GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION
Listings
Essential and Nonessential Clauses The presence or absence of commas provides the reader with critical information about the writer’s intended meaning. n Reporters who do not read the AP Stylebook should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that only one class of reporters, those who do not read the AP Stylebook, should not criticize their editors If the “who do not read the AP Stylebook” phrase was deleted, the meaning of the sentence would be changed substantially) n Reporters, who do not read the AP Stylebook , should not criticize their editors. (The writer is say- ing that all reporters should not criticize their editors If the “who do not read the AP Stylebook” phrase were deleted, this meaning would not be changed ) Introductory Clauses and Phrases A comma is used to separate an introductory clause or phrase from the main clause.
Use colons for time elapsed, time of day, and biblical and legal citations.
1:31:07.2
8:31 p.m.
n
n
2 Kings 2:14
Missouri Code 3:245-260
n
n
Datelines The City uses colons in its datelines rather than a dash.
IRVINE, CA (March 9, 2021):
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Dialogue Use colons to clarify dialogue. See Quotation Marks , Page 12.
n Bailey: What were you doing on Saturday?
Mason: I refuse to answer that.
n
Q: What is your favorite color?
n
A: Blue
n
n When he tired of New York, he moved to California.
Commas
n On the street below, the curious gathered.
Conjunctions Use with and , but , or for if these conjunctions link two clauses that could stand alone. n She was glad she looked, for a man was approaching the house. n We are visiting Washington, and we also plan a side trip to Williamsburg. Introducing Direct Quotes Use a comma to introduce a complete one-sentence quotation within a paragraph.
Simple Series Using an Oxford comma before the conjunction in a simple series is mandatory, not optional.
The flag is red, white, and blue.
n
Complex Series and Series of Phrases Use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction. n I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast. n The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.
n Wallace said, “She came back from Spain with an accent.”
Placement with Quotes Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.
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