Grammar-Quizzes.com

A computer lab should include:

Write about your qualifications:   (initial capitals for longer phrases)

• To illustrate with examples areas of competency
• To detail skill sets
• To demonstrate instances of applying creative thinking

To shut down your computer:    (Periods occur after list items that are sentences.)

1. Close all windows.
2. Quit all open applications.
3. Log out of your profile.
4. Shutdown (Start menu / Apple menu).
     

These are letters and types of service most common in nationwide transmissions:

–  Spot DataStream news.

–  AP Basic service.

–  Most advances.

–  Weekly Features service.

–  Business and financial DataStream news.

–  Limited DataStream news.

 

AP Stylebook "Filing the Wire", p. 390 (See dash p. 327.)

The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2003. Print.
The Chicago Manual of Style. Web. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org

AP Stylebook. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. 42nd ed. New York: Basic Books, 2007. Print.
AP Stylebook Online [2010]. Associated Press. Web.  http://www.apstylebook.com/

The report should include:

• Text
• Tables
• Diagrams
• Pictures

The word processor can:  

• Create reports and fliers.
• Compose letters.
• Make data tables.
• Perform file merges.

To shutdown your computer:   

1. Close all windows.
2. Quit all open applications.
3. Log out of your profile.
4. Shutdown (Start menu).

A bulleted list with introductory statement and each list item written as a complete sentence.

Using the learned helplessness theory, we predicted that the depressed and nondepressed participants would make the following judgments of  control:

1. Individuals who…
2. Nondepressed persons exposed to…
3. Depressed persons exposed to…
4. Depressed and non depressed participants …

("Seriation" 3.04)  

A bulleted list within a sentence capitalized and punctuated as if it were a complete sentence.

In accordance with this theory, these relations should be marked by

• equity, social justice, and equal opportunity;
• sensitivity to individual differences and the promotion of… ;
• affirmative actions to correct ontogenetic or historical inequities… ;
• efforts to recognize and celebrate diversity; and
• promotion of universal participation in civic life, and hence democracy (Lerner, Balsano, Banik, & Naudeau, 2005, p. 45)

("Seriation" 3.04)
 

 Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications., 3rd ed. Redmond: Microsoft Press 2003. Print.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th ed. Washington, D.C:  American Psychological Association, 2010. Print.   

During the recession, everyone had their wages cutback, millions lost their jobs, tens of thousands lost their homes, many more suffered hunger and hardship.

Entries for publications in print periodicals consist of several elements in a prescribed sequence.  This list shows most of the possible components of an entry for an article in a print periodical and the order in which they are normally arranged:

1. Author's name (for more than one author, see 5.5.4; for a corporate author, see 5.5.5; for an anonymous work, see 5.5.9)
2. Title of the article (in quotation marks)
3. Name of the periodical (italicized)
4. Series number or name (if relevant; see 5.4.4)
5. Volume number (for a scholarly journal)
6. Issue number (if available, for a scholarly journal)
7. (list continues)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York:  The Modern Language Association of America. 2009. Print. 

INTRODUCTORY PHRASE

My duties at Tzonga were:    (phrase)

• planning 
• selecting
• organizing
• inviting
• overseeing
• cleaning up
• collecting

CMOS (6.127- 6.130) 
 

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE

Our responsibilities included a variety of tasks:  (independent clause )

• Fundraising events were planned biannually.
• Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
• Caterers, florists and greeters were hired to assist at events.
• Invitations were emailed to encourage donor attendance.
• Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
• Events were hosted to network potential donors.
• Donations were followed by thank-you letters.

CMOS (6.127- 6.130) APA (3.04)
 

INTRODUCTORY PHRASE

I co-managed:    (phrase)

Co-managed:    (shortened phrase)

My duties at Tzonga included:    (example word)

My duties were, for example: 

The decisions I made were:   (verb)

The board consists of:   (preposition)

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE

Co-managed $1M in nationwide marketing activities for an industry leading 3D animation software.  (Use a complete sentence ending with a period.)

• Researched competitive landscape and devised a marketing plan used to aggressively target a new industry segment.
• Led co-marketing programs including customer testimonials, product demonstrations, event planning.
• Surveyed over 50,000 customers online gathering usage intelligence used in developing product road maps.

"Beverly B. Student: Resume & Cover Letter." USC Marshall School of Business. 2010-2011 

INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE WITH DETAILS

*Avitz Rental Cars offers you a clean, new, rental car, including:

• 30 days insurance coverage
• a full tank of gas
• no early drop-off fees

*Incorrect. The purpose of an introductory statement is to introduce the items not include them.  
 

INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE AS A SUMMARY

Avitz Rental Cars offers you a full package:  (Intro is the summary.)

