When to Use a Comma: 10 Rules and Examples

Commas can be a particularly tricky punctuation mark. There are some cases where you know you should use a comma – such as when separating items in a list – but there are other times when you might be unsure whether or not a comma is needed.

While there’s some degree of flexibility in how commas are used, it’s important to have a clear grasp of the rules.

Seven Places Where You SHOULD Use Commas

Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List

This probably the first use of commas you learned in school: separating items in a list of three or more things.

Here’s an example:

The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word “eggs”. For more on this, see Rule #8.

Rule #2: Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase

When a word or phrase forms an introduction to a sentence, you should follow it with a comma, as recommended by Purdue OWL.

Here are some examples:

However, she didn’t love him back.

On the other hand, it might be best to wait until next week.

Rule #3: Use a Comma Before a Quotation

You should always put a comma immediately before a quotation:

He said, “It’s warm today.”

John Smith told us, “You can’t come in after ten o’clock.”

Rule #4: Use a Comma to Separate a Dependent Clause That Comes BEFORE the Independent Clause

A dependent clause, or subordinate clause, is one that can’t stand alone as a whole sentence. It should be separated from the independent clause that follows it using a comma:

If you can’t make it, please call me.

After the race, John was exhausted.

However, it’s normally not necessary to use a comma if the independent clause comes first:

Please call me if you can’t make it.

John was exhausted after the race.

For more on this, plus an example of an instance where a comma is required after the independent clause, take a look at Subordinate Clauses and Commas.

Rule #5: Use a Comma to Join Two Long Independent Clauses

Normally, you should put a comma between two complete sentences that are joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) that creates a single sentence with two independent clauses:

Sue didn’t know whether she had enough money in her account to pay for the groceries, so she went to an ATM to check her balance.

John was determined to get the unicorn slime his daughter wanted, but all the shops had sold out.

You don’t need a comma if both the independent clauses are relatively short and similar in meaning:

Sue went to the shops and John went home.

Rule #6: Use Commas to Set Off an Nonessential Element within a Sentence

Sometimes, you might want to include extra information within a sentence that isn’t essential to its meaning. You should set this information off using a comma before and a comma after it:

John went for a jog, which took half an hour,before having a long hot shower.

Writing a book, if I haven’t put you off already, is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

The sections in bold could be removed from the sentences completely and it would still make perfectly good sense. You could also use dashes in this context:

John went for a jog – which took half an hour –before having a long hot shower.

Dashes are useful if you want to imply a longer pause, or draw more attention to the nonessential element of the sentence. They’re also useful if you have several other commas in the sentence, to help avoid confusion.

Rule #7: Use Commas to Separate Coordinate Adjectives

When you’re describing something with two or more adjectives, you can use a comma between them if those adjectives are coordinating. (They’re coordinating if you could place “and” between them.) You shouldn’t put a comma after the final adjective.

For example:

He’s a cheerful, kind boy.

A comma is used here, because it would also make sense to say, “He’s a cheerful and kind boy”.

There’s a blue bath towel on your bed.

Here, “bath” is acting as an adjective to modify “towel”, but it’s not coordinate with “blue”. It wouldn’t make sense to say, “There’s a blue and bath towel,” so no comma is used.

For more on coordinate and non-coordinate adjectives, check out this post.

One Place When You CAN Use a Comma

While commas are normally either required or not required, there’s one key instance when you can choose whether or not to use a comma – and either option is equally correct.

Rule #8: If You Use a Serial Comma, Use it Consistently

A list of items can be punctuated like this:

We need bread, milk, cheese, and eggs.

Or like this:

We need bread, milk, cheese and eggs.

In the first case, the “serial comma” or “Oxford comma” is used after the penultimate item in the list. In the second case, that comma is omitted.

Some writers have very strong feelings for and against the serial comma. In general, it’s more commonly used in American English than in British English, but you’ll find that opinions vary on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ultimately, it’s up to you (and your editor!) whether or not you use it. The only rule here is to be consistent throughout your piece of writing.

