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Quick Punctuation Guide Comma Use • • • • • • before a coordinating conjunction linking main clauses following introductory clauses and phrases between items in a series to set off incidental comments (appositives, nonrestrictive clauses) when meaning is unclear without its use when authority figures tell you to use one while you are writing for them Don't use • a single comma between a subject and its • • • verb when a subordinate clause follows a main clause before the first or after the last item in a series between two words joined by a coordinating conjunction Semicolon Use • instead of a coordinating conjunction between • main clauses to separate main groups of items in a list already using commas Don't use • too frequently in the same document • between parts of unequal grammatical rank Colon Use • to connect explanation, details, or a quotation to a main clause Don't use • more than one in a sentence • directly after prepositions or verbs unless you knowingly choose to violate the normal usage rules Dash Use Don't use • to indicate a sudden change of tone or idea • to emphasize, clarify, or interject • too often • a hyphen(-) for a dash; dash(--) = two consecutive hyphens or an em-dash Parentheses Use Don't use • to insert nonessential material • to indicate citation • to introduce acronyms, abbreviations, etc. • if the material can be better incorporated another way Brackets Use • to interpolate in quotations • as parentheses inside parentheses Ellipsis Use Don't use • to indicate an omission • • to indicate that you're starting a sentence in the middle to alter meaning in a quotation Apostrophe Use • • • to indicate possessive case for nouns and indefinite pronouns to indicate omissions in contractions to indicate plurals of odd words, acronyms, and numerals (opt.) Don't use • • to indicate possessive case for personal pronouns to add an "s" for making standard words plural Single Quotation Marks Use • within double quotation marks or for unusual terms Don't use • to pretend you're not really using a word you're using Double Quotation Marks Use • • • to enclose direct quotes for minor (internal) titles correctly with other marks: • place period and comma inside • place colon and semicolon outside • place question mark and exclamation point inside when they apply only to the quoted matter, and • outside when they apply to the whole sentence Don't use • to pretend you're not really using a cliche you're using Hyphens Use * • to integrate words into a functional unit • when your keyboard lacks bullets to set off listed items Prepositional Phrases Prepositions connect nouns or pronouns to other words. • The phrases created by this linkage are called prepositional phrases, and they usually function as modifiers— adjectives or adverbs—adding detail to the sentence. • Tree frogs are colorful. • Tree frogs of the Colombian mountain ranges to the north of the country's capital near the border are colorful, with markings on their limbs, between their eyes, underneath their arms, and on their backs in hues of red, orange, green, purple, and black. Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition, which can be a word or a phrase, and its object: • Prepositions Objects • according to Aristotle • because of jellyfishes' sensitivity • since the beginning • with regard to ecological studies • with the exception of white whales • throughout the article Lists of prepositions can be found in any grammar book : • • • • • • • • • • • • • above, around, across, below, between, by, over, past, since, throughout, concerning, despite, etc. Technical writers tend to use prepositions frequently because they often need to communicate details: • • • • describing specific features of animals, analyzing the particular configurations of chemicals, explaining the effects of procedures, and the like. However, overuse of prepositional phrases confuses, rather than clarifying, the writer's point. • The design of the apparatus with the tubing and the electrical wiring was useful for diagnosis of the transmission of electrical impulses in the nerve tested. Revising to avoid overuse of prepositional phrases makes the ideas and information • • • more readable, easier to understand, and easier to retain. Consider using the object of the preposition as an adjective or converting the idea into a subordinate clause.