• a clean, new rental car      (List items are the details.)
• 30 days insurance coverage
• a full tank of gas
• no early drop-off fees

INTRODUCTORY PHRASE WITH EXAMPLE WORDS

The following introductory statements may be written more simply without the example word at the end.

My duties at Tzonga were, for example:  

My duties covered all aspects of fundraising, including:

My duties covered all aspects of fundraising, which included:

My duties covered all aspects of fundraising, namely:

The board consisted of a variety of officers, such as:  

See For example (lists)

INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE WITH  "AS FOLLOWS"

My duties at Tzonga included a variety of tasks:  (independent clause)

My duties were as follows:    (independent clause)

Ending an introductory statement with an example word is unnecessary: (independent clause)

• It repeats the function of the bullets (to introduce examples).
• It is tacked onto the introductory statement as a modifying clause (thus, the examples are part of the modifying clause and not the main clause).
• It is wordy.

VERTICAL LIST – iNTRO W/ FINAL VERB

The white space between the verb and the list item in a vertical list is "forgiving".

The decisions I made were:  (verb is OK if items are listed vertically)

• who was going
• where we were going
• how we were going
• what time we were going

Ending an introductory clause with a verb is acceptable (formal) if it is a complete sentence.  

The company has not defined who its users are.   (independent clause)

• Are they teens?
• Are they male or female?
• Are they technically savvy?
• Are they professionals?

HORIZONTAL LIST – INTRO W/ FINAL VERB

Placing an introductory phrase ending with a verb next to the list item in a horizontal list is awkward.

* The decisions I made were who was going, where we were going, how we were going, and what time we were going.

VERTICAL LIST –INTRO W/ FINAL PREPOSITION

The board consists of:  (colon is OK if items are listed vertically)

• the president
• the CEO
• the CFO
• investors

HORIZONTAL LIST – INTRO W/ FINAL PREPOSITION

*The board consists of: the president, the CEO, the CFO, and investors.  Gregg (188-191)

CMOS / MLA

A colon is normally used after "as follows"  (CMOS 6.65)

"A colon is not normally used after "namely", "for example" and similar expressions [in an in-text list]. Nor is it used before a series introduced  by a verb or a preposition." CMOS (6.68)

An MLA formatted list (in-text only) includes an introductory clause followed by a colon. "The reading list includes three Latin American novels: The Death of Artemio Cruz, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and the Green House. MLA (3.24)

APA / GREGG

APA  "Seriation"  includes examples in which the introductory clause is a complete sentence and examples in which the line items complete the the introductory statement. APA (3.04)

Gregg (188-191)

Colon: Introductory Phrases-Lists
Listing Examples 
 

NOT PARALLEL

I was in charge of:

• planning 
• selected the venue and speakers (error)
• organization of event (error)
• invitations (error)
• oversaw the event (error)
• made sure to clean up (error)
• donation collection (error)
  

PARALLEL

I was in charge of:  (gerunds)

• planning events 
• selecting venues and speakers
• organizing caterers, florists and greeters
• sending out invitations
• hosting and entertaining
• cleaning up
• collecting donations
  (If using noun forms, then a noun, a noun phrase, or a gerund may be included.)
   

I was in charge of:  (nouns, noun phrases)

• event plans  
• venue and speaker selection  
• caterer, florist and greeter organization
• invitation mailing
• hosting and entertainment
• clean up
• donation collection

 SINGLE WORDS – LOWERCASE

CLAUSES / SENTENCES – UPPERCASE

We promise:  

• Every child should have a mentor. 
• Every child should be able to participate in an apprenticeship.
• Every child should be able to follow his or her dream.
• Changing direction is not failure but a new beginning.

Write about your qualifications:     (Each list item is an infinitive clause.)

• To illustrate with examples areas of competency 
• To detail skill sets
• To demonstrate instances of applying creative thinking

  CMOS & AP

SHORT PHRASES – LOWERCASE

We had several responsibilities:

• planning events   (optional capitalization for short phrases)
• selecting venues and speakers
• organizing caterers, florists and greeters
• sending out invitations
• hosting and entertaining
• cleaning up
• collecting donations

CMOS – lowercase; AP – capitalized

SENTENCES – UPPERCASE

Our responsibilities included a variety of tasks:   

• Fundraising events were planned biannually.
• Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
• Caterers, florists and greeters were hired to assist at the events.
• Invitations were emailed to encourage donors to attend.
• Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
• Events were hosted to network with potential donors.
• Donations were followed up with thank you letters.

CMOS & AP

The Gregg Reference Manual and Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publication: Capitalize the first word in each list item re gar less of whether it is a word, phrase or clause.)

PHRASES  (COMMAS)

You will be selected if you have:

• a high-school degree, 
• a bachelors degree,
• two years of experience,
• three recommendations.
   