Two Places Where You Shouldn’t Use Commas

Sometimes, writers end up inserting unnecessary commas or using commas incorrectly. Here are two common issues to watch out for in your writing.

Rule #9: Don’t Use a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses (Without a Conjuction)

If you have two independent clauses, you can’t just use a comma to join them. You can use a semi-colon, or you can use a conjunction plus a comma.

Incorrect: There were no clouds in the sky, I went for a jog.

Correct: There were no clouds in the sky; I went for a jog.

Correct: There were no clouds in the sky, so I went for a jog.

The incorrect version is called a “comma splice”.

Rule #10: Don’t Separate a Compound Subject or Compound Object With Commas

If you have a compound subject or a compound object in a sentence that consists of two nouns, you shouldn’t separate the parts of it using commas.

For instance:

Incorrect: The rain poured down on John, and Sue.

Correct: The rain poured down on John and Sue.

Incorrect: The rain, and the wind battered the house.

Correct: The rain and the wind battered the house.

I hope this helps you make more sense of commas. They’re a tricky punctuation mark because they’re used in so many different contexts. Many writers do struggle with them, so don’t feel bad if you find them hard to get to grips with.

If you’re finding commas particularly tricky, though, you might want to use an app like ProWritingAid (reviewed here) to help check your writing. As well as helping you ensure your writing is correct, this will make you more aware of when you’re not using commas correctly.

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-use-a-comma-rules-examples/

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Understanding “Either … Or” and “Neither … Nor”

If you’re presenting two alternatives, you’ll often use an “either … or” or a “neither … nor” construction. Here’s how those work:

You can choose either cereal or toast for your breakfast.

My friend’s car is neither green nor brown.

Either is used in the affirmative sense, when you’re presenting possibilities that are both true or valid.

Neither is used in the negative sense, when you’re presenting things that aren’t true or valid.

So far, so straightforward – but you might have some questions about using “either … or” and “neither … nor” correctly.

What About “Neither … Or”?

You may well have come across sentences like these:

I’m neither angry or upset.

This isn’t grammatically correct. The sentence should be rewritten as I’m neither angry nor upset.

However, using “neither … nor” can sound unduly formal or even a little archaic. If you want to avoid that, consider rewriting the sentence (e.g. “I’m not angry and I’m not upset.”)

Can You Use “Either … Or ” and “Neither … Nor” With More That Two Items?

You might wonder whether sentences like these are permissible:

She will have to choose either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

There is neither bread, milk, nor jam.

Grammarians differ on this point, but there’s a long history of both “either … or” and “neither … nor” being used for three or more items. If you’re writing for a particularly formal publication, though, you might want to stick to just two items when you’re using “either … or” or “neither … nor”.

Some Additional Rules for “Either … Or”  and “Neither … Nor”

It can be tricky to figure out verb agreement when you’re using these constructions. Here’s what you need to know:

Use a Singular Verb if Both Elements Are Singular

If the alternatives presented are both singular, then use a singular verb, like this:

Either James or Mary has hidden the sweets.

Neither the van nor the car is fast enough.

Use a Plural Verb if One (or Both) Elements Are Plural

If one or both of the alternatives are plural, use a plural verb:

Either the boys or the girls have hidden the sweets.

Neither the van nor the cars are fast enough.

Omit “Either” But Not “Neither”

It often makes sense to have a sentence without the word “either”, such as:

James or Mary has hidden the sweets.

The boys or the girls have hidden the sweets.

However, you can’t omit “neither” from a sentence – the “nor” can’t stand on its own.

Here are some quick rules of thumb to remember about “either … or” and “neither … nor”:

• The word either should never be paired with
• The word neither should never be paired with
• You can only use nor in a sentence if there’s a neither (Some people say that “not … nor” is also a valid construction, but it’s safer to stick with “neither”).

