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Résultats 11 à 20 de 31 (page 2 de 4)
telephone extensions
Put a comma between the main telephone number and the extension, and put the abbreviation Ext. before the extension number. Please contact Lisa Steward at 613-555-0415, Ext. 126. In formal correspondence, you may write Extension out in full.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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addresses: official languages
Follow the guidelines below when translating addresses from one official language into the other. (Note that an address can often be left untranslated.) Street types While the official name of a thoroughfare should not be translated, words indicating a type of public thoroughfare may be translated into the other official language because they do not form part of the official name. 375, rue Deschambault = 375 Deschambault Street 515 Main Street = 515, rue Main (not 515, rue Principale) When a thoroughfare name is translated from French, capitalize it in accordance with English usage: 100, boulevard de Maisonneuve = 100 De Maisonneuve Boulevard However, when the word is considered to be part of the official name of the thoroughfare (e.g. avenue preceded by a number [1re, 2e, Fifth, 25th, etc.], chaussée, chemin, montée, Circle, Square), do not translate it. Enquiries concerning the official name of a thoroughfare should be directed to the appropriate municipality. Note that according to Canada Post’s Addressing Guidelines, in addresses appearing on envelopes and parcels, only the terms rue (Street), avenue (Avenue) and boulevard (Boulevard) should be translated. Municipalities Names of municipalities should be left in their official form and not translated. Names of French municipalities should retain any accents that are part of the official name in French. Saint John (Nouveau-Brunswick) [not Saint-Jean] Montréal, Quebec [not Montreal] Provinces and Territories The names of provinces and territories are translated. In English, a comma is used to set off a place name from that of the province or territory, whereas in French, parentheses enclose the name of the province or territory. English style: Vancouver, British Columbia; Montréal, Quebec French style: Vancouver (Colombie-Britannique); Montréal (Québec)Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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commas with coordinate elements, serial commas
Elements of equal rank or relation in a sentence are said to be coordinate. The coordinate elements may be words or phrases in a series, or they may be entire clauses. On this page Words, phrases and dependent clauses Omitting the final comma Appositives with coordinate elements Independent clauses Adjectives Antithetic expressions Words, phrases and dependent clauses Items in a series may be separated by commas: Complacency, urbanity, sentimentality, whimsicality They may also be linked by coordinating conjunctions such as and or or: the good, the bad and the ugly economists, sociologists or political scientists On his camping trip, Nathan slept in a tent, cooked over a fire and canoed for miles. Cheryl didn’t explain where she had gone, what she was doing or when she would be back. Omitting the final comma Opinions differ on whether and when a comma should be inserted before the final and or or in a sequence. In keeping with the general trend toward less punctuation, the final comma is best omitted where clarity permits, unless there is a need to emphasize the last element in the series. This comma is usually omitted in the names of firms and always before an ampersand: Cohen, Hansen and Larose Deeble, Froom & Associates Ltd. On the other hand, it is usually inserted if the items in the series are phrases or clauses of some length, if emphasis is desired, or if omission of the comma might lead to ambiguity or misunderstanding: She embraced him once again, turned away, and then walked out the door forever. [comma for emphasis] Tenders were submitted by Domicile Developments Inc., East End Construction, Krista, and Ryan and Scheper. [comma for clarity] A comma is also required before etc.: He brought in the wine, the glasses, etc. Note, however, that the last item in a series is not followed by a comma (unless the sentence requires a comma for another reason): Alan packed sandals, shorts and T-shirts but forgot socks and sunscreen. but Alan packed sandals, shorts and T-shirts, but he forgot socks and sunscreen. (In this example, a comma is required