Diane Andreas, Business Communications Consultant | Lebanon, New Hampshire


Punctuation Power Minutes March 15, 2021 Correct the punctuation in the following sentence. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Want to try a Proofing Power Minute? Click here! December 1, 2021 It’s time for holiday greetings, and people create a variety of grammatically incorrect ways to sign their names. First, let’s consider my family’s last name of Andreas. Which options below are correct? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute October 1, 2021 This punctuation mark is often forgotten or used incorrectly. Can you find the missing punctuation below? Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute August 1, 2020 What do you mean? . . . A workshop participant of mine was baffled and offended by her parents’ use of ellipses in their text messages with her. She felt that they were being passive-aggressive by leaving their critical thoughts unsaid. Her parents believed that they were ending the discussion while being open to more options. Her concerns sparked quite a discussion in our workshop. Recently, I heard a similar discussion on A Way with Words. Have you had any misunderstandings with this questionable dot, dot, dot? Follow the link to A Way with Words for hosts Grant and Martha’s take on this communication dilemma. Let me know your experiences with this punctuation mark. A Way with Words \| The Meaning of Ending Messages with Ellipses (waywordradio.org) Return to top Proofing Power Minute March 1, 2021 You are buying an engraved name plate for Jason, Jennifer, and Aiden McCarthy to hang next to their front door. You need to get the grammar right before engraving this housewarming gift. Which choices are correct? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2021 Edit this placard. Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute December 1, 2020 What’s the difference between a backward slash (\) and a forward slash (/)? Let’s explore the issue. 1. A backward slash (\), or backslash, is a typographical mark that we use in computer coding. It denotes directories and file paths. C:\Users\Diane\Documents\Diane's Business File\Power Minutes \2020_December_Punctuation PM_Forward vs Backward Slash_v1.docx 2. A forward slash is a punctuation mark in English. We use it to separate parts of a website address (a URL), to separate parts of dates, to indicate the words or and per, to create abbreviations, and to indicate fractions. http://diandreas.com/punctuation-power-minute.html 12/1/2020 (informal date use) $25/session w/o (without) 1/2 cup sugar Return to top Proofing Power Minute October 1, 2020 Let’s take a look at using an en dash with continuing numbers in dates, times, and page numbers. Are any of these sentences correct? Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute September 1, 2020 In our last Power Minute, we defined acronyms and initialisms. Let’s spend more time with these abbreviations. How do we make them possessive? In other words, if referring to the office of the VP, do we write VPs office, VP’s office, or VPs’ office? Click on the first acronym for all the answers. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute May 1, 2020 Is any additional punctuation needed in the following sentence? Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute April 1, 2020 Correct the punctuation in the sentence below. Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute March 1, 2020 Proofread the following sentence for both punctuation and grammar. Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2020 If two nouns share ownership, the possessive is indicated on the second noun: Megan and Tina’s office is on the second floor. Let’s say that Tina moved to another office, and I moved into her old office with Megan. Now which sentence is correct? Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute November 1, 2019 The away messages that I receive provide practice opportunities for us. Try editing this sentence. Click on the sentence for my suggestions. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute July 1, 2019 Do you need to make any edits in the sentence below? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute June 1, 2019 Punctuation can provide clarity. Your writing may be clear to you, but is it clear to your audience? How would you punctuate the following sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute April 1, 2019 When do you hyphenate words? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2019 Do you see the common punctuation error? How would you correct it? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute December 1, 2018 Would you change anything in the sentence below? Click on the sentence for the answer. Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute October 1, 2018 Would you change anything in this sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute May 1, 2018 Is the following sentence punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute March 1, 2018 Does the following sentence need additional punctuation? Maybe, maybe not. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute Punctuation Power Minutes February 1, 2018 Proofread for punctuation, and edit for conciseness. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute October 1, 2017 You will find both a punctuation and a grammar error below. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute September 1, 2017 When do we abbreviate state names, and do we use periods if we do? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute June 1, 2017 How do we punctuate a sentence using such as or including? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute April 1, 2017 Merriam-Webster’s videos are another great resource for your editing questions. Follow this link for a useful discussion on the serial comma: https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/serial-comma Contact me if you have other reputable resources to share with our followers. Return to top Proofing Power Minute March 1, 2017 How do we punctuate titles such as Jr. and III? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2017 How do you punctuate conference session titles? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute December 1, 2016 Just in time for the holidays or any special occasion: How should I sign my greetings? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute September 1, 2016 How would you punctuate the following sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute June 1, 2016 How would you punctuate the following sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute May 1, 2016 How would you punctuate the following sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2016 How would you punctuate the following sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute January 1, 2016 Proofread carefully. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute September 1, 2015 Proofread carefully. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute July 1, 2015 Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute June 1, 2015 Correctly punctuate the sentence below. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute May 1, 2015 Correctly punctuate the sentence below. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute April 1, 2015 Correctly punctuate the sentence below. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute March 1, 2015 How would you punctuate the sentence below? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute February 1, 2015 Is the sentence below punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute December 1, 2014 Proofread this line from a thank you email. Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute November 1, 2014 Is this sentence punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute October 1, 2014 How would you punctuate this sentence? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute August 1, 2014 Is this sentence punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence for the answer. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute July 1, 2014 Is this sentence punctuated correctly? Click on the sentence to find out. (Double click to return the sentence to the original example.) Return to top Proofing Power Minute
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