Search results for 'tag:Punctuation tag:Exclamation marks' matching tags 'Punctuation' and 'Exclamation marks'

Re: punctuation 4

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:14:42 GMT

That's fine, but for more emphasis, you could use an exclamation mark (!).

Dallas Willcox (Simply Words Editing Services)

Re: punctuation 2

Mr Wordy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:44:17 GMT

These are all OK. (You don't need a space before the exclamation mark after "book", and you don't want "book!.", but I guess these are just typos/formatting ambiguities.)

All these (not just the first two) could have an exclamation mark at the end of the second sentence. In the third example, especially, I would be tempted to use one (after "fairy").

Re: punctuation 1

Mr Wordy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:24:29 GMT

Oh dear(!) I can't find my book(!) / Oh dear, I can't find my book(!) -- These are the most likely; the exclamation "Oh dear" is a single unit. "(!)" means that you can either use an exclamation mark or a full stop, depending on how exclamatory you want it to sound.

Oh! Dear, I can't find my book(!) -- Possible, but less likely, and has a different meaning. Here "Oh!" is an exclamation by itself, and "Dear" is an affectionate form of address.

(b) Oh! Dear! I can't find my book(!) -- Theoretically possible, but not very likely. "Dear" is again an affectionate form of address, but here you're exclaiming it.

(a) is not really possible.

In your second sentence, both your suggestions are OK and mean about the same.

Re: Correct Punctuation within Parentheses

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:53:52 GMT

Guest
Hello all,

I have a question that is not addressed in any section that I've perused so far, here or elsewhere. I know that punctuation normally goes outside of the parentheses (like this). (However, if the entire sentence goes inside, then keep the punctuation inside as well.) The exception to this is when a question mark or an exclamation mark (dang it!) is necessary. My question comes from this last rule. What if that is the end of the sentence, as follows?

In the end, everyone felt better about each other (even if certain members wanted to kill certain others!)

Everything I've seen so far indicates that there should be an extra period outside of the closed parenthesis (since the exclamation mark pertains only to the parenthetical material), but I'm loathe to do it. Is there a rule about this? Please help!

Yours,
Mark

qtDear Mark,

I had the same question and found this online. Hope it helps!

Lynn

1. Punctuation with parentheses. As in the model sentence above, periods and other end punctuation go outside the close of a parenthesis. No punctuation mark can precede a parenthesis, but a comma can follow one:

Like three of my four uncles (the other was too young), my father served with honor.

Occasionally a parenthesis stands on its own as a sentence; if so, capitalize the first word and place end punctuation inside the parenthesis.

Three of my four uncles served with honor. (The other was too young to enlist.)

A question mark or exclamation point, if it is part of the parenthetical material, can go inside a parenthesis, but another punctuation mark is needed to close the sentence:

Miranda's frequent exclamations express pity ("O, woe the day!" "O the heavens!" "Alack, for mercy!") and wonder ("O, wonder!" "O brave new world!").

Re: The question mark/comma/quotation mark debacle

RegCor — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:40:58 GMT

Hi Ray,

Thanks for your help, however, I was wondering if there should be a comma when you have the title of a play (or book, or movie, etc.) with punctuation (like a question mark of exclamation mark) as part of the actual title. If I wanted to say - "Oklahoma!" the classic musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, will be performed on stage next week - would there be a comma between the exclamation point and quotation mark as normally there would be one.

I'm sorry if I'm not explaining this well! It's rather complicated to verbalize. Thanks!

Re: Punctuation 4, please approve my answers

Grammar Geek — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:13:11 GMT

You did a good job on this.

I would make only a couple changes, and a few are open to interpretation.

1) If he said it kindly, and didn't shout, then use a comma, not an exclamation mark, which would indicate that he's shouting.

2) Don't make "That's the same as mine" into a question.

3) I would make the "No?" into a question. It's almost like a tag without the main part.

Anil17

âCome here, my little man,â said the policeman, kindly. âWhy are you crying?â

âThatâs the same as mine. Where do you live, Tommy?â

âDo you know the number on your door? No? Maybe your house has a name? Has it Tommy?â

Re: Please, which is the correct way?

Grammar Geek — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:24:57 GMT

Brunces wrote:
Doubt #2

Sometimes, I see periods which contain direct speech within quotes. For example:

The father arrived home and said, "Honey, I'm here!" and then dropped his briefcase on the couch.

1) Is the writing this period correct? Shouldn't I use colon before the direct speech? I never do this. He said, [comma]

The father arrived home and said: "Honey, I'm here!", then he dropped his briefcase on the couch.