before “but” because it is joining two independent clauses.) Appositives with coordinate elements A more complex situation occurs when apposition commas are used together with coordinating commas, as illustrated below: Carla Tavares, a recent MBA graduate, three students and a technician set up the experiment. The sentence should be rephrased so that no non-restrictive appositive occurs within a coordinate element: A recent MBA graduate named Carla Tavares, three students and a technician set up the experiment. Alternatively, semicolons may be used to separate elements in a complex series: Jane Stewart, MP for Brandt, Ont.; Stan Keyes, MP for Hamilton West, Ont.; John Nunziata, MP for York-South Weston … Independent clauses A comma is normally used to separate two main clauses in a compound sentence when they are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, yet or for): “They are often called individualists, and in economic matters they were, but in social matters, the dominating concept was that of good neighbourliness.” (M. M. Fahrni) If the clauses are short or closely related, the commas may be omitted before and, but, or or nor: He opened the letter and then he read the contents. Life is short but art is long. Coordinate clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction are usually separated by a heavier mark of punctuation than the comma: “Canadian poetry must now be judged by achievement; it does not need to be criticized for not being like other poetries.” (Margaret Atwood) A comma will suffice, however, if the clauses are short, or if the writer wishes to emphasize a contrast or lead the reader on to the following clause as quickly as possible: There are good regulations, there are bad regulations. It was not the duration of the pilot project that caused concern, it was the size of the project team. It is a common error to confuse a simple sentence having a compound predicate with a compound sentence requiring a comma between clauses. Note the difference between the following examples: She investigated the matter and then wrote a detailed report. (simple sentence) She investigated the matter, and then the committee began its work. (compound sentence) Where the clauses of a compound sentence are joined by a conjunctive adverb (such as however, instead, meanwhile, otherwise, similarly, so, still, then, therefore or yet), a semicolon is called for: The climbers had planned to scale the rock face; however, it was too sheer. Adjectives A series of adjectives modifying a noun may or may not be coordinate. The adjectives are coordinate if their order does not affect the meaning, in which case they should be separated by a comma. If they are not coordinate, that is, if one adjective modifies the phrase formed by the following adjective(s) plus the noun, then they should not be separated by a comma: a rich, creamy sauce but a naive domestic burgundy Adjectives of both types may of course occur together: a tender, succulent young chicken The rule stated above, however, is not an infallible guide. When in doubt omit the comma, as in: The plain honest truth is that he is a liar. The final adjective in the series should not be separated from the following noun by a comma: Nations require strong, fair, open, decisive government. Antithetic expressions Antithetic expressions are usually separated by a comma: This proposal is not to be tossed lightly aside, but to be hurled with great force. However, short expressions of this type may not require a comma: The more wit the less courage.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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commas in geographical names and addresses
Use a comma to separate a place name from a date: Hull, February 13 Similarly, a comma separates a place name from the name of a province or the abbreviation for that province, and the province’s name or abbreviation is normally followed by a comma within the body of a sentence or sentence equivalent: Mont-Carmel, Prince Edward Island, was originally known as Le Grand Ruisseau. We arrived at Corner Brook, N.L., the following day. Use commas to separate address components, as illustrated: The parcel must be delivered to 340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8, within two business days. Note that the postal code is followed, but not preceded, by a comma when the address forms part of a sentence.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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et cetera, etcetera, etc.