 Use commas after phrases and a final period after the last item. Punctuating the list maintains the style of the larger body of writing.   

PHRASES (NO COMMAS)

My duties included:

• planning events  
• selecting venues and speakers
• organizing caterers,  florists and greeters
• sending out invitations
• overseeing the events

 The absence of punctuation marks increases visual clarity It is more informal.

PHRASES THAT ALREADY HAVE COMMAS (SEMI-COLONS)

You will be selected if you have:

• a high-school degree, GED or diploma; 
• a bachelors degree, B.A., A.B., or B.S;
• two years of experience, in marketing or branding;
• three recommendations, high school, college, and recent employer.

Place a semi-colon (rather than a comma) after each list item if any of the list items already includes a comma.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (PERIODS)

In my job, we had several responsibilities, for example:

• Fundraising events were planned biannually.
• Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
• Caterers and florists were hired to assist at the events.
• Invitations were emailed to encourage donors to attend.
• Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
• Events were hosted to network with potential donors.
• Donations were followed up with thank you letters.

Independent clause definition   

CLAUSES (SEMI-COLONS)

The committee decided:

• a new budget director would be sought;
• new fundraising drives would be started;
• outstanding loans would be collected;
• community partnerships would be established.

Place a semi-colon after each list item if the items are clauses.

Chicago Manual of Style: "Items carry no closing punctuation unless they consist of complete sentences."

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT FORMS A COMPLETE SENTENCE WITH LIST ITEMS

I had several management duties, including:  

• planning events, selecting venues and speakers;
• organizing caterers, florists and greeters;
• sending out invitations;
• overseeing the events, welcoming guests and cleaning up;
• sending out thank-you notes and collecting donations. (period)

Place a period after the final list item, if the list items are grammatically essential to completing the sentence begun by the introductory phrase, (especially after such as, for example, including, namely.)

PHRASES 

My duties varied:  

• planning events
• selecting venues and speakers
• organizing caterers, florists and greeters
• sending out invitations
• overseeing the events
• cleaning up
• collecting donations

CMOS – no periods; AP – periods

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT FORMS A COMPLETE SENTENCE WITH LIST ITEMS

In my job, I made decisions, such as:

• who was going to plan the event, 
• where the event was going to be,
• how the event would be funded,
• what the theme would be,
• how many people we could invite. (period)

Place commas after list items that are phrases. However, place semi-colons after all items if the phrases already include commas.)

SHORT PHRASES

In my job, I made decisions:

• who was doing the planning
• where we were building
• how we were coordinating
• when we were wrapping up

CMOS – lowercase; AP – capitalized

EACH LIST ITEM IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE

In my job, we had several responsibilities, for example:

• Fundraising events were planned biannually.
• Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
• Caterers and florists were hired to assist at the events.
• Invitations were emailed to encourage donors to attend.
• Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
• Events were hosted to network with potential donors.
• Donations were followed up with thank you letters. (period)

WORDS – NO ATTEMPT TO CREATE SENTENCES

Education:

• San Francisco State University, M. A.
• University of California, Berkeley, A. B
• University of California, Davis
• Palos Verdes High School

Hobbies:

• Dancing (tango and hip-hop)
• Fishing (fly fishing)
• Cycling (motocross)

AP Style: Use periods at the end of each section.  AP Stylebook Online (2009) Ask the Editor FAQ

 Microsoft Manual of Style  "Begin each entry in a bulleted or numbered list with a capital. Use complete sentences. Use parallel construction. Use a period after each entry."

Chicago Manual of Style: "Items carry no closing punctuation unless they consist of complete sentences."

My duties included:

• planning events;
• selecting, organizing and finding venues and speakers; and
• sending out invitations;
• overseeing the events;
• cleaning up  and
• collecting donations.

Most manuals indicate it is unnecessary to set off text with bullets as well as add punctuation and conjunctions.  If you want to use semicolons (;) and conjunctions, delete the bullets and just write a sentence.

APA examples do indicate that it is acceptable to use a conjunction in a list.  APA  

CMOS Q& A – "If your list forms a sentence, yes, semicolons work well, and there’s no rule against using and."

(1) Remove "and". The conjunction is not needed in a vertical list.

(2) Include the list in the body of the text (as a horizontal list).

My duties included planning events; selecting, organizing and finding venues and speakers; sending out invitations, overseeing the events, cleaning up and collecting donations.

Either use a vertical list and let the bullets function as the separators, or use an in-line list and use full punctuation and conjunctions.

My duties included (1) planning events; (2) selecting, organizing and finding venues and speakers; (3) sending out invitations (4) overseeing the events, cleaning up  and (5) collecting donations.