Questions tagged [punctuation]
Use this tag for questions about the correct use of punctuation marks, or about using a punctuation mark instead of another one.
894
questions
4
votes
1
answer
645
views
"played the violin as/like my brother did"
a. My sister played the violin as my brother did.
b. My sister played the violin like my brother (did).
Do those only mean
My sister played the violin in the same manner my brother did.
or could ...
- 2,233
-2
votes
0
answers
28
views
just as he loves her
a. She loves him as he loves her.
b. She loves him, as he loves her.
c. She loves him just as he loves her.
d. She loves him, just as he loves her.
Which of the above sentences mean
She loves him in ...
- 2,233
1
vote
1
answer
29
views
How to punctuate multiple associated questions?
I wrote this earlier, and it seems like the second sentence is a fragment. Do you I need to combine the sentences?
Just so we're clear, were all the files sent, now? Including any files from 4/26 ...
- 15
-2
votes
2
answers
48
views
Comma usage: I put something, into my mouth [closed]
I put something, into my mouth.
I want to know commas can be used in this way.
Of course, the comma is not necessary, but I want to know some possibility.
Sometimes, I put it, into my mouth, but ...
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Is there anything to signify that something which may very understandable and easily be seen as an error actually isn’t?
For example, “the rationale which the omission was justified by by the director” contains a consecutive repetition of the word “by,” which is of course intended.
What is meant is to refer to “the ...
- 101
0
votes
2
answers
745
views
Is it advisable to use quotation marks for emphasis?
The following is an extract from CNN. I'm wondering if it's advisable to keep the quotation marks around the word "only" for emphasis.
For the holidays, McDonald’s is giving away free meals ...
- 5,497
0
votes
0
answers
20
views
for a little boy
a. That is bold talk for a little boy!
b. That is bold talk coming from a little boy!
c. That is bold talk, coming from a little boy!
d. That is bold talk from a little boy!
e. That is bold talk, from ...
- 2,233
0
votes
0
answers
11
views
Comma after "so" when meaning therefore
When you use "so" as in therefore at the beginning of a sentence, should you put a comma after it?
They are wearing helmets and uniforms adorned with badges. So, they must be soldiers.
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
44
views
Should we use a/an before a bracket starting with a vowel?
I want to say "It's being discussed because there is a (almost certainly fake) rumour about it."
I learned that we should put "an" if the next word starts with a vowel, but in this ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Use of the comma in this phrase
Is the use of the comma before "in light of" necessary, optional or extra?
"This book focuses on this procedure from the perspective of the right to effective judicial protection, in ...
- 249
0
votes
1
answer
14
views
Punctuation before quoted speech after transitive speech verb
Which is the more correct way to write this:
"I heard you don't like noodles." He suggested, "you should get the soup."
"I heard you don't like noodles." He suggested: &...
- 2,048
0
votes
1
answer
22
views
Adj.-s/Adjs/Adj.s - Adjective
If I wanted to shorten the plural form of adjective, which would be the right way to do that?
Adj.-s
Adjs
Adj.s
- 25
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
cooked it well as you wanted
a. I cooked the pie in a clay dish as you wanted.
b. I cooked the pie in a clay dish, as you wanted.
Is there a difference in the meanings of the above sentences?
Does the comma change anything?
I ...
- 2,233
0
votes
1
answer
29
views
UK punctuation rule and oxford comma doubt in a nested list
I need to buy ingredients for the party; bananas, apples[,] and oranges for fruit salad; chips and crackers for snacking[;] and soda, water[,] and cola for drinks.
UK punctuation rules state ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
28
views
Punctuating 'though' when it follows a main clause
Can someone give me the reasons why this comma cannot be skipped?
I am not sure where to go, though.
I find it natural to write this without a pause, but the word processor insists I use this comma.
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
21
views
Should there be a possessive in "like that of a peacock('s)"?
She has great charm, even like that of a peacock's
She has great charm, even like that of a peacock
The comparison is not between the lady and the peacock. It is between the charms of the lady and ...