(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article etc./et cetera) The Latin term et cetera (“and the rest”) is usually written as two words in Canadian English. However, the one-word spelling etcetera is also correct. The abbreviation for this term is etc. (Note that the c comes last; the misspelling ect. is a common error.) Because it has become part of the English language, this term is not placed in italics, whether it is written in full or abbreviated. Use Et cetera and its more common abbreviation, Etc., are used to show that a list of at least two items is incomplete. The list may include either things or people: Karen tries not to eat chips, chocolate, et cetera, even though she loves junk food. Bart had read many bestselling Canadian authors: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence, Wayson Choy, etc. Etc.can also be used at the end of a bulleted list: Michael Ondaatje Margaret Laurence Wayson Choy etc. Since the expressions for example and such as already indicate that a list is incomplete, et cetera and Etc.should not be used at the end of a list introduced by either of these expressions or by the abbreviation e.g. Incorrect: Al often picks locally grown fruit, such as apples or strawberries, etc. Correct: Al often picks locally grown fruit, such as apples or strawberries. Correct: Al often picks locally grown fruit: apples, strawberries, etc. Note: Some guides suggest avoiding the use of etc. in formal writing. As an alternative, you can use such as to introduce a list, or follow the list with a phrase such as “and so on”: Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water, such as sailing, swimming and surfing. Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water: sailing, swimming, surfing and so on. Comma with et cetera A comma is used before et cetera and its abbreviation, etc.: I dislike doing yard work: mowing the grass, trimming the hedge, et cetera. When this term appears in the middle of a sentence, it takes a comma after it as well as before it: Yard work can fill up the summer; mowing the grass, trimming the hedge, etc., takes a lot of time. Period after etc. The abbreviation Etc. always ends with a period, regardless of any additional punctuation that may follow: Karen tries not to eat chips, chocolate, etc., even though she loves junk food. Avoid using feminine or masculine pronouns to personify animals, events, ships, etc.: [followed by a list of examples] Travellers should not carry sharp objects in their carry-on luggage (scissors, pocket knives, nail clippers, etc.). If etc. ends a sentence that takes a period, only one period is used: At the staff picnic, the employees ate, played football, chatted, etc.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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Commas that count: Necessary commas
Ah, the comma. Doesn’t every wordsmith have some tiny wrinkles, etched somewhere in the mid-brow region, because of this capricious mark? Nearly everyone has questions about the comma. Should we use a comma with and? What about after an introductory element? Is the comma even necessary today? Or is it a quaint, old-fashioned remnant of an era when readers had time to savour sentences, to pause between ideas instead of rushing madly onward, scanning for content before tackling the next task, as we so often do now? It’s true that modern writers use commas more sparingly than their forebears. Pick up a novel by, say, Jane Austen. Open it to any page and you’ll see them—dozens of commas, swarming through sentences like ants through spilled syrup. But things are different today. Today our commas, like our technology, like our workplaces, like our very lives, are streamlined and economical, designed for speed and efficiency, not for lingering and reflection. Still, some commas are as necessary today as ever. Properly placed commas enable readers to follow ideas and interpret meaning. Moreover, they prevent misreading. In the sentence Lynn, Massachusetts is an excellent location for our new headquarters, the omission of the comma after Massachusetts makes us think the author is assuring Lynn that Massachusetts is a great location. The key to understanding the modern comma is to know when it’s required and when it’s not. This is no easy task; the guidelines for this minuscule mark fill dozens of pages in some texts. Thankfully, Sheridan Baker, in his fifth edition of The Practical Stylist (1981), divides necessary commas into just four categories: The introducer: after an introductory clause or phrase The coordinator: between two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) The inserter: a pair around an inserted word or remark The linker: when adding a word, phrase or clause to the main sentence The introducer When the introductory element is a clause, the decision is easy: use a comma. (Remember, a clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb.) After the hospital had completed its fundraising campaign, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $300,000. (introductory adverbial clause) With an introductory phrase, the decision is harder. (A phrase is a group of words that does not contain both a subject and a verb.) If the phrase is