SPPTChap018

18-1

Chapter 18:

Conveying Professionalism Through Correctness

© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

18-2© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

• Punctuation• Subject-Verb Agreement• Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement• Pronoun Case

Chapter Overview


Punctuation: Apostrophe

• If the possessive noun is singular: ‘s– Boss’s, company’s, family’s

• If the possessive noun is plural, look at the last letter:– If the last letter is -s, use –s’• Bosses’, companies’, families’

– If the last letter is not -s, use –’s• Women’s, men’s


Punctuation: Colon

• Independent clause: enumeration, quotation, explanation, or list– Bring the following items with you to class: a

laptop, your assignment, and your schedule.– But not . . . My team members this semester are:

Kelly, Robin, and Chris.


Punctuation: Comma (1 of 4)

• Independent clause,+ coord. conj. + independent clause – Kelly worked on the report for several weeks, but she

was still unable to finish it by the deadline.– But not . . . Kelly worked on the report for several

weeks but was still unable to finish it by the deadline

• Items in a series– Our company is known for excellent customer service,

competitive prices, and quality merchandise.



• Coordinate adjectives– We guarantee that this is a good, clean car.

• Restrictive/nonrestrictive clauses– Anyone who wants to participate should see me

by noon. (restrictive)– Chris Cooper, who coaches the company softball

team, wants more people to play.



• Parenthetical expressions– Sarah, as we all know, is qualified for the job.

• Appositives– UPS, our primary shipper, is leasing a new

distribution center in China.– Our next shipment will come on the ship Alberta.

• Parenthetical words– We will not, however, reimburse you for mileage.



• Dates & addresses– On Saturday, June 12, 2010, we will celebrate.– We live at 123 Elm Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701

• Introductory subordinate clauses– As I said, we will meet on Friday.

• Introductory phrase– On Tuesday we will meet.– Before our meeting next Tuesday, send me the report.

• Clarity– No matter what, I know I will graduate in June. – No matter what I know, I will graduate in June.


Punctuation: Italics, Periods

• Italics– Book titles: What Color Is Your Parachute?– Foreign words: wunderbar– A word used as its own name: The word no is not

in his vocabulary• Periods– Abbreviations: Ph.D., Inc.– Ellipses: Some of the employees . . . think

management’s decision is a poor one.


Punctuation: Quotation Marks (1 of 2)

• Direct Quotes– Joe said, “I need more writing assignments.”

• Indirect Quotes– Professor Dalbey said, “It has been a long time since I

have heard a student say, ‘Prof, we need more writing assignments.’”

• Other Punctuation– .” and ,”– ”; and ”:

• Titles of articles in a magazine or book


Semicolon

• Independent clauses– The new contract provides wage increases; the

original contract emphasized shorter hours.

• Independent clauses with conjunctive adverbs– Some people prefer to work nights; however, I

prefer to work days.

• Items in a list with commas– We have clients in St. Paul, Minnesota; Eau Claire,

Wisconsin; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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