This document outlines key grammatical rules and punctuation guidelines, particularly focusing on the use of commas, apostrophes, quotations, and active voice in news writing. It emphasizes proper punctuation, the Associated Press (AP) style for titles, acronyms, numbers, dates, and times, as well as the importance of clarity and conciseness. Additionally, it includes recommendations for quoting sources and the preferred structure of sentences in journalistic writing.

1. Prof. Stephanie Hanlon-Nugent
Abridged version part 1
Grammar and
Style
Misused words, punctuation,
grammar and AP Style
Source: “The Elements of News Writing” by James Kershner

2. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas separate items in a series.
❖ The flag is red, white and blue.

3. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Don’t use a comma with the last item in a series.
❖ Wrong: Newspaper ink comes in magenta, cyan,
yellow, and black.
❖ Right: Newspaper ink comes in magenta, cyan,
yellow and black.

4. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas set off phrases that could be removed from a
sentence.
❖ Mary Smith, who missed five classes, failed the
course.
❖ Don’t use commas to set off essential words and
phrases.
❖ Students who miss too many classes fail their
courses.

5. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas separate independent clauses.
❖ The reporter was getting stonewalled, but she
doggedly pursued the information.
❖ Omit the comma if the clause is short.
❖ The reporter was getting stonewalled and she
quit.

6. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas separate direct quotations from attribution.
❖ “Always put commas inside quotation marks,”
the textbook says.

7. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas set off words that address someone, when
that name can be removed.
❖ “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

8. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas are used to separate thousands, every third
number from the right.
❖ 1,000
❖ $50,000
❖ 300,000
❖ Except in street addresses, room numbers, serial
numbers, telephone numbers and years.

9. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas separate introductory clauses.
❖ Under the circumstances, I think I should leave.
❖ To improve her grades, she studied every day.
❖ In New York, people are always on the go.
❖ Note: In news writing try to write in a more active
voice — try reversing the order of these phrases.

10. Punctuation — Commas
❖ Commas are used to set off years in dates, cities and
states in addresses.
❖ On April 1, 1981, I moved to 39 Walnut Bottom
Road, Laurel, Md., for a year.
❖ I lived in Norfolk, Va., and Palo Alto, Calif.,
before moving to Dennis, Mass.

11. Punctuation — Apostrophes
❖ Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or
missing letters in contractions.
❖ John’s pen
❖ It’s
❖ They’re

12. Punctuation — Quotations
❖ Punctuation should go inside quotations.
❖ The dean said, “You must get approval from me
before changing courses.”
❖ “You must get approval from me before
changing courses,” the dean said.
❖ “You must get approval from me before
changing courses,” the dean said. “I won’t make
any exceptions.”

13. Punctuation — Quotations
❖ Capitalize the first word in a quotation that is a complete
sentence, but not when it is an incomplete phrase.
❖ He said, “You should always submit your assignments
on time.”
❖ He said you should always submit your assignments
“on time.”
❖ Note: Place attribution at the end of the quote whenever
possible.
❖ “You should always submit your assignments on time,”
he said.

14. Punctuation — Quotations
❖ Use the verb said instead of other words like claimed
and exclaimed, and always place said after the
subject.
❖ Wrong: “I’m not a crook,” claimed the president.
❖ Right: “I’m not a crook,” the president said.
❖ Wrong: “I’m an honest man,” said the president.
❖ Right: I’m an honest man,” the president said.

15. Punctuation — Quotations
❖ Only use quotation marks when you are quoting
someone.
❖ Wrong: The new medical school is going to be
“high tech.”
❖ Right: The new medical school is going to include
the latest technology, according to the president.
❖ Right: The new medical school is going to be “high
tech,” the president said.

16. Punctuation — Quotations
❖ When possible, make each quotation a new
paragraph.
❖ Use single quotes in headlines.
❖ Use double quotes in the story.

17. Active/ Passive Voice
❖ Active voice is preferred in news writing because it is
generally more direct and requires less words.
❖ An active sentence begins with the subject followed
by the verb.
❖ A passive sentence begins with the object.
❖ Active: The reporter asked hard questions.
❖ Passive: Hard questions were asked by the
reporter.

18. AP Style — Titles
❖ A title is capitalized when it appears before a person’s
name, but lowercase when it appears after their name.
❖ UVI President David Hall
❖ David Hall, president of UVI
❖ Note: Don’t capitalize job descriptions, like teacher
and attorney

19. AP Style — Acronyms
❖ Spell out acronyms and abbreviations on first
reference.
❖ First reference: National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
❖ Second reference: NOAA

20. AP Style — Numbers
❖ Spell out numbers zero to nine, use the numerals for
10 and above.
❖ Zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, etc.
❖ Note: Exceptions for ages, percentages, times
❖ 9-year-old girl
❖ 1 percent

21. AP Style — Dates
❖ Spell out months when they appear alone or with just
the year.
❖ Abbreviate months longer than four letters when they
appear in a full date.
❖ September
❖ September 2001
❖ Sept. 11, 2001

22. AP Style — Time
❖ Don’t be repetitive or redundant when providing times.
❖ Use lowercase and periods in a.m. and p.m.
❖ Wrong: 9:00 pm at night
❖ Right: 9 p.m.
❖ Wrong: 12 a.m. midnight
❖ Right: midnight

23. AP Style — Books, Songs,
Movies
❖ Generally, the titles of books, songs, movies and TV
shows are placed in quotations.
❖ “The Elements of Style” is one of the best
grammar books.
❖ “Amazing Grace” is a beautiful and historic song.
❖ “News War” is a great documentary about
journalism.
❖ Note: Exceptions for publications such as The Bible.

24. For more information
❖ See the “Punctuation Guide” in the “The Associated
Press Stylebook.”
❖ Read “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk and
E.B. White.