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Category_MWW Blog>General
Watch Out for the Run-On
Remember that, even though there are little short sentences, they are still sentences if they have their own subject and verb and can stand alone. Punctuating them with a comma creates a run-on.
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Category_MWW Blog>General
You Cannot "Talk" in Run-Ons
Some people have been making this statement: "The attorney just keeps talking in run-ons." He said, "We were together, AND she seemed to be distracted, BUT I didn't say anything to her at the time....
Category_MWW Blog>General
A Note on "Yes" and "No"
When "yes" or "no" is repeated, there are two options: periods or commas. If we want to get technical, if the words are repeated quickly with no pauses, use commas; if the words are said distinctly...
Category_MWW Blog>The Period
A Different Meaning for the Period or Semicolon Before "Is That Correct?"
Deciding to use a period versus a semicolon before "Is that correct?" and expecting your reader to distinguish that they mean something different is an exercise in extreme subtlety. This distinctio...
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
"Where are you going? is my question."
When there are two parts to a sentence, one a statement and one a question, it is the part at the end that determines the terminal punctuation.
...My question is where are you going?
...Where are ...
Category_MWW Blog>General
Two Spaces or One?
There is one space after a period and a colon when you are using a variable font; there are
two spaces after a period and colon when you are using a monofont. In reporting, we
generally use a monof...
Category_MWW Blog>The Period
A Period or an Interrog
When there are two parts to a sentence and one is a statement and the other is a question, it is the one at the end that determines the terminal punctuation.
...What he wants to know is where were...
Category_MWW Blog>General
Starting a Sentence with "And," "But," "Or," "Nor"
There is no English rule that says a sentence cannot begin with and, but, or, nor. I truly believe the idea that this is a rule starts in elementary school, where we all hooked a bunch of sentences...
Category_MWW Blog>The Comma
Period After the Fragment Answer
Remember to put a period after a fragment answer. Do not attach it to the following part of the answer.
Q Where were you waiting at the time?
A At the bus station. We had been there several hou...