Punctuation archives - Writing for Business

Writing for Business:

punctuation

Nov 12 2009   2:09PM GMT

Semicolons and complex lists



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
semicolons, punctuation, complex lists, MRP systems, manufacturing, conjunctions, Business writing, grammar, Quiz

Which is correct?
An MRP system should satisfy three objectives: ensuring that materials and products are available for production and delivery; maintaining the lowest possible level of ___________ planning manufacturing activities, delivery schedules and purchasing activities.
a. inventory and
b. inventory; and
Continued »

Oct 7 2009   2:14PM GMT

Colons and semicolons



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, colons and semicolons, introducing lists, grammar, punctuation, Business writing, Quiz

Which is correct?
A bar code symbol typically consists of five _____ a quiet zone, a start character, data characters, a stop character and another quiet zone.
a. parts:
b. parts;
Continued »


Oct 5 2009   12:56PM GMT

When does AP condone the serial comma?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, serial comma, commas, punctuation, grammar, Business writing, Quiz

Which is correct?
Degaussing is used for a wide and disparate variety of items including ship hulls, _______ and CRT television sets and computer monitors.
a. storage media
b. storage media,
Continued »


Oct 2 2009   2:02PM GMT

Commas to set off occupations?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, commas, commas to set off occupations, punctuation, grammar, Business writing, Quiz

Which is correct?
Bookmarklets are just one of the Web-related interests of ____________ Steve Kangas.
a. the mathematician,
b. the mathematician
Continued »


Sep 30 2009   4:41PM GMT

When should you use commas with “such as” and “including”?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, such as, including, commas, punctuation, grammar, Business writing, Quiz

Which is correct?
We have received expressions of concern about wiretap Trojans from various _________ the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the Privacy Coalition.
a. groups, including
b. groups including
Continued »


Sep 9 2009   4:51PM GMT

Does a question mark go inside or outside of quotation marks?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, quotation marks, question marks, punctuation, quotation marks and punctuation, Business writing, Quiz

Which is correct?
After the presentation, several attendees asked “What are the drawbacks to _________
a. virtualization?”
b. virtualization”?

Answer: a

Explanation:
According to AP style, a question mark is inside quotation marks if that part is the question and outside the quotation marks if the whole sentence is a question. (The same rule applies to exclamation marks and dashes. Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.)

Grammarbook.com has more information about quotation marks and punctuation.

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Sep 3 2009   2:47PM GMT

Colons vs. semicolons



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, punctuation, colons / semicolons, Business writing, grammar, Quiz

Follow us on Twitter@tao_of_grammar

Which is correct?
The CEO cannot _____ he’s given so much slack that even his most dismal catastrophes are hailed as triumphs.
a. fail;
b. fail:

Continued »


Aug 26 2009   4:13PM GMT

Colons and semicolons



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, colons / semicolons, Business writing, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, Quiz
typing Which is correct?
Every day, most people use one or more of these types of _______ estimation, educated guesses and common sense.
a. heuristics:
b. heuristics;

Continued »


Aug 3 2009   1:35PM GMT

Starting a sentence with “because” — comma required?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, punctuation, starting a sentence with "because", conjunctions, starting a sentence with a conjunction, sentence structure, AP style, Business writing, Quiz
typing Which is correct?
Because the power wiring system was designed for _____ its ability to carry higher frequencies is limited.
a. AC,
b. AC

Continued »


Jul 20 2009   3:09PM GMT

Colons and semicolons



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
CIO, colons / semicolons; business writing, punctuation, Quiz
typing Which is correct?
Here’s one of our favorite technology ________ the parts of your computer that you can hit with a hammer are called hardware and the parts you can only curse at are called software.
a. quotations;
b. quotations:

Continued »