relatively long, use a comma. From the east wall to the west, the "dream cottage" advertised in the real estate brochure measured just twenty feet. (long prepositional phrase) If the phrase is short and naturally flows into what follows, do not use a comma. By midnight my new boyfriend was slavering and baying at the moon. (short prepositional phrase that flows on) If the phrase is short but does not naturally flow into what follows, use a comma to show the separation. A comma is particularly important after an introductory participial phrase—one that contains the present participle (-ing form) or the past participle (-ed or irregular form) of a verb. Seeing his transformation, I wanted to flee like the wind. (participial phrase) Paralyzed by fear, I stood transfixed while my hirsute companion lumbered forward, wild-eyed and hungry. (participial phrase) Despite his fangs, I still thought my date was kind of cute. (phrase does not flow naturally into what follows) Fearful yet curious, I debated what to do. (phrase does not flow naturally into what follows) The introducer may also appear after an introductory word that does not flow directly into the rest of the sentence, such as a sentence adverb (an adverb that modifies the entire sentence rather than just one word in it). Fortunately, I still had the leftover rare steak I had taken away from our lavish dinner together, so I threw it in his path to distract him. (introductory adverb) The coordinator Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses (clauses that can stand as full sentences). Remember to put the comma before the conjunction, not after. René wrapped the fresh fish in three layers of newspaper, but his van still smelled like trout for the next week. (two independent clauses) If the independent clauses are short and closely related, it is preferable to omit the comma. He chose the restaurant and she chose the movie. (short, related independent clauses) It’s important to check that the coordinating conjunction is really joining two independent clauses and not two phrases. The dog whipped his head around and caught the Frisbee between his teeth. (two phrases) The inserter Think of the two commas around insertions as detour signs: the first tells you where the detour begins, the second where it ends. Margaret Atwood’s first novel, Surfacing, contains many themes and images that run through the author’s later works. (insertion) Sometimes it’s hard to decide if a group of words is a true insertion. An insertion interrupts, meaning you can usually remove it without changing the sentence’s main message. The grammatical term for an interrupting element is non-restrictive. A non-restrictive element must be set off with a pair of commas. The bingo employees, who had finished their work, went home for the day. (main message: the employees went home for the day) A restrictive element, on the other hand, does not interrupt the message; it is integral to it. Restrictive elements are not set off with commas. The bingo employees who had finished their work went home for the day. (main message: only the employees who had finished their work went home) The linker Use a comma whenever you link extra (often non-restrictive) information to the main sentence. The added information often provides elaboration. My sister loves low-budget horror movies from the fifties and sixties, especially those featuring killer vegetables from outer space. (added phrase) The sea was like a boiling cauldron, even though the wind had abated hours earlier. (added clause) Commas also link elements in a list or series. Nathan took a radio, a hair dryer, the latest Vanity Fair and a canister of pepper spray on his first wilderness camping trip. (items in a list) Should there be a comma before and in a list? It’s a perennial question, one that authorities differ on. The bottom line—either approach is acceptable, though the modern tendency is to omit the comma unless it’s needed to prevent misreading. Eileen’s favourite sandwiches are tuna, watercress, ham, and cheese and bacon. (comma required before and for clarity) A pause for reflection Knowing when we need commas is only one navigation point; knowing when we don’t is another. Between the two lies a vast and bewildering territory where comma use is subjective, dependent on such vagaries as authorial intent, emphasis and personal taste. So understanding the principles of necessary commas likely won’t erase our wrinkles (we’re not talking Botox here). But it may relax them, somewhat. Related quiz Test yourself—Commas that count: Necessary commasSource : Peck’s English Pointers (articles et exercices sur la langue anglaise)
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conjunctive adverb
