PUNCTUATION FOR Online
Live
PROFESSIONALS
Class
A live online workshop in two sessions
Master the rules of
punctuation!
Do you rewrite sentences
because you worry that the
punctuation is wrong?
Learn, ask questions,
practice, test yourself,
review, and test yourself again—plenty of
learning reinforcement.
Do you insert commas, then
agonize over whether they
belong?
Worry no more! Master the rules of
punctuation. Increase your skills,
knowledge, and professionalism.
Learn to:
Dec. 8 and 15, 2015
Apply 10 essential comma rules for clear,
correct sentences.
You attend two sessions
one week apart.
Add apostrophes to create possessive forms,
but keep them out of simple plurals. Recognize
whether you need clients, client’s, or clients’.
10 a.m.–noon Pacific Time
(1–3 p.m. Eastern Time)
“I recently completed Punctuation for Professionals
and was very impressed by the instructor and the
one-on-one feeling of the course. I have taken many
online classes—this was the most thorough and
effective. Lynn also provided many reference
materials, including a quick-reference guide with
examples. Great class!”
Melissa Knutson, Human Resources Assistant,
Eastside Fire & Rescue
Insert hyphens where your readers need them.
Know whether to choose follow-up or follow
up, one-week or one week.
Use semicolons the right way: to connect
closely related sentences and link complex
items in series.
Use colons to punctuate greetings, present
content forcefully, and introduce lists.
Use a dash for style and emphasis—and
recognize the difference between dashes and
hyphens.
Place commas and periods correctly in relation
to closing quotation marks and parentheses.
Set off certain titles with quotation marks and
italics, but leave other titles alone.
Punctuate bullet points correctly.
©Syntax Training
DATES &
TIMES
Tuesdays, Dec. 8 and 15, 2015
10 a.m. to noon Pacific Time
(1 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time)
You attend both days.
PLACE
At your computer.
TARGET
AUDIENCE
Anyone who wants to master punctuation for business communications.
TRAINING
PROVIDER
Syntax Training
http://syntaxtraining.com
REGISTER
Register online at
http://tinyurl.com/syntaxtraining-12815
To learn more, phone Michael
Johnston at 206-782-8410 or email
[email protected].
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Lynn Gaertner-Johnston
Business Writing Specialist and
Founder of Syntax Training
Lynn has helped employees
and managers improve their
business communications at
more than 100 companies.
Her training clients include
REI, AARP, MasterCard,
Microsoft, Boeing, Dorsey, Ledcor, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center, and many other organizations. She has taught
managerial communications in the MBA programs of
University of Washington and UW Bothell.
Lynn wrote for Nintendo, Seattle Children’s Hospital,
Center for Health Training, NetSpeed Learning
Solutions, and other clients over many years. She is the
author of the award-winning book Business Writing
With Heart: How to Build Great Work Relationships
One Message at a Time.
Lynn earned her M.A. in communication from the
University of Notre Dame and her B.A. in English from
Bradley University. She will lead the class from her
office in Seattle, Washington.
“Punctuation for Professionals was a very helpful
class. From pre-test to post-test, my knowledge
increased dramatically, and the resources provided
will continue to be useful references.”
Angelia Cook, Office Manager, Horizon
Hydraulic Sales & Service
“I highly recommend Punctuation for Professionals. I
am much more confident in my proofreading after
taking this program. Lynn is very knowledgeable and
engaging; she really makes the material interesting.”
Laurie Frye, Professional Education Coordinator,
Cannon Financial Institute
YOUR INVESTMENT
Register and pay by Nov. 8: $399 per person.
Register and pay after Nov. 8: $439 per person.
Get a group discount of 10 percent for three or
more learners who register together.
The fee covers four hours of live online training in
two sessions, a 40-page downloadable manual of
explanations and review exercises, a 2-page quick
reference guide, a pre-test, a post-test, and 10
follow-up quizzes to reinforce your learning.
Recordings of the training are available for 30
days after the program.
REGISTER
Online at http://tinyurl.com/syntaxtraining-12815
Or phone 206-782-8410 and use a credit card or
request an invoice. Invoices must be paid within
10 days of registration to hold your place in class.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancel by Nov. 8 and get a full refund. Cancel by
Nov. 24, and get a 50 percent refund. There is no
refund after Nov. 24, but you may send a
replacement.
TO LEARN ABOUT SYNTAX TRAINING
Visit the website at http://syntaxtraining.com,
and learn more about business writing at Lynn’s
blog at http://www.businesswritingblog.com.
Call us at 206-782-8410 with questions.
TEST YOURSELF: PUNCTUATION
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Take this test to determine whether Punctuation for
Professionals would benefit you. Can you find
punctuation errors in 8 of these 16 sentences?
1. We submitted the proposal last week, however,
we have not received approval yet.
2. The plan includes: goals, timelines, and a
budget.
3. Several one-hour webinars are available as
complimentary downloads.
4. Lori needs a weeks notice to arrange catering
for meetings.
5. Appendix 7 includes details on all four
transportation companies (see page 294).
6. Hiroko is taking an early shuttle to Los Angeles
and Han is planning to drive his car.
7. Thank you, Clare, for filling in at the reception
desk last week.
