1. Chapter 5 Mechanics of Writing
Business Communication
Chapter 5
Mechanics of Writing
Copyright South-Western Cengage Learning

2. Punctuation Helps readers interpret your ideas and questions
Shows where one thought ends and the next begins
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Punctuation clarifies and adds emphasis to your writing.
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

3. The Period
Period: a punctuation mark used to signal the end of a sentence or an abbreviation
At the end of sentences
With abbreviations
In lists
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

4. The Question Mark
Question mark: a punctuation mark used after a direct question and after each part in a series of questions
After direct questions
In a series
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

5. The Exclamation Point
Exclamation point: a punctuation mark that shows strong emotion
May follow a word, a group of words, or a sentence
Should be used sparingly in business documents
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

6. The Comma
Comma: an internal punctuation mark used to separate items in a sentence
With introductory elements
In compound sentences
With interrupting elements
Nonrestrictive and restrictive elements
Appositives
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

7. The Comma With direct address In a series Between adjectives
With omission of words
In numbers and dates
With abbreviations
5.1 External Marks and the Comma

8. The Semicolon Semicolon: a punctuation mark used to denote a pause
Between clauses
In a series or list
5.2 Other Internal Marks

9. The Colon
Colon: a punctuation mark that directs the reader’s attention to the material that follows it
Before a series or list
Before a long quotation
Between independent clauses
After a salutation
In expressions of time
5.2 Other Internal Marks

10. The Dash
Dash: a punctuation mark used to show a sudden change of thought
With a sudden change of thought
For emphasis
5.2 Other Internal Marks

11. The Hyphen
Hyphen: a punctuation mark used after some prefixes and in forming some compound words
After prefixes
In compound words
5.2 Other Internal Marks

12. Quotation Marks
Quotation marks: punctuation marks that set off words from the other text
With quotations
With definitions and nonstandard English
With titles
With other punctuation marks
5.2 Other Internal Marks

13. Parentheses
Parentheses: punctuation marks that set off nonessential words, phrases, or clauses
With nonessential elements
With numbers and abbreviations
With references and directions
With a list
5.2 Other Internal Marks

14. The Apostrophe
Apostrophe: a punctuation mark used to indicate the omission of characters or possession
In contractions
In possessive words
In plurals
5.2 Other Internal Marks

15. Abbreviations
Abbreviation: a shortened form of a word or a group of words
Titles and degrees
Addresses
Companies, organizations, and departments
Expressions of time
Miscellaneous abbreviations
5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

16. Capitalization Capitalization: using uppercase letters in writing
The first letter in a sentence or direct quote
Names of specific people, places, and things
Titles used as proper nouns
Professional titles
Compass points
Nouns that precede numbers
Names of nationalities
5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

17. Number Expression
Number expression: the way numbers are written (as words or numerals)
Numbers ten and lower
Indefinite or approximate numbers
Two related numbers appearing next to each other
A number at the beginning of a sentence
Numerals and ordinals
5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

18. Number Expression House and building numbers Dollar amounts
Percentages
Decimals in numerals
Mixed numbers
Expressions of time
5.3 Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Number Expression

19. Vocabulary abbreviation apostrophe appositive capitalization colon
comma
dash
declarative sentence
direct address
exclamation point
hyphen
nonrestrictive element
number expression
parentheses
period
question mark
quotation marks
restrictive element
semicolon