We think of adverbs as modifiers, but conjunctive adverbs are a special breed. Their function is not to modify, but to connect. A conjunctive adverb is used to create a smooth connection between two sentences or independent clauses. The conjunctive adverb shows the logical relationship between one idea and the next and thus helps to provide coherence in a written text. Relationships shown by conjunctive adverbs Below are some of the most common conjunctive adverbs, grouped according to the relationships they show: Addition: also, besides, furthermore, likewise, moreover, similarly Contrast: however, instead, rather, still, yet Emphasis: certainly, indeed, surely, truly Result: accordingly, consequently, otherwise, therefore Sequence: first, second, third; afterward, finally, lastly, later, next, then For example, to connect two similar ideas, you can use a conjunctive adverb that shows addition: Alain bought two tents. He also got sleeping bags and air mattresses. To connect two opposite ideas, you can use a conjunctive adverb that shows contrast: Debra was sure she had hidden her jewelry in a safe place. Still, thieves broke in and stole it during the night. To show a cause-effect connection, you can use a conjunctive adverb showing result: March was unusually warm; therefore, the snow was entirely gone by month’s end. Punctuation with a conjunctive adverb Depending on where you place the conjunctive adverb in the sentence, you can choose one of the following punctuation patterns. At the beginning of a clause: period or semicolon before the adverb, comma after it. My daughter’s ringette team won the game. Afterward, the girls celebrated with pizza and ice cream. You’d better fill up the tank; otherwise, we might run out of gas. In the middle of a clause: comma before and after the adverb. The porch was beginning to sag. The paint, moreover, was flaking badly. At the end of a clause: comma before the adverb, period after it. Critics gave the film consistently poor reviews; movie-goers loved it, however. Note: There are some exceptions to these punctuation rules. Commas are not always necessary when a conjunctive adverb is in the middle of a clause; let your ear guide you. Omit commas if the adverb fits smoothly into the sentence: It soon became too dark to go on. Jeff therefore beached the canoe and set up camp. Use commas if the adverb interrupts the flow of the sentence: Kaitlin was determined to get her licence. Every evening, therefore, she practised driving for hours. A common punctuation error The most common error that occurs with conjunctive adverbs is a punctuation error called a comma splice (a kind of run-on). This error occurs when the writer joins two sentences with a comma and a conjunctive adverb. Run-on: The game was almost lost, however our team scored a goal. Remember, a conjunctive adverb is not a conjunction. An adverb creates a weaker connection, and it must have a full stop (period or semicolon) before it when it is connecting two sentences. Correct: The game was almost lost. However, our team scored a goal. Correct: The game was almost lost; however, our team scored a goal.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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compound sentences
A compound sentence is a sentence formed from two or more simple sentences, or independent clauses (IC): Megan cut the wood, and Ryan stacked it. Note that the two clauses forming the compound sentence must be related in meaning. Because of the logical connection between the two clauses in the example above, they fit together easily in one sentence. Three methods of forming compound sentences There are three ways of joining independent clauses into a compound sentence: with a coordinating conjunction (one of the fanboys); with a semicolon; or with a semicolon and a transitional expression. Method 1: Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (IC, cc IC) You can use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (cc) to join two or more independent clauses into a compound sentence. (A coordinating conjunction is one of the fanboys: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.) The resulting sentence has the structure IC, cc IC: For: The two stopped to eat, for the work had made them hungry. And: The afternoon had been long, and hours had gone by since lunch. Nor: There was no house nearby, nor did they have any food with them. But: They wanted to pick blueberries as a snack, but a bear growled at them from the berry patch. Or: Should they set off for home now, or should they decide to work a little longer? Yet: There was still work to do, yet they needed to rest and eat. So: They were starving and exhausted, so they went home. Note that the comma in the above sentences comes before the conjunction, not after it. Avoiding run-ons: If the independent clauses are very short, parallel and closely related, it is acceptable to use only a comma or a conjunction to join them: Megan cut the wood, Ryan stacked it. Megan cut the wood and Ryan stacked it. But between longer clauses, it is important to use both a comma and a conjunction: Megan cut the wood into one-and-a-half-foot logs, and Ryan stacked them carefully along the rear of the cabin. If you used a comma alone in the last example, you would have a comma splice, a type of run-on sentence. Since it is never wrong to use a comma and conjunction together in this kind of compound sentence, it is best to do so in every case to avoid the risk of error. Method 2: Use a semicolon (IC; IC) Like a period, a semicolon (;) creates a stop between two independent clauses. However, the clause after the semicolon does not begin with a capital. In this case, the sentence has the structure