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/understanding-either-or-and-neither-nor/

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5 Wordy Sentences Examples and Corrections

The careful writer always reviews their prose, and one of the qualities they aspire to demonstrate is conciseness, or brevity of expression. Revision of the following wordy sentences, accompanied by commentary about the revision, provides specific examples of the types of verbosities to eliminate.

1. There are seventy-seven industry-specific codified standards, launched in November 2018 at the London Stock Exchange, that are available on the agency’s website. The seventy-seven industries are arrayed among eleven sectors.

One of the most obvious opportunities to render prose more concise is when information is repeated, sometimes verbatim. Here, the number of industries, each with a specific standard, is referred to twice; in the second sentence, only the number of sectors is new information, and that can be integrated into the slightly revised first sentence as a parenthetical: “Seventy-seven industry-specific codified standards, arrayed among industries in eleven sectors, were launched in November 2018 at the London Stock Exchange and are available on the agency’s website.”

2. If the company and/or its workforce resists change, it will only hamper the company’s growth and success, the result of which will likely be other changes such as restructuring and layoffs.

Here, the momentum of the sentence is halted by the insertion of a pronoun whose antecedent is not immediately apparent. Hidden within the subordinate clause that includes the sentence’s supposed subject, the actual focus of the sentence is relegated to a verb phrase. To reduce the length of the sentence, convert that phrase to a noun phrase, replace the pronoun with the jettisoned subject, and further revise the sentence to make it even more concise: “Resistance to change will only hamper the company’s growth and success, likely resulting in other changes such as restructuring and layoffs.”

3. This is a first-of-its-kind study and has produced a wealth of valuable data about cybersecurity.

This sentence includes two facts that are related—they both pertain to the study—but not relevant to each other. The first fact, that the study is the first of its kind, can remain embedded as a phrasal adjective, but the noun it modifies should replace the weak pronoun this as the subject (although thisremains as a modifier for study), rendering the conjunction is and the conjunction andsuperfluous: “This first-of-its-kind study has produced a wealth of valuable data about cybersecurity.”

4. The possibility of allowing users to self-declare to designated authorities on a voluntary basis is still being considered.

The reference to the possibility of enacting a policy is nearly redundant to the phrase indicating that the policy is being considered, so the sentence can be condensed somewhat by beginning with allowing: “Allowing users to voluntarily self-declare to designated authorities is still being considered.”

Better yet, however, revise the sentence to make it more active in construction. Assuming the identity of the entity considering the policy is known, the following revision is slightly longer than the first effort at amendment but more direct: “The agency is still considering allowing users to voluntarily self-declare to designated authorities.”

5. The practitioner should obtain the patient’s written permission before forwarding health records that contain information of a sensitive nature.

Be alert to the phrase construction “of a . . . nature,” which is easily replaced by one word by relocating the adjective that completes the phrase to immediately before the preceding noun and deleting the rest of the phrase: “The practitioner should obtain the patient’s written permission before forwarding health records that contain sensitive information.”

The phrase “in a . . . manner” is also verbose. However, it is revised differently because it modifies a verb, not a noun, as in “She drove in a reckless manner,” where the adjective reckless is converted to the adverb recklessly before being inserted after drove: “She drove recklessly.” (This is also true of “on a . . . basis.”) Also, this phrase with timely is a special case because, although the word technically functions as both an adjective and an adverb, it is seldom used in the latter role as a more concise version of “in a timely manner,” as in “The letter was delivered timely.” However, synonyms such as promptly, swiftly, and quicklyare available as substitutes.

Of the five sentences above, the last is perhaps the most egregiously verbose; “of a . . . nature” and similar constructions are symptomatic of a writer’s misguided efforts to create a formal, authoritative tone, which instead often obscures rather than clarifies. Active, direct, vivid, and concise written expression is effective written expression.

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/wordy-sentences/

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Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Examples

One of the rules of language that you almost certainly know, even if you’ve never thought about it consciously, is that subjects and verbs must agree with each other in number.

If that sounds a bit complicated or mathematical, here are a couple of very simple examples to show this in action:

• The child plays at the park. (Singular)
• The children play at the park. (Plural)

A singular noun needs a singular verb; a plural noun needs a plural verb.

