Colon
Format:
The memorandum is consistent with Sask Polytech’s new direction in agricultural programming: to focus on custom solutions that capture emerging opportunities.
The memorandum is consistent with Sask Polytech’s new direction in agricultural programming: We will focus on custom solutions that capture emerging opportunities.
Rules:
- Use a colon before a concluding summary in a sentence.
- Capitalize the first letter following the colon if the concluding summary contains both a subject and a verb.
Comma
Format:
New online students are advised to go through the online login demonstration, run their browser tune-up and become familiar with the set-up of their online courses.
Our Internet site is 467-4278, and our intranet site is mySaskPolytech.
As a major employer of Sask Polytech graduates, SaskPower recognizes the importance of providing students with access to the technology they will use in the workplace.
The online students’ welcome letter, which comes from the director of Learning Technologies, helps introduce students to what they can expect from their online experiences.
Students not on work placements network with SaskPower personnel to discuss career options. (“Not on work placements” is a restrictive element, i.e., it restricts participation to those not on work placements and is necessary for correct meaning.)
The announcement on mySaskPolytech read, “Donation creates state-of-the-art lab.”
Rules:
- A comma is often used to develop a sequence within a sentence or to separate items in a list. In Sask Polytech convention, a comma generally is not required before the conjunction (and, but, or) at the end of a list.
- A comma is used between independent clauses joined by a conjunction (and, but, yet, etc.).
- A comma is used after introductory clauses.
- A comma can be used to separate non-restrictive elements (could be removed without changing meaning) from the rest of the sentence.
- Do not use a comma to separate a restrictive element.
- A comma is used to introduce a quotation of a complete sentence.
Compound word
A compound word is made up of two or more existing words. Consult the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.
Hyphen
Format:
Our school uses state-of-the-art technology.
Students can choose either one- or two-hour tours.
The 12th-grade student didn’t notice he was on a one-way street.
Rules:
- Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving to form a single adjective before a noun.
- When using hyphens for successive compound adjectives, if the second part of the first adjective is omitted, the hyphen is retained and followed by a space.
- Use hyphens in adjective phrases that include whole numbers or fractions.
- Hyphens are not required after a word ending in ly.
Period
Format:
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is Saskatchewan's primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training. We're a polytechnic recognized nationally and internationally for our expertise and innovation.
Rules:
- Between sentences, key just one space after a period.
Quotation mark
Rules:
- Do not use quotation marks in an attempt to emphasize a word, e.g., Enrol “today”!
- Quotation marks can set off a significant word or phrase, a word used ironically or an unfamiliar term on first reference. Do not use around routine words or phrases.
- Periods and commas always go inside closing quotation marks; colons and semicolons go outside. Question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotation marks when they are part of the quoted matter, but outside when they apply to the entire sentence.
- Quotation marks are placed around cited words or phrases.
- A quote set within a quote is put in single quotation marks. A quotation within a quotation that also ends the sentence is as follows: Deirdre commented, “Mother is always saying to me, ‘Sit up straight.’”
- Use single quotation marks in a headline.
Semicolon
Format:
The faculty is excited about working with the new equipment; it has sparked the students’ enthusiasm and motivation to learn.
Rules:
Use semicolons between independent clauses that are not separated by a conjunction.