IC; IC. This method works readily with some of the examples: The two stopped to eat; the work had made them hungry. The afternoon had been long; hours had gone by since lunch. However, it would be awkward to use a semicolon by itself to form some compound sentences. The sentence below, for example, is confusing: Incorrect: There was still work to do; they needed to rest and eat. These two clauses express contrasting ideas. We need a contrast word to make the connection clear. In this case, you might use the contrast conjunctions but or yet with a comma (Method 1), or you might decide to use Method 3. Method 3: Use a semicolon with a transitional expression (IC; transition, IC) A transitional expression is a word or phrase that shows the relationship between two ideas. A semicolon with a transitional expression often makes a smoother connection than a semicolon alone. There are many transitional expressions showing different kinds of relationships. Here are a few common examples: to add a similar idea: also, in addition, moreover to show contrast: however, in contrast, on the other hand to indicate a result: therefore, as a result, consequently to introduce an example: for example, for instance to list points in order: first, second, third; next; then Note that a comma is used after the transitional expression. The sentence has the structure IC; transition, IC: The work had made them hungry; therefore, they stopped to eat. The job was not done; on the other hand, they needed to rest and eat. Avoiding run-ons: Keep in mind that a transitional expression is not a conjunction; it does not join sentences grammatically. Therefore, a period or a semicolon is needed before a transitional expression between two independent clauses: They wanted to pick blueberries as a snack. However, a bear growled at them from the berry patch. They wanted to pick blueberries as a snack; however, a bear growled at them from the berry patch. If you use a comma instead of a period or a semicolon, you will have a comma splice run-on: Run-on: They wanted to pick blueberries as a snack, however, a bear growled at them from the berry patch. Be careful to avoid this type of run-on; it is a very common error.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
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4 differences between English and French writing conventions
An English blog post outlining a few differences between English and French writing conventions.Writing conventions are essential to communication. For example, a simple comma can change the meaning of a sentence entirely; whether or not a word is capitalized can completely transform the message. When you’re writing a text in your second or third language, how can you avoid mistakes that might misrepresent what you’re trying to say? In this post, I present four differences in English and French punctuation and typography—four differences that can change everything! Commas and lists English and French usage differs when it comes to the comma before the “and” that precedes the last item of a list. In English, this comma is still widely used, even if, according to some sources, it’s becoming increasingly less recommended. It can be used to emphasize the last item of a list, but it doesn’t necessarily have a specific function. In French, this comma isn’t frequently used, but when it is, it’s used primarily to emphasize the last item of a list. Examples of comma usage before the last item in a list, in English and French English French They’re bringing bread comma, cheese and a cake. Ils apportent du pain comma, du fromage et un gâteau. They’re bringing bread comma, cheese comma, and a cake. Ils apportent du pain comma, du fromage comma, et un gâteau. (emphasis on un gâteau) Commas and numbers Where numbers are concerned, the comma is used in completely different ways in the two languages. In English, the comma separates triads, and the period is used as a decimal marker. In French, the comma is used as the decimal marker. Examples of comma usage in numerical expressions, in English and French English French 9,123,456.78The number nine million one hundred and twenty-three thousand four hundred and fifty-six point seventy-eight is written “nine comma one two three comma four five six period seven eight.” 9 123 456,78The same number is written “nine space one two three space four five six comma seven eight.” This means that the following items represent different numbers, depending on whether they’re being read in English or French: 2,197Two comma one nine seven km (2,197two thousand one hundred and ninety-seven km in English and around 2 km in French) 56,687Fifty-six comma six eight seven $ ($56,687fifty-six thousand six hundred and eighty-seven dollars in English and around $57fifty-seven dollars in French) 9,264Nine comma two six four s (9,264nine thousand two hundred sixty-four seconds in English and around 9 seconds in French) Didn’t I say that a simple comma could change everything?! Dashes Ah, dashes. So versatile in English, but much less so in French. Simply put, in French the dash is used mainly to highlight a passage. In nearly all other cases, French prefers another punctuation mark. Examples of dash usage, in English and French