If you’re a native English speaker, you probably never think about this when you’re writing, but you know the rule, all the same.

For instance, if I showed you these sentences, you’d know instantly that they were wrong – and you’d know how to correct them:

• The child play at the park.
• The children plays at the park.

In these sentences, it’s very clear how to make the subject and verb “agree” – so that they match grammatically.

Sometimes, though, subject-verb agreement isn’t quite so straightforward, and it can trip up even native, fluent English writers.

Here are six key rules to be aware of:

Rule #1: A Clause Between the Subject and Verb Will Not Change the Verb

Let’s say we had a sentence like this:

• The child with no friends plays at the park.

“The child” is still the subject of the sentence, and “plays” is still the verb. Although the clause “with no friends” has the plural noun “friends,” this does notchange the verb – because the verb still applies to “child”.

Tip: If you’re struggling with this, read the sentence aloud without the clause between the subject and the verb, and see if it still makes sense.

Rule #2: Use a Plural Verb if Two Singular Subjects are Joined with “And”

Let’s say you have a sentence like this:

• Max and Susan play at the park.

That sentence is correct. Although “Max” is singular and “Susan” is singular, they’re joined with “and” – making them a compound subject, which is plural.

Rule #3: Inverted Subjects Must Still Agree With the Verb

In English, the normal sentence order is subject – verb – object. Sometimes this is inverted, though, with the verb coming before the subject … and it’s still important that the verb still agrees with the inverted subject.

Here’s an example:

• There is a child on the swings. (Child is singular.)
• There are five children at the park.(Children is plural.)

And here’s another:

• What was Jane telling you? (“Jane” is singular.)
• What were Jane and Susan telling you? (“Jane and Susan” is plural.)

Again, when you’re speaking or writing, you probably don’t have to think about this too hard. If English is your second language, though, or if you’re writing particularly complex sentences, it’s helpful to keep subject-verb agreement in mind.

Rule #4: If Two Or More Subjects Are Joined With “Or”, Use the Closest to the Verb for Agreement

Let’s say you have a sentence like this:

• Either Jack or the children are too loud.

Is “are” the correct verb to use here, even though Jack is singular? Yes, it is, because the closest subject to the verb is “the children”.

Let’s rewrite the sentence:

• Either the children or Jack is too loud.

Here, “is” is correct, because “Jack” is the closest subject to the verb.

In both of these cases, you may feel the sentence reads slightly awkwardly. If so, you might want to rewrite or reconsider the sentence so that the verb can agree with both subjects:

• Either Jack or one of the children is too loud.

Rule #5: Indefinite Pronouns Normally Take Singular Verbs

Most indefinite pronouns, like “everyone” and “nobody”, take singular verbs. For instance:

• Everyone loves chocolate.
• Nobody wants to die young.

Some indefinite pronouns, though, always take the plural form. These include few, many, several, both, all, and some, when used as pronouns.

For instance:

• All were impressed by what they saw.

Rule #6: Collective Nouns Can be Singular OR Plural

Collective nouns, like “committee” and “audience”, can be singular or plural depending on the context. In writing your sentence, you’ll need to consider whether the group in question is acting as a unit or as a set of individuals.

Here are some examples:

• The committee asks new members to sign Form A1. (Singular subject and verb.)
• The committee were unable to reach a unanimous decision. (Plural subject and verb.)

Some writers prefer to make collective nouns plural by adding extra words, such as “Members of”:

• Members of the committee were unableto reach a unanimous decision.

Look Out For Subject-Verb Agreement When Editing

Even though you may feel that subject-verb agreement comes naturally to you, a key time to watch out for it is during the editing phase of your writing. It’s all too easy to edit half a sentence, perhaps to change a singular subject to a plural one, only to leave the second half unaltered … and hence incorrect.

