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Why is it important to pay attention to spelling or punctuation usage?

To write clear Standard American English (SAE) messages.

To meet proofreading expectations of and communication demands on college writers.

To meet your personal writing standards or your need to write well in your academic, business and personal lives.

To teach you to assess and evaluate your own writing strengths or deficits.

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General Spelling Rules

For Numbers

Spell small numbers out in sentences. Small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out.

Examples and Exceptions:

Ten students passed the exam.
Only 1000 students passed the exam.
One thousand students took the exam. (Spell out any number if it starts a sentence.)
Of the 1000 students that took the exam, only 25 passed it with at least a grade of D and only 9 students scored a grade of C or better on it. (Be as consistent as possible.)

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

Graphics: Microsoft

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PROPER PUNCTUATION

A Presentation to Help Student Support Services (SSS) Participants Learn Proper Punctuation Placement and Avoid Punctuation Pitfalls

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Relevance & Purposes

Relevance: * “Some people write well, yet allow themselves to be disabled by a fear of punctuation and grammar. They know how to pre-write, organize, and revise, but proofreading for punctuation and grammar causes them difficulties. There’s no need to fear these conventions of standard written English. In fact, these conventions can help you become a more effective communicator.” – Gary A. Olson

Purpose: This PowerPoint Presentation is to provide you with a review of proper punctuation usage.

*Quote retrieved at: http://lilt.ilstu.edu/golson/punctuation/intro.html

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Commonly-applied Punctuation Marks

Period (.)
Question Mark (?)
Exclamation Point (!)
Apostrophe ( ’ )
Comma (,)
Parentheses ( )
Brackets [ ]
Semicolon (;)
Colon :
Hyphen -
Dash --
Quotation Marks “”

Note: Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points are END MARKS.

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

Graphics: Microsoft

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What is an end mark

An end mark is punctuation that comes at the end of a sentence to let you know when the sentence ends.

Punctuation supports reading by helping readers know when the writer has fully expressed an idea or point.

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

Graphics: Microsoft

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An exclamation mark shows excitement or strong

Feeling.

That is a huge dog!

A question mark means something is being asked.

Are you going to lunch?

The period is the most famous end mark. It comes

at the end of statements and commands.

It is raining today.

Do not interrupt while I am talking.

Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

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The period is also used as more than just an end mark.

It is used in abbreviations, too:

1290 College Rd.
E. B. White
Ms. White
Dr. Atchley

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

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Not This one . . . ☺

The colon is made with two periods.

It is used for time, and it comes before a list.

Example: 11:35pm

Example: I will need the following items from the store: bananas, grapes, watermelon, and lemons.

The Colon

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The semi-colon is made with a period over a comma. It is

a punctuation mark (;) used to separate parts of a sentence or list and indicating a pause longer than a comma, but shorter than a period. In a sentence, a transition word may follow the semi-colon.

Example: Latte is strong; however, he is no match for the heroic energy of the sun.

The Semi-colon

;

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THE DASH

A dash is a punctuation mark that writers use to denote a sudden break or shift in thought.

(One dash = Two hyphens)

Use the dash:

(1) to indicate a break or shift in thought: For example: Example: Do we -- can we--dare we ask for more money?

(2) to introduce a word or group of words which you wish to emphasize. Example: What he needed most he never got—love.

3) to set off strongly distinguished parenthetical material: Example: I think--no, I am positive -- you should go.

4) to indicate omission of letters and words: For Example: Senator S-- was from my hometown.

I can -- no, I must -- I must dash toward the finish line.

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THE HYPHEN

Mark Of Separation Used Between Parts Of A Word.

USE A HYPHEN:

1) To Separate (Join) The Parts Of Compound Words: Examples: fast-moving; sister-in-law; half-asleep; X-ray; know-it-all; forty-seven; three-fourths

2) To Indicate The Division Of A Word Broken At The End Of A Line: Examples: know-ledge, ste-no-gra-pher

Never divide a monosyllable: Example: strength, laughed
Do not divide a syllable with a silent vowel: Example: climbed, yelled
Do not divide a word with only 4 letters: Example: also, only, open
Divide two consonants standing between vowels: Example: struc-ture, alter-native, exis-ten-tialism
Do not divide sums of money.
Do not divide initials in a name or in proper names.
Do not divide units of time.

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USE QUOTATION MARKS

To enclose every direct quotation and each part of an interrupted quotation: Example: “What will my starting salary be?” I asked the manager. “Well,” he replied, “I’m not sure.”

in a dialogue. Use a separate paragraph for each change of speaker. Example:

“Dad,” cried Neil.

“There, there, everything will be just fine,” his dad said.

3) to enclose words with a widely different level of usage: Example: The person who has “had it” so far is his mother.

4) to enclose chapter headings and the titles of articles:

Example: Grant wood’s famed painting, “American Gothic,” was recently reproduced in American Gothic Journal.

USE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS (‘) to enclose a quotation within a quotation.

Example: The coach said, ”when you say, ‘I’ll be there on time,’ I expect you to mean what you say.”

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

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THE APOSTROPHE’

USES FOR AN APOSTROPHE:

To form a possessive. EX: Joe’s mother’s brother
To indicate a contraction. EX: It’s, which translates to It is.
To indicate omission of a letter from words or a figure from numerals. EX: Yes, ma’am.
To indicate the plurals of letters, numerals, symbols, abbreviations.

EX: Only A’s, B’s and C’s are considered passing grades at the Art institute.

. . . looks like a single quotation mark, but is used for a different purpose.

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

Graphics: Microsoft

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The Comma

The comma is used to separate a list.

Example: My favorite animals are giraffes, dogs, cats, and birds.

It is also used between the date and the year.

Example: Today is March 6, 2007, and I plan to enjoy today.

A comma can also tell you where to pause in a sentence.

Example: All is well, but not necessarily forgotten.

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THE APOSTROPHE’ (cont.)

USE THE APOSTROPHE

1) And s to form the possessive case of a noun not ending in s:

Ex: Children’s; town’s

2) To form the possessive case of a plural noun ending in s:

Ex: Boys’ and ladies’ classrooms

3) Alone or with s to form the possessive of nouns ending is s:

Ex: Robert Burns’ or Burns’s (rule: words of one syllable)

and s in the last element of compound nouns:

Ex: My son-in-law’s boat; King Henry IV’s funeral; somebody else’s ticket

5) To show that letters of figures have been omitted:

Ex: Aren’t; shouldn’t; the civil war was fought 1861-’65.

6) And s to indicate the plurals of numerals, letters, etc. Ex: Uncrossed t’s look like 1’s. He uses too many and’s and but’s in speaking.

Slides info source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt

Graphics: Microsoft

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Parenthesis

Parenthesis -- One of a pair of shallow, curved signs

(, ) used to enclose an additional inserted word or comment and distinguish it from the sentence in which it is found. Parentheses (plural) – [Definition from Microsoft version of Encarta Dictionary: English (North America)]

Parentheses are round brackets: ( )

Example:

Riva (Her name means “one who captivates or possesses an “ensnaring beauty.”) wandered off into the forest and was lost for three days and two nights.

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Bracket

Bracket – (1) one of a pair of symbols, often [ ], used in keying or printing to indicate the insertion of special commentary, such as that made by an editor; (2) an alternative to parentheses. Brackets (plural)

[Definition from Microsoft version of Encarta Dictionary: English (North America)]

Example:

Riva [Her name means “one who captivates or possesses an “ensnaring beauty.”] wandered off into the forest and was lost for three days and two nights.