Punctuation—the unsung hero of language—guides our words, adds rhythm, and shapes meaning. In this exploration of British English punctuation, we’ll delve into the nuances that set it apart from its American counterpart. Buckle up, fellow grammar enthusiasts, as we ride through the twists and turns of commas, quotation marks, and more!

1. Quotation Marks: Single vs. Double

Quotation marks (or inverted commas) are our trusty steeds when it comes to direct speech and reproduced text. But here’s the twist: British English prefers single quotation marks (’ ‘), while American English insists on double quotation marks (” “). So, when Albert Einstein said, “The ideals which have always shone before me are goodness, beauty, and truth,” British style would render it as: ‘The ideals which have always shone before me are goodness, beauty, and truth.’¹

2. Titles and Periods

Titles like Mr., Mrs., and Ms. take periods in American English, but British English leaves them out. So, while Mr Smith sips his tea in London, Mr. Smith does the same in New York. A subtle difference, but it matters.

3. Time and Dates

When writing the time, British usage calls for a period (e.g., 10.30), while American usage opts for a colon (e.g., 10:30). And let’s talk dates: Americans put the month first (12/5/2010 means December 5, 2010), while the British start with the day (12/5/2010 means May 12, 2010). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) suggests YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2010-12-05), but whether it catches on remains to be seen.

4. Commas: The Versatile Workhorses

Commas are our loyal companions, helping us navigate lists, introductory phrases, and more. Here are some rules:

• Introductory Words and Clauses: Use commas after introductory adverbs (e.g., “Quietly, she ran past the sleeping man”) and interjections (e.g., “Wow, my sister came home from college”). Also, when introducing subordinate adverb clauses (e.g., “If I see your sister, I’ll call you”), a comma is your trusty guide.³ (Apologies for my footnotes going rogue with their numbering!)
• Lists: When listing three or more things, use commas between them. Clear, simple, accurate words—that’s the goal! But remember, no comma before “and” at the end of a list of single words (e.g., “Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland”).⁴

5. Quotation Marks and Direct Quotations

When a character speaks directly, enclose their words in quotation marks. But for indirect speech (reported rather than quoted), skip the quotation marks. For longer quotations, British style often keeps them in one paragraph indented, while American style may split them into separate paragraphs.

Conclusion: Punctuating the British Way

As we bid adieu to our punctuation journey, remember that British English dances to its own comma-filled tune. Whether you’re sipping tea in London or coffee in New York, let these punctuation rules be your faithful companions. Happy punctuating, dear reader! May your commas be precise, your quotation marks elegant, and your semicolons confidently placed. Until next time, keep your grammar lasso handy! 

About Emma

As an introvert haunting the corners of storytelling festivals, it’s incredibly difficult to track Emma down. She’s best known for writing Scottish fiction about working-class women and communities and their misrepresented lives. You can find her recent book A Gypsy’s Curse here. Or get writing help here.

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When to use a colon.

The humble colon, not to be confused with a body part, can be used as follows:

1) to introduce a list (as I have just shown above)

2) to show contrast e.g. two separate sentences which contrast with one another

The wicked are damned: the good are blessed.

3) to introduce a general idea and in the proceeding sentence explain in more detail. Think of it as a pause before introducing information.

Mae West had one golden rule for handling men: “Tell the pretty ones they’re smart and tell the smart ones they’re pretty.”

4) to introduce quoted material.

This is a favourite quotation of mine from the fabulous Terry Pratchett: “She walked quickly through the darkness with the frank stride of someone who was at least certain that the forest, on this damp and windy night, contained strange and terrible things and she was it” (Wyrd Sisters).

Tips to avoid colon abuse!

Never follow the colon by a hyphen, like so :-

There is no need to capitilise the first letter after the colon: I mean it. And I’ve just shown an example of an exemption!

If you want to get fancy

The colon can also be used to strongly emphasise something (use rarely)

There is one thing that mankind cannot live without: hope.

And if you would like some practice see the University of Bristol quiz here. Or contact me here for proofreading help.

Who is Emma?

Emma is a proofreader with 18 years of writing experience with businesses, academics and creative writers. She obtained a Creative Writing MA (St Andrews University) and a PhD in Storytelling (Warwick University). Then set up her own proofreading business and became a published author of fiction as well as academic literature such as Young People, Learning & Storytelling (Palgrave Macmillan).

L’article Colon misuse: it’s not scary to get it right! est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

You’ve come to the right place for writing help! Reach me here for help with any writing projects.

The start of a sentence

The most frequent use is at the start of a sentence. As in the examples below, place a comma after therefore, although modern writers tend to drop this comma it is indicative of a pause so I’d suggest keeping it.