- 503
11
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Do how-to questions end with a question mark?
Example:
How to display the value of the bar on each bar
More examples: https://i.stack.imgur.com/eIAI7.png
Is adding a question mark at the end of the sentence compulsory, optional or incorrect?
- 5,433
1
vote
2
answers
26
views
One comma or two commas for a specialization?
Must I add one more comma (before "will") in this sentence?
Funds send to this address on any other chain, including main Ethereum chain will be irreversibly lost!
- 655
0
votes
1
answer
30
views
Can exclamations like "oh" be written without exclamation points?
Exclamatory sentences are the ones that express sudden or strong emotions and feelings, but I saw some sentences expressing feelings without exclamation marks. Why is that?
For example:
"Oh, is ...
- 35
0
votes
2
answers
38
views
How to punctuate a sentence which ends with a question in a dependent clause? [closed]
How to punctuate a sentence which ends with a question in a dependent clause? Should I use "?" or "." at the end?
1 One of the biggest questions of my life is that are we just ...
- 1,020
-1
votes
2
answers
62
views
Punctuation with embedded questions
Is it grammatical? You either put a period or use inverted order, don't you?
Tell us how you would try to understand the people at the heart of the problem that you care about?
Mind! I'm not asking ...
- 3,496
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Comma after time expressions
Should a comma be put after time expressions when they are used at the beginning of a sentence? Is there any particular rule to follow?
Last Sunday(,) all members of the Brown family were at home.
- 337
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
How to punctuate the phrase "and more than that"?
How should I punctuate the following sentence? I think I should use comma before and after "and more than that".
Being accepted in your job position helps me to achieve my goals more ...
- 1,020
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
How can I use different punctuations in the same clauses?
Are the punctuation and grammar correct in all these variations?
A: The boss, Mike, is a bully; the way that he talks to you, and the way that he talks to his employees, it’s not right.
B: Mick, the ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Bachelor's degree and Master's degree, but why PhD degree?
Why do we say PhD degree instead of PhD's degree?
Are there any apostrophe forms available for PhD degree, like can we say doctor's degree?
- 634
-1
votes
1
answer
31
views
Why is a comma used in this sentence instead of a semicolon?
LONDON—The U.K. government announced sweeping tax increases and spending cuts on Thursday**,** becoming the first major Western economy to start sharply limiting its spending growth after years of ...
- 385
1
vote
1
answer
19
views
colon/semicolon in "they are more than just places to shop: they are also where people socialize"
Does either a colon or a semicolon work? Does the use of the punctuation affect the relationship between the two clauses?
Physical stores are more than just places to shop: they are also where
people ...
- 743
0
votes
1
answer
36
views
Separating phrases with commas
In a sentence like this:
Her hands adorned with bracelets moved swiftly.
Should there be a comma next to hands? Should I separate the phrase "adorned with bracelets" or just leave it as ...
- 503
1
vote
2
answers
41
views
Comma in the place of that is
The Maple tree full of leaves stood in the entrance of the building.
Should I enclose "full of leaves" within a pair of commas?
The Maple tree, full of leaves, stood in the entrance of the ...
- 503
0
votes
1
answer
36
views
with or without a comma: "my close friend John"
I'm wondering if the following sentences are both OK. If so, what's the difference?
The one you saw is my close friend, John.
The one you saw is my close friend John.
- 5,497
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
Why it's "Yes, I have" rather than "Yes. I have"?
I have been watching a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVmVP9CCRcU
Why we use a comma rather than a period after Yes / No?
- 2,073
2
votes
1
answer
27
views
Does a semicolon remove the effect of 'do not' in the prior sentence?
I wrote the sentence below at the beginning of my composition to express 'Do not hold the keys on the piano which belongs to the chord you are playing between the time when it finishes and a different ...
user138449
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Correct way to abbreviate a sentence
I have the following sentence:
Relevant courses: Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Statistics, ...
I want to write Calculus 1, Calculus 2 in a contracted form. Which of the following options are correct and ...