8. Bill and Hillary Clintons’ home is in New York.
9. Teo moved from Vancouver, British Columbia,
to Seattle before settling in Calgary.
YOUR LEARNING AGENDA
Before the Session
Complete and score a pretest to find out how
much you know. Send Lynn your results, and she
will plan the class around what you need to learn.
Day 1: Dec. 8, 2015
Welcome to class! Find out how to use the online
interactive tools. Then begin mastering the rules.
Learn 10 essential comma rules. Practice applying
the rules in exercises and self-tests.
Learn two places that require semicolons. Practice
inserting semicolons in all the right places.
Recognize where to insert apostrophes in items
such as clients, mens, its, and Gomezes. Test
yourself on identifying possessives and plurals.
Get answers to any questions in the wrap-up.
Between Sessions
Practice what you have learned in self-tests and
exercises. Bring your questions to Day 2.
Day 2: Dec. 15, 2015
Review what you have learned and ask questions.
Through explanations, exercises, and self-tests,
remove punctuation obstacles:
▪
10. Two employees’ cars were under the awning
when it collapsed.
Discover where to use colons to introduce
information, and where to omit them.
▪
Find out where to place other punctuation
with closing quotation marks and parentheses.
11. When customers click this button a dropdown
box with three choices appears.
▪
Learn which titles need to be set off with
quotation marks and italics, and which don’t.
12. Here are the winners: Michael Grace,
Accounting; Davida Banks, Finance; and Elray
Davis, Member Services.
▪
Master hyphens. Know whether to choose
short-term or short term, one-day or one day.
▪
Learn where to use an em dash () and an
en dash (–) .
▪
Learn to punctuate bullet points correctly.
13. December 15, 2014, is the last day we accepted
the vouchers.
14. Carl will manage the volunteers on Friday;
Renee will manage them on Saturday.
15. Hala has asked that everyone review the long
range plan before the meeting.
16. The course he wants to take is “Leadership in
the Nonprofit Sector.”
Find out which sentences have errors:
http://www.syntaxtraining.com/media/punctuationtest.pdf
Get answers to any remaining questions in Q&A.
After the Session
Take a test to find out how much you have
learned. Send it to Lynn, who will return it to you
with your certificate of achievement.
Boost your learning with 10 review quizzes sent by
email over five weeks. Do exercises in your class
manual to apply what you have learned. Review the
class recordings to strengthen your understanding.
Technical Questions? Participating Is Easy.
If this is your first time attending a workshop that uses Adobe Connect, use this link to be sure you will be able to log
in to the classroom: http://syntaxtraining.na4.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm. (You
do not need to download an add-in.) After you register for the class, you will receive simple instructions about
entering the online classroom and calling the toll-free telephone number to participate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if I register but am unable to attend?
If you cannot attend, you may view the recordings
or send someone in your place. You may also cancel
your registration 30 days before the class for a full
refund. Cancel up to two weeks before the class,
and you will receive a 50 percent refund.
Will I participate or just look and listen to a
webinar?
You will participate throughout the class. You will
talk with the instructor and other attendees (Lynn
will be on camera), test your knowledge in polls,
type comments, and complete quick exercises in
your printed notebook. You will be able to ask
questions and get instant answers. Do not plan to
do other things during the session.
Two hours seems like a long time to sit at a
computer. Will there be any breaks?
Each two-hour session will have a 7-minute break in
the middle. At any time, of course, you can stand or
stretch. You will not be on camera, and you will be
able to mute your phone.
Will the class be tailored to my needs?
You will take a pre-test and share your results with
Lynn. Based on pre-test results, she will tailor the
class to emphasize the content that challenges you
and your classmates. The class is limited to 18
participants. No crowds of people will compete
with you for attention.
Will I need any special equipment?
You will need high-speed Internet access during the
class. For easy viewing, arrange to be at a desktop,
laptop or tablet computer—not a smartphone. You
will type during the session, so you must have a
keyboard. Having a telephone headset is helpful.
Will I be put on the spot? It can be embarrassing
not to know the answers.
Lynn will invite you to participate, but you will never
be put on the spot. The atmosphere is supportive,
lively, and focused on your learning.
Is the real purpose of this program to sell
products?
No selling or marketing takes place in the class. The
session focuses solely on helping you increase your
skills and knowledge of punctuation.
What if I have a technical problem during the class?
An expert is available during the class to resolve any
technical issues. If you miss part of a session, you
will be able to view the recording.
IS THIS CLASS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Enroll in Punctuation for Professionals if
you want to:
May I attend to scout out the class for our firm?
You are welcome to attend as a scout. Please register
and participate as a learner. If you offer the class at
your company later on, we will deduct your
registration fee from the cost of the first class you
schedule.
▪ Gain confidence that the business documents
What is the cost of the class?
The cost is $399 per person if you register at least 30
days before the class, $439 if you register less than 30
days in advance. A 10 percent group discount is also
available for three or more people from the same
organization who register together.
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
you create or approve are flawlessly professional.
Follow the latest rules of punctuation when you
write, edit, and proofread.
Help others by giving them accurate, clear
explanations to correct their punctuation errors.
Refresh your knowledge of punctuation.
Have up-to-date information at hand to defend
your punctuation choices.
Know when to pay attention to your grammar
and spelling checker and when you can safely
ignore it.