A phrase is a group of words that lacks a subject (an actor) and a verb (an action): after the market correction (prepositional phrase)the clever stock traders (noun phrase)were ready to buy the dip (verb phrase). An Essential Phrase is a phrase that contains the information needed to complete the meaning of the sentence. A Non-Essential Phrase is a phrase that contains information that isn't needed in the sentence for the sentence to retain its meaning. Synonymous Terms: The terms restrictive or non-restrictive information are synonymous to Essential Phrase or Non-Essential...
Definition Ellipses is the plural form of ellipsis. An ellipsis is a punctuation mark that consists of three dots with a space before, after, and between them. Writers use this mark to represent a word, phrase, sentence (or more) that is omitted from a direct quotation. How should ellipses be used? When words are omitted from within two nearby sentences, insert the ellipsis in place of the omitted words. Quotation with an ellipsis taking the place of omitted words within nearby sentences:“With her eyes on her phone . . ....
A dash (—) is a punctuation mark used to set off an idea within a sentence and may be used alone or in pairs. Dashes interrupt a thought in a more dramatic way than a phrase enclosed in commas, but less theatrically than parentheses. To form a dash, type two hyphens—without a space before, after, or between them—and your word processor will convert them to a dash. You make a dash by hitting the hyphen key twice. The hyphen key is next to the +/= key on your keyboard (the...
A hyphen (-) is used in the middle of a multi-word idea or joins two related words together. (The hyphen key is next to the +/= key on your keyboard (the same key with the underscore _ ) Use hyphens to join compound words and avoid awkward or confusing word combinations. A hyphen (-) is used in the middle of a multi-word idea or joins two related words together. My son-in-law owns a friendly-looking dog. Ten Rules for Using a Hyphen 1. You should hyphenate two words if they come...
One of the primary jobs of quotation marks is to set off exact spoken or written language. When writers use quotation marks correctly, they give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism. Quotation marks are also used to enclose titles of short works and always appear in pairs. Quotation marks should be used to enclose the following: Direct quotations from textual, audio, and video sourcesDickens informed his readers that “Oliver cried lustily” (17). [1]Spoken dialogue“Two keys to successful public speaking,” said the CEO, “are to connect with the audience...
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to show possession, to indicate the plural form of letters of the alphabet, and to form a contraction. Of all forms of punctuation, the apostrophe appears to be in greatest peril of extinction. For proof that the apostrophe should be placed on an endangered species list in some grammarian's office, one needs only to consult the popular press or a sample of student themes. However, because of its ability to denote ownership in a concise way (by avoiding the use of a preposition),...
A colon is a punctuation mark used to separate significant parts of a sentence, particularly when the first part offers a sense of anticipation for the second. This form of punctuation is also used in other conventional applications as noted below. Use the colon when the first sentence anticipates the second sentence or phrase, thereby creating an emphatic tone. The colon provides a dramatic and somewhat underutilized way to bring a little spark to your writing. Beyond normal business correspondence (Dear Sir or Madam:), you can use the colon before...
A semicolon is a punctuation mark used to separate closely-related sentences. Use a semicolon to link two closely-related independent clauses. Semicolons separate two independent clauses that contain related information. An independent clause is a group of words containing subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. I said I'd do it; I didn't say when I would do it. This semicolon is often used to replace ", and" in your sentence, often to introduce variety into the sentence structure. If you have two complete sentences, and they would make sense...
Commas are a punctuation mark, an element of Mechanics, that help readers understand relationships between and among words. Commas play an extremely important role in ensuring that your documents are understandable. In fact, failing to insert a comma in the correct spot can cause considerable misreading (and subsequent embarrassment). Beyond a few special circumstances, there are six basic ways to use commas correctly. Use commas to separate a series of three or more items, actions, words, or phrases I will need my backpack, computer, paper, and textbook for my next...
Rules for periods, question marks, exclamation points End punctuation appears at the end of a complete sentence (independent clause) or follows an interjection. The appropriate placement of a period, question mark, or exclamation point separates one statement from another and signals a pause in the word flow. Correct use of end punctuation contributes to the order and readability of the text. The punctuation at the end of a sentence is often determined by the purpose of the sentence. What is a period? A period [.] is used at the end...
