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A Colon after a Sentence inside a Sentence

Be cautious about using journalism as a model for your business writing: some excellent journalists use nonstandard English. Here’s a sentence that uses a colon in a nonstandard way. To take an example of just one classroom convention that might be inhibiting today’s students: teachers and professors regularly ask students to write papers

Numbers, Words, and Punctuation

Here’s a style tip that makes your formal writing look polished. A range of numbers — e.g

Commas That Tame Work Distractions

Many businesspeople have to manage distractions as we write for work. Here’s a tip to keep your punctuation correct after an interruption takes you away from your keyboard. Sometimes, a supplemental thought appears in the middle of a sentence

Polished Writing and Advanced Punctuation Rules

The way a sentence sounds doesn’t always give you clues about what punctuation marks would be correct. Here’s an example from a theater critic’s review of a Macbeth production: [Actor] Darren Bridgett is a canny, solid Banquo until he gets murdered, but doesn’t seem to take his role as a ghost seriously. — Robert Hurwitt, “‘Macbeth’ at Marin Shakespeare Company,” sfgate

Try Counting Your Commas

A sentence can be correct but too intricate to follow easily when the reader is pressed for time. Here’s an example: Chris Cosentino of Incanto, known for his nose-to-tail, whole-animal cooking, will be on hand, as well as the person who could be called his culinary opposite — chef Eric Tucker of Millennium, who eschews dairy, eggs, oil and animal products. — Lisa Wallace, “SF Chefs 2011 offers a taste of the city,” sfgate
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