Here’s an example of where rewriting part of a sentence necessitates changing several different verbs later on in the sentence:

When a writer is stuck, he stares out of the window, rearranges the pencils on his desk, and in short, does anything to avoid writing.

If you wanted to make that sentence more gender inclusive, without using the singular they (which some writers prefer to avoid), you might recast it as:

When writers are stuck, they stare out of the window, rearrange the pencils on their desks, and in short, do anything to avoid writing.

It’s important to make sure you check all the verbs in a long or complex sentence to ensure they all still agree with the subject.

If at any point you find you’re unsure whether your sentence is correct, try reading it aloud: this will often highlight mistakes that are harder to spot on the page. If that doesn’t work for you, consider rewriting the sentence to simplify it – or pop a comment below to see if anyone else can help!

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/subject-verb-agreement-rules/

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Oscar Nominations 2020: The Complete List

Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” a comic-book origin story about Batman’s biggest foe, scored a leading 11 Oscar nominations on Monday, including best picture, best director for Phillips and best actor for Joaquin Phoenix.

Martin Scorsese’s mob epic “The Irishman,” Quentin Tarantino’s ode to Los Angeles “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and Sam Mendes’ war drama “1917” followed close behind with 10 nods a piece. Those films, along with “Ford v Ferrari,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story” and “Parasite” will compete for best picture.

Female filmmakers were entirely shut out of the best director race. Along with Phillips, the nominees include Scorsese for “The Irishman,” Mendes for “1917,” Tarantino for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and Bong Joon Ho for “Parasite.”

The Academy Awards will air live Feb. 9 on ABC.

Here is the full list of 2020 Oscar nominations:

Best Picture:

“Ford v Ferrari”

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Joker”

“Little Women”

“Marriage Story”

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

“Parasite”

Lead Actor:

Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

Lead Actress:

Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”

Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”

Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”

Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”

Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

Supporting Actor:

Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Al Pacino, “The Irishman”

Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”

Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Supporting Actress:

Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”

Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”

Florence Pugh, “Little Women”

Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

Director:

Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”

Todd Phillips, “Joker”

Sam Mendes, “1917”

Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”

Animated Feature:

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” Dean DeBlois

“I Lost My Body,” Jeremy Clapin

“Klaus,” Sergio Pablos

“Missing Link,” Chris Butler

“Toy Story 4,”  Josh Cooley

Animated Short:

“Dcera,” Daria Kashcheeva

“Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry

“Kitbull,” Rosana Sullivan

“Memorable,” Bruno Collet

“Sister,” Siqi Song

Adapted Screenplay:

“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian

“Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi

“Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver

“Little Women,” Greta Gerwig

“The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten

Original Screenplay:

“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson

“Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach

“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino

“Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han

Cinematography:

“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto

“Joker,” Lawrence Sher

“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke

“1917,” Roger Deakins

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson

Best Documentary Feature:

“American Factory,” Julia Rieichert, Steven Bognar

“The Cave,” Feras Fayyad

“The Edge of Democracy,” Petra Costa

“For Sama,” Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts

“Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov

Best Documentary Short Subject:

“In the Absence,” Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam

“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger

“Life Overtakes Me,” Kristine Samuelson and John Haptas

“St. Louis Superman,” Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan

“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” Laura Nix

Best Live Action Short Film:

“Brotherhood,” Meryam Joobeur

“Nefta Football Club,” Yves Piat

“The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry

“Saria,” Bryan Buckley

“A Sister,” Delphine Girard

Best International Feature Film:

“Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa

“Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov

“Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly

“Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodovar

“Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho

Film Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland

“The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker

“Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles

“Joker,” Jeff Groth

“Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

Sound Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester

“Joker,” Alan Robert Murray

“1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Wylie Stateman

“Star Wars: The Rise of SkyWalker,” Matthew Wood, David Acord

Sound Mixing:

“Ad Astra”

“Ford v Ferrari”

“Joker”

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Production Design:

“The Irishman,” Bob Shaw and Regina Graves

“Jojo Rabbit,” Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova

“1917,” Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh

“Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee

Original Score:

