On the heels of the beta pair, the question mark is a member of the enforcer corps of the Punctuation Pack. Big and brawny, QM’s expertise is in the field of interrogation. QM likes keeping people guessing. When the big guns are needed, even the alpha period steps aside. Crafty and cunning, QM lies in wait, popping up when all is said and done. QM wants answers and understands the weight of the direct question.
He can do it the easy way by lulling one into a state of comfort and inviting conversation: How are you feeling today?
Or the hard way in an apologetic demand: What do you want from our
pack?
This badass doesn’t have the temerity to deal with indirect questions. Way too passive for him. QM prefers to leave those to his alpha: He asked me how I was feeling.
Well, it’s Hump Day, which means you’ve spent the last two days climbing Mount Work Week. Now, you've reached the summit. From this vantage point, you can see the horizon, and you can just imagine what’s beyond. Humph! Maybe it’s me, but the whole Hump Day imagery strikes me as gloomy.
You see what I mean.
So in a diligent search for some optimism in all this madness, we’ve come to the conclusion that this day should be called PUNCTUATE DAY – much more hopeful, don’t you think?
To distract you from the steadily building stress as you plot your Mount Work Week descent, here is our regularly scheduled spotlight on PUNCTUATION from the perspective of wolf pack.
My attitude toward punctuation is that it ought to be as conventional as possible. The game of golf would lose a good deal if croquet mallets and billiard cues were allowed on the putting green. You ought to be able to show that you can do it a good deal better than anyone else with the regular tools before you have a license to bring in your own improvements.
The colon: beta of the Punctuation Pack. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the semicolon, the colon completes the beta pair for the punctuation pack. Much like the semicolon, the colon takes its duties as beta seriously, providing strong support for the alpha leaders and pack members.
To some, the colon is often deemed the least aggressive of the pair as the semicolon often jockeys for position in the presence of the alphas: period and comma, and rigidly enforces a series of rules to protect the pack.
However, the colon, at 433, is a half-century older than the semicolon and is better versed in diplomacy because of its nature. Straightforward and affable, the colon willingly accepts the call to stand in for the comma or period when the alphas need a break. In fact, its name stems from the Greek kôlon, meaning member or limb, a fact shared with anyone who’ll listen to the consternation of the semicolon.
And though the colon guards well the gate, providing protection of the pack and its alphas, it does have a tendency to elaborate, particularly when introducing any visitors (words, phrases, lists, or sentences) onto the pack land.
THE GATEKEEPER:
Use a COLON before a list, an explanation or an elaboration that follows an independent clause.
Ex: She brought several items for her trip: a bikini, sunscreen, three towels, and a bottle of Evian.
Note: When a list follows a dependent clause, a COLON is not used.
Ex: Items for her trip included a bikini, sunscreen, three towels, and a bottle of Evian.
Ex: My favorite colors are black, red and white.
Ex: The semicolon often jockeys for position in the presence of the alphas: period and comma.
Ex: It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. - Mark Twain
THE HOST:
Use a COLON to introduce more than an independent clause, the word immediately following the colon should begin with a capital letter.
Ex: There are several reasons for a decline in the U.S. marriage rates: One, directly affected by the spiking divorce rates of their parents’ generation, Gen X-ers have a unique awareness and are understandably apprehensive. Two, economic and educational pressures have led many to postpone the marriage rite.
Use a COLON to introduce a direct quote when it follows an independent clause, begin the quote with a capital letter.
Ex: My professor often began his opening lectures on war with his favorite Shakespeare quote: "...For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother."
Use a COLON when the introductory phrase is brief and the independent clause that follows is the meat of the sentence. Begin the clause after the colon with a capital letter.
Ex: Never forget: The sacrifices made on 9/11 ushered in an era defined by the Patriot Act.
Use a COLON after the introductory phrase when the second clause expresses a rule. Begin the clause after the colon with a capital letter.
Ex: Let’s rehash: The colon’s principal role is to explain, elaborate, or list.
APPOSITIVE:
Use a COLON to introduce a sentence in apposition to the sentence it follows. [In apposition means two elements – normally noun phrases – placed side by side, where one element defines or modifies the other.]
Ex: Her contribution was unnecessary: I paid for it.
Use a COLON to separate a subtitle from the main title.
Ex: PUNCTUATION: The Colon – Beta
DIALOGUE: Use a COLON after a speaker’s name in a script, transcript or testimony.
Ex:
Lawyer: Have you ever had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, as that term is defined in Deposition Exhibit 1?
Clinton: I have never had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.
Note: When a COLON introduces dialogue, the first word following the colon should be capitalized.
SYNTAX: Use a COLON to introduce a logical consequence or a deduction.
Ex: The most common use of the colon: Inform the reader that what follows supports what preceded it.
Use a COLON to introduce a description or description set.
Ex: The punctuation pack consists of a beta pair: the semicolon and colon.
Use a COLON to separate chapter and verse in widely-used texts: epic poetry, religious texts and Shakespearean plays.
Ex: My mother greeted each day with “The Lord is my shepherd…” from Psalms 23:1-6.
THE SALUTE: Use a COLON after a salutation in a business letter.
The semicolon is one of the two betas in the punctuation pack. The semicolon takes its duties as beta seriously. As second-in-command, it provides strong support for the alpha leader of the pack: the period. When necessary, it also relieves the burden often placed on the comma. In fact, the semicolon is a lot easier to deal with than the alpha female: comma. Sorry alpha female, but it is what it is.
The semicolon is a straightforward, no-nonsense mark that adheres to fairly clear rules. It is available whenever it’s needed. Otherwise it’s off on patrol, ensuring the punctuation pack remains protected.
