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Check yourself before you wreck yourself!
Mar. 22nd, 2011 10:27 amAhh, antibiotics! I'm about 80% better now, which is lovely. So I thought I would come write a blog entry about punctuation!
The biggest punctuation problems I see in the manuscripts I edit for my clients are misplaced punctuation marks. Particularly the misplaced question mark and the misplaced comma. Here is a quick and dirty refresher.
A question mark goes at the end of a question, whether that question is in dialogue or narrative. Examples using some of my favorite characters from Flashpoint...
A question mark should not be used if a question is not being asked. For example:
That's not a question, because Greg is not asking anything -- it's a statement about what Greg is thinking.
Incorrect examples:
Commas. I'm not going to go over every single time you're supposed to use a comma (or not supposed to use a comma!), but I'm going to hit the two biggest offenders:
1. The comma in dialogue. It goes inside the double quotes. Like this:
2. The comma in direct address. If one character is talking to one or more other characters, the comma comes before and/or after the name. Like so:
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go through your manuscript and make sure you haven't made any of these common errors! Go forth and proofread!
The biggest punctuation problems I see in the manuscripts I edit for my clients are misplaced punctuation marks. Particularly the misplaced question mark and the misplaced comma. Here is a quick and dirty refresher.
A question mark goes at the end of a question, whether that question is in dialogue or narrative. Examples using some of my favorite characters from Flashpoint...
"Do you have the solution?" asked Greg.
If Ed had the solution, would Greg give the order to take the shot?
A question mark should not be used if a question is not being asked. For example:
Greg wondered if Ed had the solution already.
That's not a question, because Greg is not asking anything -- it's a statement about what Greg is thinking.
Incorrect examples:
"Do you have the solution" asked Greg?
Greg wondered if Ed had the solution already?
Commas. I'm not going to go over every single time you're supposed to use a comma (or not supposed to use a comma!), but I'm going to hit the two biggest offenders:
1. The comma in dialogue. It goes inside the double quotes. Like this:
"The labels on the tanks of chemicals say chlorine and NH3," said Jules, staring down at the target through the scope of her rifle.
2. The comma in direct address. If one character is talking to one or more other characters, the comma comes before and/or after the name. Like so:
"Boss, I have the solution," said Ed.
"Me, too, Boss. Waiting for your go," added Jules.
"Okay, Ed, Jules, take the shot whenever you can," said Greg grimly.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go through your manuscript and make sure you haven't made any of these common errors! Go forth and proofread!
