The BasicsPunctuation, Capitalization, and Numbers in Academic Writing

Commas Prevent Confusion Consider the following sentences:

If you cook Mary will cleanup. While we were eating a grizzly bear

approached our campsite. When Jennifer was ready to iron her cat

tripped on the cord.

Without commas, Mary gets cooked, the grizzly bear gets eaten and the cat gets ironed…..

Comma Rules Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction

joining independent phrases. The seven coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or,

nor, for, so and yet.

Commas tell the reader that one independent clause has ended and another is beginning. Ex: Nearly everyone has heard of the power of positive

thinking, but I actually practice it in my day to day life.

Comma Rules Use a comma after an introductory clause.

Ex: Having already eaten her desert, Patty decided to eat her husband’s desert as well.

When giving a date, use a comma after the day of the month and after the year if your sentence continues.

Use a comma between all items in a list or series of three or more. Ex: We bought paper, pencils, crayons, and paints

for the kids to take to craft camp.

Exceptions to the Rules If the two phrases are short, and there is no

danger of confusion, the comma can be omitted. (You don’t have to use a comma every time you want the reader to take a breath.)

Don’t use a comma to separate coordinate word groups that are not independent. Ex: John brought home a new computer and

later went shopping to buy some computer self-help books. (Although the word “and” is used, the two phrases that surround it are not independent of each other.)

Transitional Expressions Serve as bridges between sentences or parts of sentences. When these expressions appear between independent

clauses, the transitional expression is preceded by a semi colon, and usually followed by a comma.

Exception to the rule - If a transitional expression blends smoothly with the rest of the sentence, calling for no pause from the reader, it does not need to be set off by a comma. Expressions like certainly, also, at least, consequently, indeed, of course, perhaps, moreover, then and therefore do not always call for a pause.

The Semicolon Used to connect major sentence elements of

equal grammatical rank – when the phrases are closely related and not separated by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so or yet.) Ex: I love raspberries; I think they are the sweetest fruit on

earth! If clauses are closely related and the relation is

clear without a conjunction, they may be linked with a semicolon instead. Ex: I’ve been healthy and I’ve been ill and healthy is better.

This could be written like this – I’ve been healthy and I’ve been ill; healthy is better.

The Semicolon, cont. Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a

transitional expression when you want the reader to pause. Transitional Expressions include Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Phrases

Examples of conjunctive adverbs: accordingly, also, anyway, besides, consequently, conversely, finally, furthermore, hence, however, incidentally, likewise, nevertheless, otherwise, subsequently, therefore, and thus

Examples of transitional phrases: after all, as a matter of fact, as a result, at the same time, even so, for example, for instance, in addition, in conclusion, in fact, in other words, in the first place, on the contrary, and on the other hand

Semicolon Rules Use between items in a series to help the

readers understand the major groupings. Use to emphasize a sharp contrast

between clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. Ex: We hate some people because we do not

understand them; and we never get a chance to understand them because we hate them.

The Colon Used primarily to draw attention to the

words that follow it. Use after an independent clause to direct

attention to a list, appositive or a quotation. Use between independent clauses if the

second summarizes or explains the first. Ex: I read the book at least 100 times: I felt like it

was written just for me.

Capitalization Rules Capitalize the first letter of proper nouns.

Proper nouns are names of specific persons, places, nationalities, particular courses, races, government departments, organizations, political parties, historical periods, sacred books, names for deities and religions.

Capitalization Rules Capitalize names of titles when you also include

the name of the person; i.e., Professor Smith. Do not capitalize the title just to make the title more important; i.e., I spoke with my professor about it.

Capitalize all key words in titles and subtitles of books, articles, songs and online documents.

Capitalize the names of schools – but not the types of schools.

APA Style Number Rules Use numerals to express numbers 10 or

above. If a number is less than 10, write it out in

words.

Some Exceptions…Use Numerals to Express:

Numbers in the abstract or graphical displays in the paper

Numbers that come right in front of a unit of measurement (ex. A 5-mg dose…)

Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical functions, fractions or decimals, percentages, and ratios

Numbers that represent time, dates, ages, scores, points on a scale, and money