Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

LESTER KAUFMAN is the author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation and publisher of GrammarBook.com. A lifelong public servant, he served first in the Peace Corps, and eventually completed the final years of his federal career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He married Jane Straus in 1987. After his retirement from the EPA, Kaufman began working with Jane on The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation and the GrammarBook.com website.Following Jane Straus's untimely passing in early 2011, Kaufman assumed the role of author of new editions of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation and continued the publication of GrammarBook.com, which features an informative and entertaining weekly newsletter that encourages readers to ask grammar questions and offer their views on the state of twenty-first-century English.

• Preface and Acknowledgments xixAbout the Authors xxiIntroduction xxiii1Grammar 1Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects 1DefinitionsNounVerbSubjectGerundUsing verbs to find subjectsMultiple subjects and verbs in a sentenceInfinitivesYou as an understood subjectSubject-Verb Agreement 4Singular vs. plural verbsFinding subjects before phrases beginning with of With or, either/or, and neither/norTwo singular subjectsOne singular and one plural subjectWith andWith interrupting expressionsWith here or thereWith distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc.With portion words such as a lot, a majority, percent, some, allWith collective nouns such as group, family, staffThe subjunctive moodIrregular Verbs 9Clauses and Phrases 9DefinitionsClauseIndependent clauseDependent clausePhrasePronouns 10Definition: PronounSubject pronounsAs the subject of the sentenceRenaming the subjectWhen who refers to a personal pronounObject pronounsSubject and verb agreement with who, that, and whichSubject and verb agreement with anyone, someone, each, etc.Following than or asPossessive pronounsIts vs. it’s; who’s vs. whoseReflexives: the -self pronounsConsistency with singular pronounsThe singular they Pronouns linked with nouns by andPossessive adjectives vs. possessive pronounsWho vs. Whom 16They/Them methodCommon whom pitfallWhoever vs. Whomever 17Agreement with the verb in the dependent clauseDependent clause as the subject of the verb following the clauseWho, That, Which 18Who, that, and which with people, groups, and thingsThat with essential clauses Which with nonessential clausesWhen which can be used with essential clausesAdjectives and Adverbs 19DefinitionsAdjectiveAdverbAdjectives modifying nouns and pronounsAdverbs modifying verbs, adjectives, and adverbsWhen to add -lySense verbs: taste, smell, look, feel, etc.Good vs. wellWell as an adjective when referring to healthComparisons, such as -er vs. -est and more vs. most This, that, these, and thosePrepositions 22Definition: prepositionEnding a sentence with a prepositionAvoiding extra prepositionsLike As, as if, as though, the way of vs. have Different from vs. different than In vs. intoEffective Writing 25Concrete vs. vague languageActive vs. passive voiceOveruse of there is, there are, it is, it was, etc.Double negativesParallel constructionDangling modifiersMisplaced modifiersFragmentsDialogue2 Punctuation 31Spacing with Punctuation 31Periods 31With complete sentencesWith abbreviations at the end of a sentenceReplacing periods with question marks and exclamation pointsCommas 32To separate three or more itemsTo separate adjectivesWith two independent clausesRun-on sentences or comma splicesJoined by connectors such as and, or, but, etc.When the subject does not appear in front of the second verbWith becauseStarting a sentence with a dependent clause vs. an independent clauseWith nonessential words, clauses, and phrasesWith sufficiently identified nounWith introductory wordsTo set off interrupting expressionsWith namesWith datesWith city and stateWith Jr. and Sr.With degrees and titlesWith quotationsTo introduce or interrupt quotationsFollowing quotationsTo separate statements from questionsTo separate contrasting parts of a sentenceWith certain introductory wordsWhen followed by a series of itemsWhen the series of items ends with etc.Semicolons 39To replace a period in two closely linked sentencesWith