1. Chapter 5 Mechanics of Writing Business Communication Copyright 2010 South-Western Cengage Learning

2. Punctuation Helps readers interpret your ideas and questions Shows where one thought ends and the next begins 2 5.1 External Marks and the Comma © Stockbyte / Getty Images Punctuation clarifies and adds emphasis to your writing.

3. The Period Period: a punctuation mark used to signal the end of a sentence or an abbreviation At the end of sentences With abbreviations In lists 3 5.1 External Marks and the Comma

4. The Question Mark Question mark: a punctuation mark used after a direct question and after each part in a series of questions After direct questions In a series 4 5.1 External Marks and the Comma

5. The Exclamation Point Exclamation point: a punctuation mark that shows strong emotion May follow a word, a group of words, or a sentence Should be used sparingly in business documents 5 5.1 External Marks and the Comma

6. The Comma Comma: an internal punctuation mark used to separate items in a sentence With introductory elements In compound sentences With interrupting elements Nonrestrictive and restrictive elements Appositives 6 5.1 External Marks and the Comma

7. The Comma With direct address In a series Between adjectives With omission of words In numbers and dates With abbreviations 7 5.1 External Marks and the Comma

8. The Semicolon Semicolon: a punctuation mark used to denote a pause Between clauses In a series or list 8 5.2 Other Internal Marks

9. The Colon Colon: a punctuation mark that directs the reader’s attention to the material that follows it Before a series or list Before a long quotation Between independent clauses After a salutation In expressions of time 9 5.2 Other Internal Marks

10. The Dash Dash: a punctuation mark used to show a sudden change of thought With a sudden change of thought For emphasis 10 5.2 Other Internal Marks

11. The Hyphen Hyphen: a punctuation mark used after some prefixes and in forming some compound words After prefixes In compound words 11 5.2 Other Internal Marks

12. Quotation Marks Quotation marks: punctuation marks that set off words from the other text With quotations With definitions and nonstandard English With titles With other punctuation marks 12 5.2 Other Internal Marks

13. Parentheses Parentheses: punctuation marks that set off nonessential words, phrases, or clauses With nonessential elements With numbers and abbreviations With references and directions With a list 13 5.2 Other Internal Marks

14. The Apostrophe Apostrophe: a punctuation mark used to indicate the omission of characters or possession In contractions In possessive words In plurals 14 5.2 Other Internal Marks

15. Abbreviations Abbreviation: a shortened form of a word or a group of words Titles and degrees Addresses Companies, organizations, and departments Expressions of time Miscellaneous abbreviations 15 5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

16. Capitalization Capitalization: using uppercase letters in writing The first letter in a sentence or direct quote Names of specific people, places, and things Titles used as proper nouns Professional titles Compass points Nouns that precede numbers Names of nationalities 16 5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

17. Number Expression Number expression: the way numbers are written (as words or numerals) Numbers ten and lower Indefinite or approximate numbers Two related numbers appearing next to each other A number at the beginning of a sentence Numerals and ordinals 17 5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

18. Number Expression House and building numbers Dollar amounts Percentages Decimals in numerals Mixed numbers Expressions of time 18 5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

19. Vocabulary 19 abbreviation apostrophe appositive capitalization colon comma dash declarative sentence direct address exclamation point hyphen nonrestrictive element number expression parentheses period question mark quotation marks restrictive element semicolon