English French I thought he would bring peanuts unspaced em dash —but no. Je pensais qu’il apporterait des arachides spaced en dash – mais non. He is spaced en dash – as I recall spaced en dash – allergic. Il est spaced en dash – si j’ai bonne mémoire spaced en dash – allergique. I did not see her unspaced em dash —I left before she arrived. Je ne l’ai pas vue colon : je suis partie avant qu’elle arrive. But then guess what spaced en dash – the sun came out! Mais alors devinez quoi ellipsis points … il s’est mis à faire soleil! I’d like to point out that, in English, the spaced en dash can be used in place of the unspaced em dash. Capital letters The use of capital letters in proper nouns and in official names is much more common in English than in French. Here’s the rule in a nutshell: In English, every word is capitalized (except for certain articles, prepositions and conjunctions). In French, the first noun (and, if needed, its preceding adjective) is capitalized. Examples of capitalization of proper nouns, in English and French English French Let’s celebrate National Child Day. Let’s celebrate National Child Day, with capitals on “National,” “Child” and “Day.” Soulignons la Journée nationale de l’enfant. Soulignons la Journée nationale de l’enfant, with a capital on only the word “Journée. ” I’m reading the book Friend of My Youth. I’m reading the book Friend of My Youth, with capitals on “Friend,” “My” and “Youth.” Je lis le livre Amie de ma jeunesse. Je lis le livre Amie de ma jeunesse, with a capital on only the word “Amie. ” The First World War is also known as the Great War. The First World War is also know as the Great War, with capitals on “First,” “World” and “War,” as well as on “Great” and “War.” La Première Guerre mondiale est surnommée la Grande Guerre. La Première Guerre mondiale est surnommée la Grande Guerre, with capitals on “Première” and “Guerre,” as well as on “Grande” and “Guerre.” To illustrate the importance of this convention, compare the following two sentences in English: Many people work for Gaspé Shipbuilders (here, “Gaspé Shipbuilders Gaspé Shipbuilders, with a capital “S”” refers to the name of a shipyard company). Many people work for Gaspé shipbuilders (here, “Gaspé shipbuilders Gaspé shipbuilders, with a lowercase “s”” refers to all shipyards in Gaspé). The Language Portal site contains a series of quizzes on punctuation and typography in both official languages (see quizzes on punctuation (opens in new tab) and quizzes on style and writing conventions (opens in new tab)). If you’re interested in learning about other differences between Canada’s official languages, you might like this post: 3 stylistic differences between English and French (opens in new tab). I invite you to continue the discussion in the comments: What other differences have you noticed between the writing conventions of your first language and those of your second or third language? Sources View sources consulted Canada. Translation Bureau. Clés de la rédaction (opens in new tab) (in French only). Canada. Translation Bureau. Peck’s English Pointers (opens in new tab). Canada. Translation Bureau. Writing Tips Plus (opens in new tab). Quebec. Office québécois de la langue française. Vitrine linguistique (opens in new tab) (in French only).Source : Blogue Nos langues (billets de collaborateurs)
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Commas that clutter: Unnecessary commas
One of the best sentences in Strunk and White’s popular writing guide, The Elements of Style, is this: "A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts." I would go further: a sentence should contain no unnecessary commas for the same reason that a symphony should have no unnecessary pauses. True, commas add rhythm, and more importantly clarity, to our writing. But, if we use too many, of them, our writing becomes difficult, for people, to read, and our ideas end up fragmented, instead of connected. For years participants in my grammar and writing workshops have magnanimously imparted their golden rule for commas: use a comma whenever you would take a breath. And for years I have regretfully but pointedly burst their bubble. That simple rule, which so many have clung to since their tender years, works occasionally (even often, if you’re a speechwriter or playwright), but it also gives rise to the superfluous commas that pollute our prose, bobbing up disconcertingly like plastic bottles in the ocean. While comma use is sometimes a matter of personal taste, there are certain places where this mark does not belong. Grammatical bonds What grammar hath joined together, let no comma put asunder. Don’t let a comma split the grammatical bond between a subject and its verb, a verb and its object (or its subject complement, if it’s a linking verb like to be) or a preposition and its object, even if you think a pause is in order. NO All duly registered members of this exclusive English equestrian club, are permitted unlimited access to the club’s stables and pubs. (splitting subject and verb) NO The mugger was stunned to find that the elegant businessman had in his pockets, only three dollars and half a liverwurst sandwich. (splitting verb and object) NO The only thing the lottery