Fakultätsname XYZ Fachrichtung XYZ Institutsname XYZ, Professur XYZ
Punctuation
Fakultät Sprach- Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaften
Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik
Seminar: GLC Advanced Translation
Eva Stahlheber, M.A.
Referenten: Carmen Diehnelt, Janine Franke
Dresden, 23.10.2012
When in doubt leave it out?!
http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2010/12/imagesCAUCEXP82.jpg
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“Slow children crossing”
http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Children_Crossing.jpg
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4
http://www.somethingundone.com/2011/10/commas-save-lives/
Structure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Full Stop, Question Mark, Exclamation Mark
Colon & Semi-Colon
Comma
Dash
Quotation Marks
Apostrophe
5
. ? !
1. Full Stop, Question Mark,
Exclamation Mark
• I looked out of the window. It was snowing again.
• Why do we try to reach the stars? What is it all for?
• Watch out! Mind the gap!
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:
2. Colon
• We decided not to go on holiday: we had too little money.
• There was a problem with the car: it was losing oil.
• The main points are as follows: a)… b)… c)… .
• The ingredients are: x, y, z.
• The main objections are as follows: First of all,…
Secondly, … .
• Introducing his report, the Chairman said: “…”
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;
2. Semi-Colon
• Some people work best in the mornings; others do better
in the evenings.
• You may use the sports facilities on condition that your
subscription is paid regularly; that you arrange for all
necessary cleaning to be carried out; that you undertake
to make good any damage; … .
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,
3. Comma
• You may have found the essay convincing, but I
consider it to be lacking in clarity.
• The essay may seem convincing but it does not
fulfill all of the criteria.
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,
3. Comma II
• Although the essay has quite a few errors, it is
convincing.
• The essay is convincing although it has quite a
few errors.
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,
3. Comma III
• The student said that she had spent all weekend translating a text.
• The student told me, however, that she had spent all weekend
translating a text.
• It has been proven, not only on a national but also on an international
level, that vaccination prolongs life.
• This is one of the questions that were raised by the committee, that
have been discussed repeatedly ever since and that are not easy to
answer.
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,
3. Comma IV
• My brother who lives in Chicago got married
yesterday.
• My brother, who lives in Chicago, got married
yesterday.
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,
3. Comma V
• He said, “There’s no way we can help her.” “I don’t like
this one bit,” said Julia.
• Everybody realised that I was a foreigner.
• They quickly explained what to do.
• I didn’t know where I should go.
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When in doubt leave it out – or
know your/you’re shit! 
• Would this judge say the same _ if the crime had been
committed by someone else?
• This leads to the assumption _ that the author’s intention
was to criticise existing moral values.
• When Kim finally sits down _ a new song will start.
• It is understandable that people _ who never had a child
before _ feel insecure at first with the newborn.
• We talked about it _ but he didn’t seem to understand.
,
,
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What’s the difference?
• His fans, who still have wonderful
memories of his performances, continue to
buy his records.
• His fans who still have wonderful memories
of his performances continue to buy his
records.
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4. Dash
• There are three things I can never remember –
names, faces, and I‘ve forgotten the other.
• We had a great time in Greece – the kids really
loved it.
• And then we met Bob – with Lisa.
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“…” or ‘…’
5. Quotation Marks
• Steve replied, ‘No problem.’
• ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and I always keep my promises.’
• A textbook can be a ‘wall’ between the teacher
and the class.
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’
6. Apostrophe
• can’t = cannot
• I’d = I would / I had
• the girl’s father
• my parents’ house
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References
“Commas save lives” 19 October 2012 <http://www.somethingundone.com/2011/10/commas-save-lives/>.
“Oxbridge Editing” 19 October 2012 <http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2010/12/imagesCAUCEXP82.jpg>.
“Oxbridge Editing” 19 October 2012 <http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2010/12/Children_Crossing.jpg>.
“Oxford Dictionaries” 19 October 2012 <http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/comma#commas_in_direct_speech>.
Hollingsworth, Keith. Reader Writing Course. 2012. 36-39.
OALD. New York: OUP, 2005. R58-R59.
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. New York: OUP, 2005. 459-464.
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