- 137
0
votes
2
answers
39
views
Should a comma be put before 'and' when it is in a subordinate clause?
In 1980, the west of the coastal village had a woodland, marsh, hotel, and holiday cottages, in addition to two road branches, although in 2010, there was a golf course occupying the site of the ...
- 157
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
What's the nuance between these two sentences?
In this blog, there are two sentences as follows:
She had a deep, religious experience.
She had a deep religious experience.
However, the blog fails to clarify the nuance. I think that in the first ...
- 3,296
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
Why is there a question mark at the end of this sentence which starts with 'You know'?
You know, I was organizing an amazing dinner party last night?
Source: BBC Learn English
You know is a discourse marker here, means 'I'm going to tell you some information you already know'. So I don'...
user138449
0
votes
1
answer
27
views
Is my use of a semicolon correct here?
Am I using the semicolon correctly in this sentence?
As a child who was aware that things like a boat can be made out of
paper, I was enamored by the idea, and when I had internet access at
my home, ...
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Punctuation before without
The introduction to The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, which can be read online, contains this sentence:
Some of these meditations cannot well be apprehended, without a ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
55
views
What's the usage difference between ellipsis and em dash?
My question here isn't asking about the ellipsis that can be replaced by a comma, and also not related to this: Why is em dash used here?, but more like asking, the difference between those three dots ...
- 4,892
0
votes
1
answer
16
views
Punctuation Structure
And don't let anyone play tricks with you. I - er - gather that discipline was not always your strong point at Melbury?
This text is from Good Bye Mr. Chips (Novel, first chapter). Can anyone explain ...
- 181
-1
votes
1
answer
26
views
Which sentence is the appropriate one to express my wonder
Suppose, someone knows me and quite surprisingly she is denying that she knows me infront of her friend. I wonder and start asking her about it. Which one would be the appropriate sentence?
I thought, ...
- 477
0
votes
1
answer
19
views
How do I punctuate coordinated phrases containing ellipted PPs?
Consider the following examples:
You need to have a clear idea of, and strategy for, X
They all agreed with, and contributed to, X
We hope the company will benefit from, and make use of, X
Is ...
- 1,548
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Since I'm using comma in this phrase can I remove "and then"?
Since I'm using comma in this phrase can I remove and then ?
He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner.
Is it correct to write like this :
He walked down the street, he turned the ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
Is it correct to use question mark after colon and quote?
In this sentence how can I use the question mark and period correctly?
When a person prepares a meal for me, after I finish my meal, why does
this thought make me silent: "blah blah blah."?
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
What type of dash is in “Bo01 - City of Tomorrow”?
Is the short line in “Bo01 - City of Tomorrow” supposed to be a hyphen, en dash, or em dash?
Also, is the line following "2001" used correctly?
Malmö has long been renowned as a pioneer in ...
- 5,497
0
votes
1
answer
27
views
Should I include commas to offset an if clause?
In cases like this one, should I include commas to offset an if clause?
The article explored the benefits of natural forest regeneration – a cheaper and more viable, if less tangible, alternative to ...
- 3,496
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
In this phrase I used a period in the quotation, after that should I use a or A?
In this phrase I used a period in the quotation, after that should I use a or A?
Is talking like this: "If you cook something better tomorrow, I’ll eat
everything." a food war?
- 49
2
votes
2
answers
66
views
This question ended with ?"? and I think it is a punctuation error, if it is incorrect is there a way to avoid using ?"?
This question ended with ?"? and I think it is a punctuation error, if it is incorrect is there a way to avoid using ?"??
As a psychiatrist what will you do when a patient asks a question
...
- 49
1
vote
1
answer
36
views
When you omit “that” from “so/that” do you need a comma?
Examples:
It was so cold the pond froze over.
Or
It was so cold, the pond froze over.
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
34
views
"The movie is a portrait of a man without qualities, baffled by the emotions and needs of others . "
"The movie is a portrait of a man without qualities, baffled by the emotions and needs of others."
I know that 'baffled by emotions and needs ...' is modifying 'man', but why is the comma ...
- 53