Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 1 of 19 Punctuation  Tells readers how words are grouped together and how they are separated  Primarily determined by sentence structure (not by breathing)  Choices governed by rhetorical situation and stylistic effect

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 2 of 19 Clauses  Group of words with subject and main verb  Two types of sentence-level clauses Main (independent) clause Subordinate (dependent) clause  At least one main clause in every complete sentence

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 3 of 19 Main Clause  Begins with a subject  May be joined together with a coordinating conjunction and, or, for, nor, yet, but, so Tomorrow, the team meets at noon. I know that the team meets at noon. The team will meet at noon, but I am busy until 12:30. The team meets at noon because that’s when everyone can come.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 4 of 19 Subordinate Clauses  Begins with a subordinate conjunction because, although, if, as, when, etc. or relative pronoun that, which, who, etc. The team will meet at noon because the room is unavailable in the morning. The meeting is scheduled so that the team can use the conference room.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 5 of 19 Punctuating Clauses When two main clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, nor, for, yet, so), place a comma before the conjunction. The team met, but I wasn’t there. For closely-related main clauses not connected by conjunctions, join with semi-colons. They came late; we left early. When a subordinate clause follows a main clause, no punctuation is needed. I know because I was there. When a subordinate clause comes before a main clause, Place a comma before the main clause. Although I was away, the team met as scheduled

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 6 of 19 Conjunctive Adverbs  Often confused with subordinating conjunctions  Can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a clause However, the design isn’t finished yet. The design, however, isn’t finished yet. The design isn’t finished yet, however.  Common conjunctive adverbs include however, therefore, thus, hence, nevertheless, consequently

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 7 of 19 Punctuating Conjunctive Adverbs If a conjunctive adverb begins a sentence, place a comma after it. Therefore, this problem deserves attention. If a conjunctive adverb comes in the middle of a clause, place commas on either side of it. This problem, consequently, deserves further study. If a conjunctive adverb ends a clause, place a comma before it. This problem deserves further study, however. If a conjunctive adverb comes between two main clauses or complete sentences, place a semi-colon or period before it and a comma after it. We were tired; therefore, we made mistakes.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 8 of 19 Phrases  A phrase is a group of words belonging together but lacking verb, subject, or both.  Phrases usually named for first grammatical element. Prepositional phrases: in the software, on the desktop, of the designer, with the customer Verbal phrases: to run the program, going at top speed, conceived by the designer Adverbial phrases: before distribution, after development, during the design phase

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 9 of 19 Punctuating Phrases When a phrase precedes the subject of a main clause, place a comma after the phrase. In the morning, I work in the office, but in the afternoon, I visit the site. When a phase follows the subject, verb, or a complete clause punctuation is not usually needed. I work in the office in the morning. When a present participle (V-ing) phrase comes after a complete clause, a comma usually precedes it. He left early, forgetting his 5 o’clock appointment.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 10 of 19 Relative Clauses  Begin with relative pronouns such as who, whom, which, that  Modify nouns  Are embedded in another clause  Are either restrictive or nonrestrictive

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 11 of 19 Types of Relative Clauses Restrictive relative clauses  Provide essential information about the subject or define the subject Team leaders who lack patience intimidate new members. (Not all team leaders lack patience.) Nonrestrictive relative clauses  Provide additional information about the subject not essential to the meaning or needed to define or identify the subject The replacement part, which was promised for two weeks, was finally shipped yesterday.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 12 of 19 Punctuating Relative Clauses Because restrictive clauses are required for meaning, use no punctuation. Employees who wear t-shirts to work make a poor impression on foreign visitors. Because nonrestrictive clauses provide information that could be omitted, place them within a pair of commas. My preferred solution, which was discussed yesterday, has been chosen by the team.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 13 of 19 “that” or “,which”?  Use that with a restrictive clause The process that I like best is too expensive.  Use a comma and which with a nonrestrictive clause The problem, which should have been solved long ago, is finally resolved.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 14 of 19 A Word of Caution How you punctuate relative clauses can radically change the meaning of a sentence. Environmentalists, who have no respect for industry, annoy her. Environmentalists who have no respect for industry annoy her.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 15 of 19 Punctuating Lists If a complete sentence prepares for a list, place a colon before the list and commas between the items. We have chosen three locations: London, Rome, and New York. If the items in the list are long or already contain commas, use semi-colons instead of commas. If the list is part of the main sentence, omit the comma. The primary locations are London, Rome, and New York. When you reach the conjunction (and) that signals the last item in a list, place a comma before it. Montana, Maine, and Ohio require new equipment: work stations, laptops, and printers and a server.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 16 of 19 Explanations Following Sentences  When a complete sentence implies a question, place a colon before the answer.  What follows the colon can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or a paragraph. We have only one thing left to do: celebrate! Their performance was exceptional: despite supply problems and unseasonably wet weather, they completed the project on time and under budget.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 17 of 19 Inserted Information  Commas, parentheses, or dashes separate inserted information from the rest of the sentence.  Commas suggest minor interruptions. Jill Smith, President of MBI, will visit the site next week. This procedure, which is clearly superior to the existing one, will be unpopular with certain departments.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 18 of 19 Inserted Information  Parentheses often indicate optional information and clarifications. Some organisms live in an anaerobic (airless) environment.  Parentheses are also used to enclose numbers or letters. The procedure involves three basic steps: (1) strip, (2) dip, (3) dry.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 19 of 19 Inserted Information  Dashes provide a greater sense of separation or emphasis than commas or parentheses. All three models – XL,XM, and XN – are in stock.  Dashes are also used to signal asides. Dashes are effective – if not overused. Everyone must now wear identification cards – a consequence of the recent rash of thefts.