LEC052001 Adwaidh. S - Mechanics of Academic Writing

Academic writing is different from ordinary writing in a certain way.For successful academic writing purposes punctuation rules cannot be omitted. It becomes perfect when its mechanics and conventions are followed appropriately. Rule of punctuation and specific style are important for an academic text. Punctuation marks help to convey the intended messages clearly. They make the text brief and accurate. Correct punctuation in writing makes the arguments strong. 

     Period(.), comma(,), semicolon (;), colon(:), double quotation mark (" "), single quotation mark (' '), apostrophe ('), parenthesis (), bracket [], dash(---), hyphen (_) etc. are the important punctuation marks used in academic writing.

1. Period (.) : In writing a period is used at the end of a statement. The next sentence begins with a capital letter. An abbreviation ends in a period and acronyms (e. g: Etcetera- etc.). Period is not used for sentences that end with question mark (?) or exclamation mark (!). When there is parenthesis at the end of sentence period is placed outside the parenthesis.

2. Comma(,) :Commas are the most frequently used punctuation marks. In writing a comma is used in many situations. A comma is used after certain introductory words or phrases. Commas separate words and word groups in a series of three or more items. It is used to separate two adjectives when the adjectives are interchangeable. In sentences where two independent clauses are joined by connectors such as and, or, but, etc., a comma is put at the end of first rules.It helps to set off a quote from the rest of the sentence. A comma is also used to list nouns in a sentence and to o separate interrupting words and expressions in a sentence.

3. Semicolon (;) :A semicolon is used to separate two sentences when there is no coordinating conjunction s such as and, but, or, nor, for . If the two sentences are joined by a conjunctive adverb, such as however, consequently, therefore, or moreover, a semicolon is used before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it.

4. Colon (:) : A colon is used to introduce a series of items in a list, an explanation or quotations into the text. It helps to separate two independent clauses where the first introduces or explains the second.

5. Double quotation marks(" ") : Double quotation marks in academic writing helps to quote something. They show quotations inside quotations. They set off titles of essays, journal, and magazine articles, poems and short stories.

6. Single quotation mark(' ') : In writing single quotation mark is required to  emphasize a word or a term and to show a quotation inside a quotation.

7. Apostrophe (') :Apostrophe shows contractions and possession in a sentence. An apostrophe is used to show omissions. Contractions are not common in academic writing.

8. Parenthesis () and Brackets [] :In academic writing parentheses are used to give in-text citation. Brackets are used to insert a clarification, a translation, parenthesis within parenthesis, a change in capitalisation. These enclose information that clarifies the meaning of the preceding or following sentence. These are used to expand abbreviations and to insert dates.

9. Dash (---) : A dash is also known as 'em dash'. It is slightly different from en dash, and the hyphen. Dash is three times longer than a hyphen. A comma, colon, and parenthesis can be replaced by a dash. It is used to indicate a break in a sentence and also to give some additional information . A dash is also used to indicate inclusive page numbers and dates.

        For successful academic writing purposes punctuation rules cannot be omitted.  Every punctuation mark has got its meaning. Right punctuation has to be used in its right place. They can convey the intended messages more clearly . It makes the writing  more accurate and precise.