“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir

“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat

“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman

“1917,” Thomas Newman

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams

Original Song:

“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”

“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”

“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”

“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2”

“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

Makeup and Hair:

“Bombshell”

“Joker”

“Judy”

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”

“1917”

Costume Design:

”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson

“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo

“Joker,” Mark Bridges

“Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips

Visual Effects:

“Avengers Endgame”

“The Irishman”

“1917”

“The Lion King”

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Sumber: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/

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The 14 English Punctuation Marks With Examples

Do you know how to use punctuation marks correctly in English? While some might seem straightforward, you may come across punctuation marks that you’re unsure about … so this post is designed to serve as a handy reference. 

You’ll find “further reading” suggestions for each punctuation mark, if you want to explore it in more detail.

Note: We’re going to focus on American English punctuation, but when there’s a difference in British English usage, I’ll explain that too.

Punctuation Marks That End Sentences

#1: Period

This is the first punctuation mark that children learn: the period (or, if you’re British, “full stop”) at the end of a sentence.

Sarah ran to school.

It’s also used after (and sometimes in) many abbreviations:

Mrs. Jones waved to Sarah.

Some employees, e.g. receptionists, need to work set hours.

Note, however, that British English normally omits the period after Mr, Mrs,  and Ms. 

Further Reading:

One or Two Spaces After a Period?

Simple sentences, period.

Punctuation Review #2: Honorifics

#2: Question Mark

If a sentence poses a direct question, it should end with a question mark.

Did you remember to buy milk?

How much do I owe you?

Is this the right way to the park?

Further Reading:

The Question Mark

When Is a Question Not a Question?

#3: Exclamation Point

The exclamation point (or “exclamation mark” in British English) is used to add emphasis or to indicate that words are being spoken in excitement, surprise, or alarm.

I just heard the news – congratulations!

“Oh no!” She stared at the mess in dismay. 

Exclamation points are not normally appropriate in formal writing, such as academic essays or business reports. You should only use one exclamation point unless you’re writing something very informal (such as a text message to a friend).

Further Reading:

Multiple Points of Exclamation!!

A Guide to Terminal Punctuation 

Punctuation Marks Within Sentences

#4: Comma

Commas can be used in a number of ways, including to separate elements of a sentence, or to separate items in a list.

They’re used after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence:

After the play, we went for dinner.

They’re also used to separate items in a list:

Peter found a marble, a button, and a piece of string.

Commas can also be used within large numbers to make them easier to read:

I had $1,500 to spend on a holiday.

Note that commas aren’t used when giving a year in numerals: it’s 2019 nor 2,019.

Further Reading:

When to Use a Comma: 10 Rules and Examples

A Comma (or Its Absence) Can Change a Sentence’s Message

5 Sentences in Need of Commas

The Rationale for the Serial Comma

#5: Colon

A colon can be used to introduce an example or series of items, or to join two independent clauses (where the second clause explains the first). It can also be used to introduce a quotation, though it isn’t always the best choice of punctuation mark for that.

For the school trip, please bring:

• A water bottle

• A sun hat

• Some spending money

I went home: there was no point staying after Sally had gone.

Further Reading:

When to Use a Colon: Rules and Examples

Pesky Colons and Semicolons

Quotations with Colons

#6: Semicolon

The semicolon (sometimes written as semi-colon) is used to join together two independent clauses that could otherwise stand as independent sentences. Both these examples are grammatically correct:

My friends caught the bus without me. I was left standing around on my own.

My friends caught the bus without me; I was left standing around on my own.

Semicolons can also be used in place of commas in a list that has commas within the list items. For instance:

I plan to visit: France, where I’ll see the Eiffel Tower;England, where I’ll see Buckingham Palace; and Germany, where I’ll see Neuschwanstein Castle.

Further Reading:

Proper Use of The Semicolon

3 Examples of How Semicolons Strengthen a Sentence

#7: Dash

The dash (not to be confused with the hyphen) is a handy punctuation mark that can often be used to replace parentheses or a colon. For instance:

The girl rose her hand (tentatively). 