such words as namely, however, therefore, etc., when theyintroduce a complete sentenceTo avoid confusion where commas already existWith sentences that have multiple clausesCapitalization following a semicolonColons 41To introduce a series of itemsExcept when a series of items directly follows a verb or prepositionWith listsWith two independent clauses when the second explains the firstCapitalization following a colonWith long quotationsAfter the salutation in a business letterQuotation Marks 43Use of double quotation marksCapitalization with quotationsCommas introducing, interrupting, and ending quotationsPeriods and commas ALWAYS inside quotation marks—Question marks and exclamation marks with quotation marks follow logicWith titles of magazines, books, plays, etc.Use of single quotation marks for quotations within quotationsSpacing between single and double quotation marksWith nonstandard expressionsWith technical terms and terms used in an unusual wayAvoiding single quotation marksWith quoted material of more than one paragraphQuestion Marks 46With direct questionsReplacing periodsCapitalization following a question markIndirect questionsRhetorical questionsWith sentences that are half statement and half questionWith quotation marksParentheses and Brackets 48Not interchangeableParenthesesFor clarification and asidesWith complete sentencesPunctuation inside and outside parenthesesSubject-verb agreementComma placement with parenthesesBracketsWith interruptionsUse of [sic]With quotationsApostrophes 50Singular nounsPossession with singular nounsPossession with common nouns ending in s Possession with proper nouns ending in sPossession by inanimate objectsPlural nounsPlural possession with regular nounsNo apostrophe with plural regular nounsPlural possession with irregular nounsPlural possession with names ending in sNo apostrophe with plural namesPossession with singular compound nounsTo show joint or separate possessionContractionsWith initials, capital letters, and numbers used as nounsWith time or moneyWith personal pronounsApostrophes vs. single quotation marksFalse possessivesWith nouns ending in yHyphens 56No spaces around hyphensNot the same as dashesHyphens between wordsWith compound adjectivesSuspended hyphensWith compound verbsWith compound nounsWith very and -ly adverbsWith agesFor clarificationWith spans of time, distance, or other quantitiesWith units, abbreviations, or symbolsWith compound numbersWith spelled-out fractionsWith double last namesAvoiding overuseProper nouns of more than one word as compound adjectivesWell-known expressionsLook it upHyphens with prefixes and suffixesPrefixes with proper nouns or proper adjectivesWith family relationsPrefixes with double vowelsWith self-, ex-, and all- With re-To avoid confusionSuffixes not usually hyphenatedSuffixes and double lettersUsing discretion and a dictionaryDashes 63Em dashesEm dashes and subject agreementIn place of other punctuationSpacingEn dashesWith number rangesWith open compound adjectivesForming dashesEllipses 65Definition and three-dot methodSpacingWith omitted words or sentencesTo express hesitation, changes of mood, etc.Exclamation Points 66To show emotion, emphasis, or surpriseReplacing periods and mid-sentence commasAvoidance in formal business writingJustifiable useSlashes 66Technical term: virguleIn formal writing use hyphen or the word or3 Capitalization 69First word of a document and after a periodProper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nounsReference list of capitalized categoriesReference list of lowercase categoriesThorny aspects of capitalizationTitlesTitles vs. occupationsTitles in direct addressKinship namesNicknamesGeographic regions vs. points of the compassThe before proper nounsCity, town, county, etc., before a proper nameFirst word of a quotationMidsentence independent clauses or questionsCourse titles vs. academic subjectsArt movementsLists following colonsLowercase the national anthemTitles of books, plays, films, songs, etc.SubtitlesGray areas4 Writing Numbers 79Using figures vs. spelling out numbersNumbers beginning a sentenceHyphenating compound numbersHyphenating fractionsFigures of four or more digitsSums less than a dollarNoon and midnightTime of dayMixed fractionsLarge numbersDecimalsWriting out numbers of three or more digitsWhen to use andDo not use commasDatesDecadesUse