who would later study the state bird [the...

Chapter 8 - Question Mark

IntroductionIn creative writing, the question mark shows up all the time. In expository writing, question marks do appear—often as mistakes.The question mark serves a variety of roles.Ask a Question The question mark ends the sentence that is a que...