1 / 7

EDITING and PROOFREADING

EDITING and PROOFREADING. Editing for Punctuation, Sentence Style, and Word Choice DISCLAIMER: These are the most commonly used and misused rules/guidelines….they are not intended to be all-inclusive . COMMAS – When to Use Them. Commas are used most often:

rory
Download Presentation

EDITING and PROOFREADING

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. EDITING and PROOFREADING Editing for Punctuation, Sentence Style, and Word Choice DISCLAIMER: These are the most commonly used and misused rules/guidelines….they are not intended to be all-inclusive 

  2. COMMAS – When to Use Them • Commas are used most often: • To separate an introductory phrase or clause from the rest of the sentence • To separate two independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction • To separate items in a series • To separate a nonrestrictive clause (clause that does not supply information essential to a sentence’s meaning)

  3. COMMAS – When NOT to Use Them • Do NOT use a comma: • If a dependent clause follows an independent clause: She is the only daughter although her father has six sons. • to set off a restrictive clause (essential to meaning): The child who is overlooked is often the daughter.

  4. SEMICOLONS • Semicolons, like commas, separate certain elements of a sentence • BUT, they separate only grammatically equivalent elements - for example, two independent clauses • In most cases, commas separate items in a series • BUT, if one or more of the items in a series already include commas, separate the items with a semicolons: • Orwell set his works in Paris, France; London, England; and Moulmein, Burma.

  5. QUOTATION MARKS • Quotation marks are used to set off quoted speech or writing and titles of essays, stories, and poems • Remember: • Commas and periods are always placed before quotation marks • Colons and semicolons are always placed after quotation marks • Question marks and exclamation points can go either before or after quotation marks, depending on whether or not they are part of the quoted material

  6. DASHES and COLONS • Dashes are occasionally used to set off and emphasize information within a sentence, but use them in moderation • Jessica Mitford wrote a scathing critique of the funeral industry – and touched off an uproar. • Colons are used to introduce lists, examples, and clarifications, and they should always be receded by a complete sentence.

  7. SENTENCE STYLE and WORD CHOICE • Eliminate awkward phrasing • Be sure your sentences are concise – eliminate repetition/redundancy, delete empty words/expressions, cut what is not absolutely necessary • Be sure sentences are varied – vary length, structure, and openings • Simple, compound, complex sentences • Choose your words carefully – choose specific words that identify particular examples and details • Avoid cliches

More Related