winners wanted was, to live their lives as they had before becoming millionaires. (splitting verb and subject complement) NO We mailed illustrated concert programs to, every symphony subscriber and every music store in town. (splitting preposition and object) Note that it is perfectly acceptable to interrupt these grammatical unions with a parenthetical element and a pair of commas. YES The mugger was stunned to find that the elegant businessman had in his pockets, besides a soiled handkerchief, only three dollars and half a liverwurst sandwich. Coordinating conjunctions As explained in "Commas That Count," the coordinator is a comma that precedes a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that is joining two independent clauses. Be sure to put the comma before the conjunction, not after it. NO The Green Party backbencher asked her question three times, but, the cabinet minister still refused to answer directly. (remove comma after but) When the elements joined by a coordinating conjunction are something other than independent clauses, it’s best to dispense with the comma (though see "Bending the rules" at the end of this article). NO After Tiffany got Leonardo DiCaprio’s autograph, but before she could look at it, she fainted cold at the star’s feet. (conjunction joins two dependent clauses) NO Fluffy white cumulus clouds, and clear autumn air made it a perfect day to stay inside and watch TV. (conjunction joins two phrases) Restrictive elements A restrictive element is the opposite of a parenthetical element. It is a word or group of words, usually descriptive, that is necessary to the sentence because it defines or limits (restricts) the word it describes. Do not use commas with restrictive elements. NO The soup tureen, from the antique shop, was actually less expensive than the one I saw at the neighbourhood flea market. (element is restrictive, not parenthetical) To test whether an element is restrictive, try omitting it from the sentence. If the sentence’s main message is no longer clear, the element is restrictive. If the main message is fine, the element is parenthetical. NO Bob Dylan wrote the ballad, "The Wedding Song," in 1974. (can’t omit the element; it is restrictive) YES Bob Dylan’s first wife, Sara, left him soon after he wrote "The Wedding Song" for her. (can omit the element; it is parenthetical) Series Commas between items in a series stand for the word and. Do not place a comma before the first item or after the last, since you can’t use and in either spot. NO The developers received passionate pleas and lengthy petitions from, store owners, local residents, and area building managers. (remove first comma) NO The children waved flags, beat on toy drums, and blew noisemakers, as the parade passed by. (remove last comma) Remember that the comma before and in a series is optional. And with a series of modifiers? Therein lies a bewildering comma conundrum: sometimes you need commas; sometimes you don’t. The decision depends on whether the modifiers are coordinate or cumulative. Coordinate modifiers all independently modify the same word. You can rearrange their order and insert the word and between them. A series of coordinate modifiers requires commas. YES She is a careful, conscientious, knowledgeable editor. YES The caterers prepared an array of rich, colourful, tasty sweets for the buffet. Cumulative modifiers do not separately and equally modify the word they appear with. Instead, they build or lean upon one another. You cannot change their order or insert and between them. A series of cumulative modifiers takes no commas. YES She is a bilingual copy editor. YES The caterers prepared a vegetarian bean soup for the buffet. To complicate matters, a series may include both coordinate and cumulative modifiers. But if you apply the dual test of rearranging and inserting and, you should get the commas right. YES She is a skilled bilingual copy editor. (one coordinate modifier) YES She is an underpaid, skilled bilingual copy editor. (two coordinate modifiers) Bending the rules Punctuation is like any art: once you have mastered the principles, you can bend them. It’s fine to depart from the comma rules from time to time—if you have a good reason. For clarity: The question is, will he be able to compete in the Iron Man race and publish his book of haiku verse before he turns forty? (comma between verb and subject complement) For emphasis: He embraced her once again, and then walked out the door forever. (comma with coordinating conjunction joining two phrases) For rhythm: The parched hiker felt the hot sweet juicy trickle of the orange run down her throat. (commas omitted with coordinate adjectives) George Bernard Shaw once said, "The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." That’s pretty much what I tell my workshop participants as I strip away their lifelong illusions about commas and breathing. Instead of one golden rule, we have many plastic ones—but that’s far more practical, especially if we plan to break one now and again. Related quiz Test yourself—Commas that clutter: Unnecessary commasSource : Peck’s English Pointers (articles et exercices sur la langue anglaise)
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