The girl rose her hand—tentatively. 

It can also be used to indicate an interruption (e.g. in dialogue).

There are two types of dash:

The en-dash: –

The em-dash: —

In American English, the em-dash is normally used in sentences, as in the example above. The en-dash is used to indicate a span of time or a range of numbers:

From 2012–2014, I was at university.

Some publications, such as the Guardian, use the en-dash in place of the em-dash. If you do this, you should put spaces around the en-dash.

Further Reading:

How to Use Dashes

A Guide to Hyphens and Dashes

#8: Quotation Marks

Quotation marks enclose words that are a direct quotation. They’re used around dialogue, like this:

John said, “What’s the matter with you?”

Martin sighed. “You know what’s the matter.”

Quotation marks are always used in pairs. They can be double or single: double is more common in American English and single in British English. Quotes within quotes should use the alternative type of quotation mark:

Martin said, “When I saw Amy, she told me, ‘That’s it, we’re done.’ Do you think she really meant it?”

Further Reading:

All About Quotation Marks

5 Functions of Quotation Marks

Punctuation Errors: Quotation Marks for Emphasis

#9: Ellipsis

The ellipsis is used to indicate a pause or gap:

I wanted to make it up to her… eventually. 

It can also be used within quotations to indicate missing words, which is useful when you want to shorten a long quotation.

The ellipsis should always consist of three dots – don’t put five or six for emphasis, except in the most informal writing.

Further Reading:

The Elusive Ellipsis

All About Ellipses

In Search of a 4-Dot Ellipsis

#10: Parentheses

Parentheses are used for asides and clarifying information, like this:

She was his sister (from his father’s first marriage).

In most cases, you can replace parentheses with a comma without changing the meaning. If a sentence ends with the parentheses, the period (or question mark or exclamation mark) should go outside the parentheses, unless they enclose the whole sentence.

In British English, parentheses are called brackets.

Further Reading:

15 Purposes for Parentheses

#11: Brackets

Brackets are normally used to add clarity to a sentence, such as when you’re quoting someone. They indicate the addition of your words rather than the words of the person you’re quoting. For instance:

As John Smith writes, “[Winter] is a wonderful time of year, where everything lies in wait for the new life of Spring.”

In British English, these are called square brackets.

Further Reading:

A Complete Guide to Parentheses and Brackets

#12: Braces

Braces are rarely used outside mathematical expressions and computer programming, where they keep elements together. Here’s an example:

img.emoji {

display: inline !important;

border: none !important;

}

Punctuation Marks Within Words

#13: Apostrophe

The apostrophe has two main purposes: to indicate a possessive, and to indicate a missing letter. It’s used within words, like this:

Sam’s cake was much nicer than the one Tom made.

I don’t have time to get involved.

Be careful not to use apostrophes in plurals, and watch out for words that are easily confused, like “its” (belonging to it) and “it’s” (short for “it is”). 

Further Reading:

Functions of the Apostrophe

Punctuation Errors: Apostrophe for Plurals

The Singular Possessive Apostrophe

#14: Hyphen

The hyphen joins two (sometimes more) words together into a compound word. For instance:

He studies eighteenth–century literature.

We want to foster our students’ self–confidence. 

I get on very well with my mother–in–law.

It can be tricky to know which words should use a hyphen and which don’t, especially as usage tends to change over time. The word e-mail is now more often written email, for instance. A grammar checker like ProWritingAid or Grammarly can help, or you can search on Google to see how the word tends to be written by others.

Further Reading:

Hyphens Guide: Functions and Examples

5 Tips to Understand Hyphenated Words

—

Punctuation might seem tricky, and the rules can sometimes seem confusing. The main thing to remember is that punctuation exists to help make your meaning clear. 

By using punctuation marks correctly, you ensure that what you’ve written is easy for your readers to understand. If you’re struggling with any of these punctuation marks, take a look at the further reading suggestions for extra guidance … or dig through the Punctuation archive of articles for lots more help. 

