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In making this distinction, you choose the way it is transcribed depending on how verbatim you want to be. When "eighteen and one half" is said, then it is a mixed number, and the rule says that mi...

When the word "number" and the number itself delineate an item in a list, it is best to write both of them out to avoid some confusing situations. ...They were, number one, $243; number two, $867;...

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...

The words too and also generally do not need commas with the exception of also at the beginning of the sentence. Historically too and also had commas before them at the end of the sentence. Si...

Take a look at the two basic ways that commas are used: All commas are used to either separate two language elements and push them apart or to surround a language element. The latter implies that t...

If a noun is listed as separate words, then it stays separate words -- and is not hyphenated -- as a direct (right in front of the noun) adjective. ...He is in real estate. ...He is a real estate ...

A discussion of this construction comes up about once a month. Is there or is there not a comma after "that" in the following sentence. ...I knew that, if I turned right, I'd get there sooner. Th...

When the word "number" is said and is followed by a figure, it is abbreviated except when it begins a sentence since it would look like hte word "no." ...It refers to Section No. 123. ...I am on p...

The rule about "bumping up" the comma to a semicolon in a compound sentence with a coordinate conjunction has to do with obscuring the division in the sentence. Does the other punctuation "hide" t...