Transcript Gen 101: Lecture 4

Gen 101: Lecture 4
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Punctuation
• if we listen very carefully when others speak we
will notice that they sometimes pause or change
their tone if such speeches were rendered in
writing the pause and changes in tone would
indicate various forms of punctuation certainly
we cannot rely completely on our senses to
discover the times we need to employ our
punctuations for example no amount of good
listening skills will allow any of us to determine
when an apostrophe or a quotation mark is
supposed to occur the kind of punctuation used
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• If we listen very carefully when others speak, we
will notice that they sometimes pause or change
their tone. If such speeches were rendered in
writing, the pause and changes in tone would
indicate various forms of punctuation. Certainly
we cannot rely completely on our senses to
discover the times we need to employ our
punctuations; for example, no amount of good
listening skills will allow any of us to determine
when an apostrophe or a quotation mark is
supposed to occur. The kind of punctuation used
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The power of punctuation.
• Maria wrote the following letter to a man with
whom she had fallen madly in love.
• Dear Tom,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You
are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not
like you admit to being useless and inferior. You
have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I’ve
no feelings whatsoever when we are apart. I can be
forever happy – will you let me be yours?
Maria.
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• Julius, Maria’s ex-boyfriend, saw the letter in her handbag and
changed the punctuation. The following is what Maria unknowingly
sent to Thomas.
• Dear Tom,
• I want a man who knows what love is. All about
you are generous, kind, thoughtful people who
are not like you. Admit to being useless and
inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I
yearn. For you I’ve no feelings whatsoever. When
we are apart, I can be forever happy – will you let
me be? Yours,
Maria.
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Some of the most common forms of punctuation
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Comma (,)
Semi-colon (;)
Colon (:)
Quotation marks (“...” or ‘...’)
Apostrophe (’)
Parenthesis ( ( ) or [ ] )
Question mark ?
Exclamation mark (!)
Full stop or period (.)
Ellipsis (...)
Slash (/)
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The comma: most frequently used within the sentence –
most frequently misused.
A. Usually used to separate three or more items
in a series:
1. Sally, Beth, and Cathy were reading in the library.
2. The cat awoke, stretched , and leaped from the
chair.
3. In the tro-tro were people, luggage, goats, fresh
fish, and firewood.
4. The security asked us who we were, where we
had come from, why we had entered a restricted
zone, and what we planned to do there.
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B. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction linking
two independent clauses (and, or, but, for, yet, so, nor):
1. You will have to pay the fine, and then we’ll think of
what to do next.
2. Every available space on walls and lamp posts is
covered with campaign posters, but glossy posters
alone cannot convince the voter.
3. Many of the students had not completed their project
work, nor were they ready for the start of the next
session.
4. I came early, so I got a seat in the front row.
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Note: Do not use a comma alone between
independent clauses. (comma splice)
• *I came early, I got a seat in the front row.
• *The beams have rotted, they can no longer
support the roof.
• Revised:
• I came early, so I got a seat in the front row
• The beams have rotted, so they can no longer
support the roof.
• The beans have rotted; they can no longer
support the roof.
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• If a conjunction links only a pair of words or
phrases, no comma is needed:
• *It was expensive, but necessary.
Revised: It was expensive but necessary.
• * I phoned the store, and asked to speak with
the manager.
Revised: I phoned the store and asked to speak
with the manager.
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• However, when two items suggest contrast or
choice, a comma is used to separate them:
• I said up, not down.
• She is speaking French, not Spanish.
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• C. Use a comma after direct quotations, and to
set off tags like “he said” and other attributions.
1. “We are indeed lucky to have such a team
leader,” remarked Abu.
2. Abu said, “We are indeed lucky to have such a
team leader.” OR
3. Abu said: “We are indeed lucky to have such a
team leader.”
4. “I’m leaving tomorrow,” said Nancy. “We can
clean up when I get back.”
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• Some writers use comma to introduce quoted
speech and colon to introduce quoted writing:
1. Abu said, “We are indeed lucky to have such
a team leader.”
2. Abu wrote: “We are indeed lucky to have
such a team leader.”
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• If a quoted sentence ends with a question
mark or an exclamation mark, do not use a
comma:
1. “What’s the evidence?” the scientist asks.
2. “Get out!” he screamed.
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• If only a word or phrase is quoted, you do not
need a comma or a colon to introduce it:
• The doctor described his condition as “stable.”
• The speaker described his opponent as “an
incompetent slob.”
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• A pair of commas can be used to set off a tag
that interrupts a quoted sentence:
• “I have noticed,” the manager declared, “that
no one else arrives at work on time.”
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• D. Use a comma to separate names of places
addresses and items in dates:
• The Slave Castle at Elmina, Ghana, bears testimony to a
terrible fact.
• I live at 45 Kakum Close, University of Cape Coast.
• She was born on July 1, 2012.
• She was born on 1st July, 2012. (old
fashioned?)
Dates may also written as 1 July, 2012. DD/MM/YY- 01.06.12
• July 1, 2012 (American) MM/DD/YY -06. 01.12
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D. Use a comma after an introductory clause, phrase or
word.
a. Whenever it rains hard, the roof leaks.
b. When he comes, tell him I had to leave
immediately.
c. To prepare for the entrance exam, Asana asked
for a day off.
d. Encouraged by the applause, the musicians
played an encore.
• Sweating profusely, Dan rushed out for some
fresh air.
• Unfortunately, the man died before help could
reach him.
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E. Use a comma to set off elements in
apposition.
a. I have an appointment with Dr. Lee, the
dentist.
b. Give the results slip to Mary, the
administrative secretary.
c. Michael Teye Nyaunu, MP for Lower Manya
Krobo, has fallen out with his party.