lowercase when spelling outUsing apostrophes with incomplete numeralsAvoiding apostrophe + s with complete numeralsApostrophes with numbers5 Confusing Words and Homonyms 85Good vs. wellImply vs. inferIts vs. it’sLay vs. lieTheir vs. there vs. they’reHundreds more words and homonyms that perplex and confound6 Quizzes 155Grammar Pretest 155Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects Quiz 1 157Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects Quiz 2 157Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 1 158Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 2 159Irregular Verbs Quiz 1 160Irregular Verbs Quiz 2 160Pronouns Quiz 1 160Pronouns Quiz 2 161Who, Whom, Whoever, Whomever Quiz 1 162Who, Whom, Whoever, Whomever Quiz 2 163Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz 1 163Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz 2 164Adjectives and Adverbs Quiz 1 164Adjectives and Adverbs Quiz 2 165Prepositions Quiz 1 166Prepositions Quiz 2 166Affect vs. Effect Quiz 1 167Affect vs. Effect Quiz 2 167Lay vs. Lie Quiz 1 168Lay vs. Lie Quiz 2 168Advice vs. Advise Quiz 1 169Advice vs. Advise Quiz 2 169Their vs. There vs. They’re Quiz 1 170Their vs. There vs. They’re Quiz 2 170More Confusing Words and Homonyms Quiz 1 171More Confusing Words and Homonyms Quiz 2 171Effective Writing Quiz 1 172Effective Writing Quiz 2 172Grammar Mastery Test 173Punctuation, Capitalization, and Writing Numbers Pretest 175Commas and Periods Quiz 1 177Commas and Periods Quiz 2 178Semicolons and Colons Quiz 1 179Semicolons and Colons Quiz 2 180Question Marks and Quotation Marks Quiz 1 181Question Marks and Quotation Marks Quiz 2 181Parentheses and Brackets Quiz 1 182Parentheses and Brackets Quiz 2 182Apostrophes Quiz 1 183Apostrophes Quiz 2 184Hyphens Between Words Quiz 1 184Hyphens Between Words Quiz 2 185Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz 1 186Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz 2 186Capitalization Quiz 1 187Capitalization Quiz 2 187Writing Numbers Quiz 1 188Writing Numbers Quiz 2 188Punctuation, Capitalization, and Writing Numbers Mastery Test 1897 Answers to Quizzes 193Grammar Pretest Answers 193Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects Quiz 1 Answers 195Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects Quiz 2 Answers 195Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 1 Answers 196Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 2 Answers 196Irregular Verbs Quiz 1 Answers 197Irregular Verbs Quiz 2 Answers 197Pronouns Quiz 1 Answers 198Pronouns Quiz 2 Answers 199Who, Whom, Whoever, Whomever Quiz 1 Answers 199Who, Whom, Whoever, Whomever Quiz 2 Answers 200Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz 1 Answers 201Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz 2 Answers 201Adjectives and Adverbs Quiz 1 Answers 202Adjectives and Adverbs Quiz 2 Answers 202Prepositions Quiz 1 Answers 203Prepositions Quiz 2 Answers 204Affect vs. Effect Quiz 1 Answers 204Affect vs. Effect Quiz 2 Answers 205Lay vs. Lie Quiz 1 Answers 205Lay vs. Lie Quiz 2 Answers 206Advice vs. Advise Quiz 1 Answers 206Advice vs. Advise Quiz 2 Answers 206Their vs. There vs. They’re Quiz 1 Answers 207Their vs. There vs. They’re Quiz 2 Answers 207More Confusing Words and Homonyms Quiz 1 Answers 208More Confusing Words and Homonyms Quiz 2 Answers 208Effective Writing Quiz 1 Answers 209Effective Writing Quiz 2 Answers 210Grammar Mastery Test Answers 211Punctuation, Capitalization, and Writing Numbers Pretest Answers 213Commas and Periods Quiz 1 Answers 215Commas and Periods Quiz 2 Answers 216Semicolons and Colons Quiz 1 Answers 216Semicolons and Colons Quiz 2 Answers 217Question Marks and Quotation Marks Quiz 1 Answers 218Question Marks and Quotation Marks Quiz 2 Answers 219Parentheses and Brackets Quiz 1 Answers 219Parentheses and Brackets Quiz 2 Answers 220Apostrophes Quiz 1 Answers 220Apostrophes Quiz 2 Answers 221Hyphens Between Words Quiz 1 Answers 222Hyphens Between Words Quiz 2 Answers 222Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz 1 Answers 223Hyphens with Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz 2 Answers 223Capitalization Quiz 1 Answers 224Capitalization Quiz 2 Answers 224Writing Numbers Quiz 1 Answers 225Writing Numbers Quiz 2 Answers 226Punctuation, Capitalization, and Writing Numbers Mastery Test Answers 226Index 229