Therefore, this paper draws on empirical audience research to address …

Therefore, they cannot work with Andrea, so she has to look …

WARNING! Elements of Style by William Strunk, disagrees with starting sentences with the word ‘however’. Mainly, because at the start of the sentence the word ‘however’ means ‘in whatever way’ or ‘to whatever extent’ (Garner and Chicago punctuation usage may disagree, which is why it’sgood to pick a grammar style and stick with it).

However, we at last succeeded in reaching camp.

The example sentence above could be rewritten as: In whatever way, we at last succeeded in reaching camp. Still, if you want to use ‘however’ in its other sense (meaning yet/nevertheless) either move the word in the sentence or replace it with another word.

The middle of a sentence

The next frequent use is in the middle of a sentence. For instance, to introduce a separate sentence that expresses a complete thought (in other words two independent clauses). Usually done by using a semi-colon (;) and followed by a comma.

Boxing is against school rules; moreover, it’s dangerous.

…Scott’s use of humour is apparent in the mainstream media; therefore, Frye’s five stages seem to encapsulate several aspects of…

It is also possible (largely in fiction) to use a comma in place of the semi-colon, this treats therefore like a conjunction (a sentence connection). Or to use it in the middle of a sentence instead of ‘for example’ or ‘for instance’:

For emphasis

Therefore also appears in the middle of a sentence for emphasis separated from the rest of the text by commas.

You can, therefore, do whatever you like.

Love, however, is very materially assisted by a warm and active imagination.

However can also be written like this, but usually with a semi-colon as it is an adverb and should, technically, join two independent sentences. But one reason I would say it is okay to use commas with ‘however’ is, first, when the word interrupts the flow of the sentence, creating a pause and an emphasis which allows the writer to say, “I’m about to give an example of an exception” (or similar). And, second, the second quote above was from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. Can Dickens be wrong? Probably, but if it worked for him…

Elements of Style states not to use a comma, however, modern usage tends to use a comma.

Bear these three possibilities in mind when writing and your writing will be clearer and more precise:

• The start of a sentence
• The middle of a sentence
• For emphasis

Happy writing!

Reach me here for help with any writing projects.

Who is Emma?

Emma is a proofreader with 18 years of writing experience with businesses, academics and creative writers. She obtained a Creative Writing MA (St Andrews University) and a PhD in Storytelling (Warwick University). Then set up her own proofreading business and became a published author of fiction as well as academic literature such as Young People, Learning & Storytelling (Palgrave Macmillan).

L’article How to punctuate ‘therefore’ or ‘however’ est apparu en premier sur Emma Parfitt Proofreading Editing Services.

An immediate definition is provided for foreign words

She reaches the last of the capitelles, the ancient stone shelters that cluster in the hills to the north of Coustaussa, and slips inside.

In the quotation above, environmental context adds to the character’s surroundings. Here’s another way Mosse does this through her writing:

Baillard nodded a greeting. ‘Bonjourn.’

A definition of the foreign word is placed in italics, then introduced as a greeting in the sentence that proceeds it. In this way the reader does no work at all to understand the unfamiliar word.

Punctuation

‘The truth, amic, which is that their son is dead and we do not know why.’

Amic, a term of endearment, is clearly marked by the way commas separate it from the text. Foreign words are also in italics, but I’ve given up fighting with wordpress not to change my text for today. This punctuation technique allows a reader to guess what the word means by the context: amic, amie, friend… and because the author introduces this technique throughout the book a reader knows what to expect, even when unfamiliar terms are used later on in the novel.

A delayed definition

In the example below, foreign words are defined after naming the speaker. This reminds the reader of the setting without all of the dialogue being full of unfamiliar expressions and foreign words.

‘Ist es bereit?’ Bauer asked. It’s ready?

Here is an example of a longer delay:

‘Si es atal es atal,’ he said…. [paragraph of action showing character’s movement through the mountains, which switches to internal dialogue. Then:] The words gave him no comfort. He tried to reassure himself [more internal dialogue] ‘What will be will be,’ he repeated.

Breaking this paragraph into its composite parts we can see: 1) a foreign term is introduced, 2) it’s internalised by the character’s reaction, and 3) defined at the end of the paragraph.

Also, Mosse varies where she places her definitions; before or after unfamiliar words, and either uses action and/or physical description to make the reader feel what the character is feeling.

‘Deliver us from evil…’ [Physical sensations to capture his fear, ended by referring to his lips] ‘Libera nos a malo,’ he repeated.

Has this article inspired you to experiment with foreign words in your writing? Should you ever need a little more proofreading or editing help, feel free to get in touch. You can also find out more about my writing via my writer’s page.

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