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/14-english-punctuation-marks/

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5 Problems with Parenthesis

Parenthesis is the strategy of setting a word, phrase, or clause off from a sentence to interject additional information into that statement. Despite the name, parenthesis can be accomplished with two commas or a pair of dashes as well as with a brace of parentheses. However, several problems can occur when writers attempt to parenthesize: The punctuation employed is not appropriate, the parenthesis is not framed with complementary punctuation, the parenthesis is misplaced in the sentence, the inclusion of the parenthesis is grammatically faulty, or what appears to be a parenthetical element is in fact something else. The following sentences illustrate these five problems respectively.

1. He took it from me, stole it, really, years ago.

Really is a parenthesis subordinate to “stole it” (a parenthesis can follow rather than interrupt the phrase or clause it supplements), and “stole it, really” is a parenthesis subordinate to “He took it from me years ago,” so a hierarchy of punctuation should be employed to clarify the sentence organization. Because dashes are more emphatic than commas, they should assume the major parenthetical role; the comma separating “stole it” and really remains as a marker of the secondary parenthesis: “He took it from me—stole it, really—years ago.”

2. Extra money and facilities must be focused on, not away from the disadvantaged.

The writer intended “Extra money and facilities must be focused on the disadvantaged” to be the main clause, with “not away from” as the parenthesis, but the second of a tandem team of punctuation marks is missing: “Extra money and facilities must be focused on, not away from, the disadvantaged.” (Often, a main clause or a parenthesis also lacks one or more words because the writer failed to be vigilant about making the two sentence elements complementary, rendering the sentence grammatically flawed; search for “interpolated coordination” on this site for posts about this related issue.)

3. Attacks relating to phishing fraud attempts have been very common in recent times (e.g., someone posing as an organization’s CEO emails its chief financial officer to request an urgent payment transfer).

A parenthesis should be directly adjacent to the element of the sentence it pertains to. This parenthesis relates to “attacks relating to fraud attempts,” not to “recent times,” so it should immediately follow the former phrase: “Attacks relating to phishing fraud attempts (e.g., someone posing as an organization’s CEO emails its chief financial officer to request an urgent payment transfer) have been very common in recent times.”

4. The financial services industry has raised concerns related to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s (BCFP) authority to take action against financial institutions.

When using a term that will be subsequently referred to by an acronym or initialism, introduce the abbreviation in parentheses immediately following the spelled-out term. However, avoid doing so when using the term possessively and following the parenthesis with a noun that is a referent of the possessive; recast the sentence so that the possessive form of the term is not employed: “The financial services industry has raised concerns related to the authority of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) to take action against financial institutions.”

5. But the battle has not been lost—the battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve—as one door closes, another is opened.

This sentence is punctuated as if “the battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve” is a parenthetical statement interrupting the framing sentence, but the statement that remains when the parenthesis is omitted is “But the battle has not been lost[;] as one door closes, another is opened.” The resulting sentence makes sense, but when the omitted phrase is reinserted, the final clause reads as if it is an offshoot of the reinstated phrase, rather than a parenthetical phrase interrupting the two clauses. In other words, this sentence’s syntax does not support a parenthetical phrase.

Each dash, by itself, correctly signals that a shift in syntax is imminent (another function of the dash besides parenthesis), but so that the two dashes are not misinterpreted as bracketing a parenthetical comment, another punctuation mark should replace one dash or the other; any of the following solutions are suitable:

A. “But the battle has not been lost—the battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve; as one door closes, another is opened.”
B. “But the battle has not been lost—the battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve. As one door closes, another is opened.”
C. “But the battle has not been lost: The battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve—as one door closes, another is opened.”
D. “But the battle has not been lost. The battlefield keeps changing and continuing to evolve—as one door closes, another is opened.”

Any of these revisions will resolve the issue; I prefer either of the two that result in two sentences: examples B or D.

Sumber: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/5-problems-with-parenthesis/

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