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F. Use commas to set off non-restrictive
modifiers.
a. A teacher, who is responsible for training our
children, must be adequately compensated .
[A teacher who is responsible for training our
children must be adequately compensated.]
b. The nun, who takes care of abandoned
children, has been transferred.
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G. Use commas to set off the name of someone
directly addressed
a. A few weeks ago, Mr. Chairman, I met the
same men in a hotel in Tamale.
b. Mr. Daniel, this is to remind you that the
book you borrowed from our library is two
weeks overdue.
Also in writing letters:
Dear Mary,
............................... Sincerely,
Dear Prof. Sandow,
............... Yours truly,
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2. The semi-colon (;)
• A. Can be used to join two independent
clauses.
• *The beams have rotted, they can no longer
support the roof. (comma splice) sn.#9
• Revised: The beams have rotted; they can no
longer support the roof.
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• B. Use a semi-colon to link two independent
clauses when the second amplifies or throws
more light on the first:
a. The house was empty; everyone had gone.
b. Participating is good; winning is better./
c. Participating is good, but winning is better.
d. Participating is good; however, winning is better.
[*Participating is good, winning is better]Χ
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B. Use semi-colon when you link independent
clause with conjunctive adverbs like the
following:
• -furthermore, therefore, likewise, however,
nevertheless, also, consequently, besides,
yet, hence, for example, in fact, etc.:
a. The Iron Duke has complete confidence in his
troops’ training and valor; furthermore, he
considered his battle plan a work of genius.
b. The defendant brought up new evidence;
consequently, he was set free at the new
trial.
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• Some writers omit the comma after the
conjunctive adverb:
a. He always arrives late at meetings; yet he is
always the first to complain that the
meetings take too long.
b. The defendant brought up new evidence;
consequently he was set free at the new trial.
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• Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list:
• *The prophets denounced three types of
wrongdoing; idolatry, injustice, and neglect of
the needy.
Revised: The prophets denounced three types
of wrongdoing: idolatry, injustice, and neglect of
the needy.
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3. The colon (:)
A. Use the colon to introduce a list coming at the
end of a sentence:
Passengers may have one of four
beverages: coffee, tea, milk or soda.
B. Use the colon to introduce an example or an
explanation related to something just mentioned:
The animals have a good many of our
practical skills: some insects make pretty good
architects, and beavers know quite a lot about
engineering.
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• C. Use a colon to introduce a long quotation,
usually of more than one line:
– The opening chapter of the Qur’an says: “In the
name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the
Worlds. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.”
These are the words that also mark the beginning
of every Muslim prayer.
OR...
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The opening chapter of the Qur’an says:
In the name of Allah, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the
Worlds. The Most Beneficent, the
Most Merciful.
These are the words that also mark the
beginning of every Muslim prayer.
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• D. The colon is used when time is written in
figures:
• 6:00 am
6:00 pm
• 7:40 am
7:40 pm
• 01:00
13:00 hours
• 08:00 hours 20:00 hours
• 06:00 GMT
18:00 GMT
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4. Quotation marks (“ ”) or (‘ ’)
• To quote is to repeat the exact words spoken
or written by another person.
A) Use the double quotation marks (“ ”) to
enclose any words, phrases sentence or short
passages quoted from speech, writing or any
printed matter:
1. In his confusion, Hamlet soliloquized: “To be
or not to be, that is the question...”
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1. “An agnostic,” writes Clarence
Darrow, “is a doubter.”
2. At his press conference yesterday,
the President said that his talks with
his South African counterpart had
been “fruitful.”
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• B) Use Double quotation marks to
enclose the words of speakers
engaged in conversation, and start a
new paragraph each time the
speaker changes:
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“How did the interview go?” Bob
asked.
“Its hard to say,” said Helen. “At
first I was nervous. Then I relaxed and
spoke clearly. I even began to enjoy
myself.”
“Well, it sounds as if you might
get the job. If you do, let’s celebrate.”
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• Do not use quotation marks when the quoted
words are not exactly as the writer or speaker
used them; e.g. in indirect statements:
*The foreman said that “his team had finished
ahead of schedule.”
Revised: The foreman said that his team had
finished ahead of schedule.
The foreman said, “My team has finished
ahead of schedule.”
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• When you quote written material, quote
exactly what is written; do not correct
what are obvious errors or may appear as
errors:
1. There was a popular chop bar in Tamale
with a sign board that said “Dont Mine
Your Wife”.
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• If there is an error in the material that you
quote, you can use the word (sic) after the
quoted word or phrase to show that you are
aware of the error:
• The notice outside the office said
“Closed on Wedensday” (sic).
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C) Use the double quotation marks to set off a
word or group of words under discussion:
1. “Nomenclature” is the word used to
facilitate the naming of plants and
animals.
2. In Ghanaian English the word “tea” may
refer to actual tea, or coffee, or a
chocolate drink or indeed to any kind of
hot drink.
3. The word “love” means different things
to different people.
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D) Use quotation marks for unfamiliar terms,
nicknames and epithets.
1. In music the climax of the composition is
called the “bridge”.
2. At school his classmates called him “macho”.
3. “Boom Boom” Mancini died after a boxing
bout.
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• E) The title of an article, poem, short story or
song is marked by the double quotation marks:
1. “No Sweetness Here” is the title of a short story
by Ama Ata Aidoo.
2. Celine Dionne’s hit song “My Heart Will Go On”
is the theme song of the film Titanic.
3. Boateng, Akwasi, “The uses of the Praise Song”
in Voices of Ghana, Emefa Addo, ed., Accra,
Ghana Publishing Corporation 1992.
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F) The single quotation mark (‘ ’)
• Used to set off a quotation within a
quotation:
1. The teacher of religion said, “Today we
need to start our discussion with the
verse which begins ‘I was hungry, and
you gave me no food.’”
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