2) When the direct speech is at the end of the sentence, where should I put the period? You don't need one. The end of the quotation serves as the end punctuation for the entire sentence.

Example: The father arrived home, dropped his briefcase on the couch and said "Honey, I'm here!" (???)

Do I have to put a period after the final quote? ... "Honey, I'm here!". Absolutely no.

Is the exclamation mark considered the final punctuation of the sentence? ... "Honey, I'm here!" Yes.

What if the direct speech final punctuation is a regular period? ... "Honey, I'm here." (???) There is agreement that the period goes inside the quotes in this case.

Do I have to put another period after the final quote? ... "Honey, I'm here.". No.

Is the first period considered the last punctuation of the sentence? ... "Honey, I'm here." Yes.

This is a style issue and will vary depending on which style guide you follow. The additional quirk is that in the US, the period and comma always, always go inside the quotes, even if it would not naturally fall there. The man came home and started to greet hsi wife, calling out "Honey, I'm...," but that was as far as he got before he noticed the dead wildebeast in his favorite recliner.

Please, which is the correct way?

Brunces — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:10:51 GMT

Hello, friends.

Please, which is the correct way and why?

Doubt #1

"color of the car" x "car color" x "car's color"
"leg of the cat" x "cat leg" x "cat's leg"
"pizza of yesterday" x "yesterday pizza" x "yesterday's pizza"

I've heard that Genitive Case is used only with nouns which are "living creatures" (humans, animals, etc.)? Is that true? So, "car's color" would be incorrect because "car" is not a living creature. So, when do I have to use OF, Genitive case or "nothing"?

Doubt #2

Sometimes, I see periods which contain direct speech within quotes. For example:

The father arrived home and said "Honey, I'm here!", then he dropped his briefcase on the couch.

1) Is the writing this period correct? Shouldn't I use colon before the direct speech?

The father arrived home and said: "Honey, I'm here!", then he dropped his briefcase on the couch.

2) When the direct speech is at the end of the sentence, where should I put the period? Example:

The father arrived home, dropped his briefcase on the couch and said "Honey, I'm here!" (???)

Do I have to put a period after the final quote? ... "Honey, I'm here!".

Is the exclamation mark considered the final punctuation of the sentence? ... "Honey, I'm here!"

What if the direct speech final punctuation is a regular period? ... "Honey, I'm here." (???)

Do I have to put another period after the final quote? ... "Honey, I'm here.".

Is the first period considered the last punctuation of the sentence? ... "Honey, I'm here."

Thank you very much for your attention, guys.

Hugs,

brunces

Re: 1)How can we call the package that helicopters throw on the land when t

Belly — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:57:20 GMT

Mister Micawber wrote:

1) What can we call the package that helicopters throw on the land when there is a catastrophe happens? -- (Emergency) Aid packages? Air drops?

2) About punctuation, should we punctuate before or after the : She told me," I want to go out. " or She told me," I want to go out".) -- Most American punctuation guides place the full stop (or period) invariably inside the quotation mark, while British guides place it inside or out depending on the part to which it is applicable. I think. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, there is contention, sometimes heated

" = quotation mark

, = comma

' = apostrophe

/ = slash or backslash

) = parenthesis (AmE) or bracket (BrE)

# = number sign, pound sign, octothorpe

? = question mark, interrogation point

! = exclamation mark/point

There are probably other names as well.

Do I need two )) here or just one? -- Two, but it would be better to rearrange the sentence to avoid the duplication; it is unattractive.

Hi,

Actually, in sentence one, the thing I want to ask is:

If you can imagine, when inundations come to one province, people of other provinces donates food, drink, money etc (I'm still confused when can we use plural or singular for food and drink here).... and they pack them all in packages which is then sent to the poor province... What can we call that?

Re: 1)How can we call the package that helicopters throw on the land when t

Mister Micawber — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:32:38 GMT

1) What can we call the package that helicopters throw on the land when there is a catastrophe happens? -- (Emergency) Aid packages? Air drops?

2) About punctuation, should we punctuate before or after the : She told me," I want to go out. " or She told me," I want to go out".) -- Most American punctuation guides place the full stop (or period) invariably inside the quotation mark, while British guides place it inside or out depending on the part to which it is applicable. I think. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, there is contention, sometimes heated

" = quotation mark

, = comma

' = apostrophe

/ = slash or backslash

) = parenthesis (AmE) or bracket (BrE)

# = number sign, pound sign, octothorpe

? = question mark, interrogation point

! = exclamation mark/point

There are probably other names as well.

Do I need two )) here or just one? -- Two, but it would be better to rearrange the sentence to avoid the duplication; it is unattractive.