100 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Mentor Series) by Gary Provost Page B

didn’t have any money.
    3. Use commas between members of a series.
     
    4. Use a comma before a direct quotation. (If the direct quotation is long, use a colon rather than a comma.)
    5. Following a person’s name, set off by commas information indicating residence, position, or title.
    6. Use a comma to separate elements of a sentence that might be misread.
    When happy, men and women tend to smile.
     
    If I make a will, will I ever be able to change it?
     
     
    In addition to the rules above, there are many others. I’ve tried to review the ones that give writers the most trouble. If you have other questions about commas, I suggest reading Words Into Type (Prentice-Hall).
     

3. Know When to Use a Semicolon
     
    The semicolon signals a distinct pause in a sentence. Use it when a comma would not give your sentence sufficient pause.
     
    1. Use a semicolon to separate closely related independent clauses that are not joined by a conjunction.
    Nushka looked at the clock; Nanette looked at the floor.
     
    Not all sailors love the sea; not all garbage men love garbage.
     
    2. Use a semicolon to separate word series that contain commas.
    They bought soda, potato chips, ice cream, and candy; several games and toys; and three record albums.
     

4. Know When to Use a Colon
     
    Colons are used to introduce lists, formal quotations, and examples:
     
     
    Please bring the following items: cups, sugar packets, spoons, nondairy creamers, napkins, coffee, and coffeepots. We will bring everything else required to make the coffee.
     
    In Act I of Falling Bodies, Bernice speaks of a white cross: “We used to lie in our beds at night and watch this sign on top the life insurance building....”
     
    JoDean wants to become a nun for the wrong reasons. For example: She speaks endlessly about how upset her ex-boyfriend will be when she enters the convent; she speaks endlessly about how she will get to wear a habit; and she speaks endlessly about how nice it will be to have her own bedroom.
     
     

5. Use Exclamation Points Only When Exclaiming and Question Marks Only When Asking Questions
     
    Most of us presume we know when to use question marks and exclamation points. But both punctuation marks have given many good writers trouble.
     
    Exclamation points should be used only after commands or statements of strong feeling. Only teenagers are justified in believing that each and every statement one utters is an exclamation. The rest of us should know better. Trust your sentences to reveal emotions. Don’t rely on punctuation to show how much feeling you bring to your writing.
     

     
    There are two instances when writers misuse question marks. First, a question mark should be used only to ask a direct question, not to express wonderment. Second, a question mark is not used to ask an indirect question.
     

6. Know How to Use Quotation Marks
     
    All words taken directly from another’s speech or writing must be set off in quotation marks.
     

     
    Do not use quotation marks around words that are not directly taken from speech or writing.
     

     
    If a quote is contained within another quote, use single quotation marks around the inner quote.
     

    Use quotation marks around a word or phrase you intend to explain or define.
     

     
    Titles of articles in magazines, poems, songs, paintings, and sermons are set off in quotation marks:
     

     
    The words Yes and No are put in quotation marks only when they are directly quoted:
     

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Twelve Ways to Avoid Making Your Reader Hate You
     
    1. Avoid Jargon
    2. Avoid Clichés
    3. Avoid Parentheses
    4. Avoid Footnotes
    5. Don’t Use Transitions to Conceal Information
    6. Don’t Acknowledge When You Should Explain
    7. Don’t Hide Behind Your Words
    8. Don’t Intrude
    9. Don’t Play Word Games.
    10. Don’t Play the Tom Wolfe Game
    11. Don’t Play the Mystery Game
    12. Don’t Cheat

1. Avoid Jargon
     
    Jargon is nonsensical language, unintelligible words, or phrases