Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Colons - Learning English

Colons - Learning English

2:31 PM
 Colons - Learning English

Colons: Use a colon for three main reasons: (1) to introduce a list, (2) to introduce a quotation, or (3) to set up a second clause that answers the first. The one main rule with colons is that an independent clause must precede the colon.
  • They looked up at the constellations and could see a multitude of different patterns Orion, the Big Dipper, Cassiopia, and the Bear.
  • Correction: They looked up at the constellations and could see a multitude of different patterns: Orion, the Big Dipper, Cassiopia, and the Bear.
  • When Frank was confident he had Sally's respect, he asked her a big question "Will you marry me?"
  • Correction: Frank was confident he had Sally's respect, he asked her a big question: "Will you marry me?"
  • Sally answered briefly and softly: "Love is like an ocean wave. It rolls into shore from seemingly nowhere."
  • Correction: Sally answered briefly and softly: "Love is like an ocean wave: it rolls into shore from seemingly nowhere."

Dashes - Learning English

Dashes - Learning English

2:29 PM
Dashes - Learning English

Dashes: Dashes are used to set off an additional thought in your sentence. This additional thought doesn't need to be an independent clause or complete thought at all. It can be a list, a clarification, a shift, an amplification--just some clause you wish to tack on to your sentence.
  • They decided to meet once again at the beach. But at midnight!
  • Correction: They decided to meet once again at the beach--but at midnight! 
  • At night they walked along the beach, looking up at the stars. Acompletely romantic evening for Sally.
  • Correction: At night they walked along the beach, looking up at thestars--a completely romantic evening for Sally.
*Note that a dash is two hyphens: --, not one. MS Word usually combines these two hyphens into one long hyphen automatically, which is fine.
*For print mediums, do not put spaces around dashes. If you do, put spaces around both sides of the dash.

Practice
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