--USAGE--
INDEPENDENT CONNECTION: Use a semicolon to connect two closely-related independent clauses. In this case, the semicolon can replace a period. Independent clause stands on its own because it contains a subject + predicate: [I decided – subject] + [to clean the house – predicate].
Ex: I decided to clean the house. He mowed the lawn.
Ex: I decided to clean the house; he mowed the lawn.
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, use a comma.
Ex: I decided to clean the house, but he mowed the lawn.
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, use a semicolon when one or more commas appear in the first sentence.
Ex: I decided to clean the house, and do the laundry; but he mowed the lawn.
A coordinating conjunction connects equals: words to words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses. There are only seven coordinating conjunctions: (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Use mnemonic FANBOYS to recall.
SUPER-COMMA: UNIT SEPARATION: Use a semicolon to separate units of items in a series or list that already contains commas.
Ex: The Miami Heat’s top players are LeBron James, Forward; Dwyane Wade, Point Guard; Ray Allen, Guard; and Chris Bosh, Forward Center.
INTRODUCTION: Use asemicolon before introductory words such as namely, however, therefore, that is, for example, or for instance when they introduce a complete sentence. Use a comma after the introductory word.
Ex: The conglomerate maintains several offices globally; for example, offices are located in Dubai, England, and Germany.
Use either a semicolon or a comma before introductory words such as namely, however, therefore, that is, for example, or for instance when they introduce a list following a complete sentence. Use a comma after the introductory word.
Ex: The conglomerate maintains several offices globally; for example, in Dubai, England, and Germany.
UNBREAKABLE BONDS: When two elements in any list are indelibly linked, a comma is unnecessary.
Ex: This evening I made a salad, roast chicken, macaroni and cheese, and asparagus.
DEPENDENCE: When an independent clause leads a dependent clause, a comma is unnecessary. Ex: He mowed the lawn once the sun set.
SHORTY: When two short independent clauses – separated by a conjunction – have, at least, one clause that is imperative (command or request), a comma is unnecessary.
Ex: Sit down and shut up.
Ex: Live or die.
UNSUB: When the subject is vague or not easily identified, a comma is unnecessary to separate the subject from its descriptive elements.
Ex: A building with three or more floors must register at the licensing bureau.
FAMILIAL: With markers of familial connections: Jr. Sr. II, III, a comma is unnecessary. Ex: Sammy Davis Jr.
UNDATED: When writing the month and year, a comma is unnecessary.
Ex: We met in August 1923.
SPLICE & DICE: With two independent clauses not separated by a coordinating conjunction, a comma should not be used.Using a comma will create an error called a COMMA SPLICE. Not using a comma will also create an error called a RUN-ON. Use a semicolon or period instead.
Ex: The world is coming to an end, global warming is upon us. (Comma Splice)
Ex: The world is coming to an end global warming is upon us. (Run-on)
Ex: The world is coming to an end; global warming is upon us. (√)
Ex: The world is coming to an end. Global warming is upon us. (√)
INTRO: Use a COMMA after any introductory phrase, particularly if it lessens confusion.
Ex: Slamming the apartment door, she realized she left her keys inside.
Ex: “You know, taking us for ice creams in a blizzard... makes you wonder who the real whack jobs are.” –Girl, Interrupted.
Use a COMMA when certain adverbs introduce a sentence: yes, no, however, actually, nonetheless, nevertheless, therefore, now, moreover, well, furthermore & still.
Ex: However, she remembered she kept a spare key in her wallet.
Use a COMMA when certain adverbial phrases introduce a sentence: in fact, in reality, all in all, all told, in truth.
Ex: In fact, she kept a spare key in her wallet.
Follow a parenthetical word or phrase used for introduction with a comma (Intro). Ex: Once upon a time, I was a young, innocent gal.
Precede a parenthetical word or phrase used at the end of sentence with a comma (Outro). Ex: I was young once, damn it!
Frame a parenthetical word or phrase used in the midst of sentence with two commas (Frame).
Ex: I, as you know, am really upset that I’m no longer young.
ADJECTIVELY: Use a COMMA between two adjectives when one is a -ly adjective that can be used alone with a noun.
Ex: He is a lovely, little boy.
Ex: The dish was a saucily succulent addition to the menu. (Saucily is an adverb in spite of ending with –ly.)
REDUNDANT: Use a COMMA between two adjectives when one is a -ly adjective that can be used alone with a noun.
Ex: He is a lovely, little boy.
DIALOGUE: Use COMMAS around names or titles when one character directly addresses another. Capitalize title with direct address.
Ex: “Of course, Lisa, I will follow up.”
Ex: “Am I dying, Doctor?”
Use a COMMA to introduce direct quotations after a verbal action (say, tell, ask, reply, snap, scream, shout, yell, whisper, etc.) Or when a verbal action interrupts direct quotations.
Ex: He turned around and asked, “where have you been?”
Ex: He turned around. “Where have you been?”
Ex: “Where I’ve been," she said, "is not as important as where I’m going."
QUESTION: Use a COMMA to separate a statement from a question.
Ex: You’ll be there, won’t you?
CONTRAST: Use a COMMA to separate contrasting parts of a sentence.
Ex: The black dress is mine, not yours.
DATED: Use a COMMA when writing the month, day, and year.
Ex: We met on August 10, 1923.
ADDRESSED: Use a COMMA to separate a city from a state (when not abbreviated), then another COMMA to separate the state from the remainder of the sentence. When a state is abbreviated, the second comma is unnecessary.
Ex: She lived in Miami Beach, Florida, for four years.
Ex: She lived in Miami Beach, Fl for four years.
RESPECTED: Use a COMMA after a proper name when the phrase contains professional degrees or titles. Ex: Charles Stuart, M.D.
