“My Question Is…”

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Comma, The Question Mark Leave a Comment

This construction always causes consternation and no end of disagreement. This is my understanding of the way English grammar works. It is never correct to use a single separating comma between the verb and the predicate nominative. Surely no one wants a comma in the following examples. …My name is Margie. …Her response is that she was not home. …My …

A Comma After a Prepositional Phrase at the Beginning of a Sentence

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Comma Leave a Comment

In the “olden” days, the rule was to put a comma after ANY element that came at the beginning of the sentence. Ah, the good old days! The rule today that many people get confused about is the rule about putting a comma after a prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence. It is often stated as something like …

Reminder

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

I did a “free” hour at the beginning of the month on where not to use a comma. That lecture is up on my website at margieholdsclass.com until this Wednesday. If you want to listen, now is the time. Happy punctuating! Margie

“Into” versus “In To”

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

There is an instance where either option works, depending upon what you want to say. If “work” is the physical place, “into” is one word; if “work” is the activity, then “in to” is two words. …He came into work. (the physical location) …He came in to work. (to do the job) Happy punctuating! Margie

Punctuation Class Begins This Weekend

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

Just a reminder that I am beginning at 20-hour punctuation class this Saturday. It will finish before the CEU deadline in September and has been prequalified by NCRA for a full two CEUs. The class meets on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 10:30 Pacific time and/or Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:30 Pacific time. The advantage to this class is …

Punctuation When Using Parens

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Does the punctuation go inside or out? Is there a cap or not? …A (Indicating.) …A Right here (indicating). The English rule: If the whole thought is inside the parens, the first word is capped, and the punctuation goes inside; if the thought inside the parens is part of a larger thought, there is no cap, and the punctuation goes …

New 20-Hour Punctuation Class — the Last of the Year

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral Leave a Comment

My last 20-hour punctuation class of the year will begin on August 13. We will complete this class just before the CEU deadline on September 30. It is divided into ten two-hour sessions, meeting on Saturday mornings/Sunday afternoons. All sessions will be recorded. If you have to miss a class and want the CEUs, you can write a detailed summary …