5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation

5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation 5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation 5 Types of Problems with Parenthetical Punctuation By Mark Nichol Introducing additional but nonessential information into a sentence complicates the reader’s task when punctuation is misused. Here are five sentences that illustrate various punctuation problems associated with creating parenthetical elements in a statement. (Note that parenthetical, here and in other posts on this site, does not refer literally to the use of the punctuation marks called parentheses; it applies to the use of any punctuation to set off any amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or sentence, such as this phrase you are reading right now, or â€Å"here and in other posts on this site.†) 1. Nextdoor, the popular neighborhood social-networking site that people use to share neighborly news too often reflects the racial biases and prejudices of its users. When an appositive of a noun or a noun phrase- an appositive is a word or phrase equivalent in meaning to the noun- precedes or follows the noun, the description must be treated as a self-contained phrase bracketed by punctuation: â€Å"Nextdoor, the popular neighborhood social-networking site that people use to share neighborly news, too often reflects the racial biases and prejudices of its users.† 2. Six objects in the icy Kuiper Belt, or Twilight Zone at the far reaches of the solar system, appear to be influenced by an as-yet-undiscovered planet. Here, the punctuation erroneously identifies â€Å"Twilight Zone at the far reaches of the solar system† as the appositive of â€Å"Kuiper Belt,† but only â€Å"Twilight Zone† serves that function; â€Å"at the far reaches of the solar system† is merely another parenthetical phrase, which must also be set off from the rest of the sentence: â€Å"Six objects in the icy Kuiper Belt, or Twilight Zone, at the far reaches of the solar system, appear to be influenced by an as-yet-undiscovered planet.† Better yet, diminish the interruption of the alternate name of the Kuiper Belt by using actually parentheses: â€Å"Six objects in the icy Kuiper Belt (also known as the Twilight Zone), at the far reaches of the solar system, appear to be influenced by an as-yet-undiscovered planet.† (Retain both commas bracketing â€Å"at the far reaches of the solar system.†) 3. He discovered one of these six objects more than a decade ago, Sedna, a large minor planet way out there on the solar system’s frontier. This sentence’s punctuation suggests that Sedna is a parenthetical. However, the phrase following Sedna is an appositive, a type of parenthetical. To give readers a sense of relative importance, one of the two commas should be changed to another punctuation mark to erase the implication that they have the same organizational weight. The clearest solution is to use a colon in place of the first comma to set up the description of what â€Å"one of these six objects† is: â€Å"He discovered one of these six objects more than a decade ago: Sedna, a large minor planet way out there on the solar system’s frontier.† 4. Twitter’s product head Kevin Weil, media head Katie Jacobs Stanton, senior vice president of engineering Alex Roetter, and Vine head Jason Toff are all leaving the company. To associate the series of appositives in this sentence, all names should be set off with commas, but that more than doubles the number of punctuation marks, which clutters the sentence. Better yet, simply change the possessive form of the company name to its base form, so that â€Å"Twitter product head† and the subsequent equivalent titles become simple descriptive phrases, thus eliminating the need for parenthetical pairs of commas: â€Å"Twitter product head Kevin Weil, media head Katie Jacobs Stanton, senior vice president of engineering Alex Roetter, and Vine head Jason Toff are all leaving the company.† 5. Engineering- figuring out how to do something- is the motivation, while repetition- making the same type of components over and over again- slows him down. Using more than one set of dashes to bracket parenthetical comments in one sentence may confuse the reader, so use parentheses instead when two or more parallel parenthetical elements are involved: â€Å"Engineering (figuring out how to do something) is the motivation, while repetition (making the same type of components over and over again) slows him down.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†Among vs. Amongst10 Terms for the Common People

Ethical Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethical Business - Essay Example ole of the government, whether as a source of guidance and support, or as a barrier to ethical business and responsible business approaches, is also discussed. Carroll (1979) defined responsible business according to four dimensions: economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, and a discretionary responsibility. This last dimension refers to volunteerism, such as corporate philanthropy, which is not exactly required by society, but is totally appreciated. (Michael & Alan, 2008) Responsible business can also refer to the commitment of the company to operate in â€Å"an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner while balancing the interests of a diverse stakeholders†. (Responsible Business) Stewardship in business is defined by Hartman as â€Å"the responsibility companies have to understand and manage their impacts on the environment in any number of ways†. Managers as stewards of companies have to make profits, and at the same time, are expected to act responsibly when making decisions, respecting the rights of others (Jennifer), that is, the rights of others for a safer and healthier environment. Businesses are expected to operate within the legal framework set by the government. Some managers would rather pay fines for breaking the law in order to generate more profits for the organization (Jennifer). This is just unacceptable and does not constitute responsible business. Ethics are standards of moral behaviour (Nickels, 2010). Society dictates an ethical behaviour, since it is society that determines what behaviour is accepted as either right or wrong. Business acting ethically, and respecting consumer needs and demands, can be significant from a public relations point of view. The European Commission defined CSR in 2006 as â€Å"a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis† (Malte

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy Essay

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy - Essay Example Many people work hard in order to fulfill their aspirations of owning their dream home or buying a brand new car. To afford these, numerous consumers resort to borrowing from financial institutions such as banks, which impose interest rate on the said loans. When interest rates go up, the cost of borrowing increases. This means that should they decide to push through with purchasing the house or car this period their monthly amortization would be relatively higher. If the amortization amount goes beyond the consumer's budget, he/she may decide to defer buying the new house or car. With this, it becomes evident that interest rate uptrend complicates borrowing decisions since consumers become confronted with the uncertainty if the said trend would prevail in the long term. As such, consumers usually suspend purchasing big-ticket items when interest rates climb. This may potentially lead to a contraction in the housing or automobile markets as well as in other industries. On the contrary, an interest rate downtrend easily translates to a boom in the housing market and various industries for big-ticket items. A low interest rate environment augurs well with consumers, as they are encouraged to borrow in financing their purchases. This condition fuels consumption spending since consumers are driven by the relatively lower interest payments they would be potentially servicing every month. Cost of Loans/Mortgages For those who are currently servicing debt payments under adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), jump in interest rates entail ballooning monthly payments. Given this, an upward movement in interest rate puts the period of full ownership of a house further over the horizon. This may even lead to payment default or property foreclosures for homeowners on tight budgets who may be having a hard time affording rising mortgage payments. In this regard, increase in interest rates creates a dent on income which results in lower spending of consumers. However, on the upside, should interest rates go down then there maybe a downward adjustment on consumers' monthly payments. As a result, they are left with more disposable income which they could allot for other purchases. Credit Card Purchases Not only does an interest rate movement affect consumer spending for big-ticket items but also for ordinary expenditures such as groceries, utility bills and other household items among others. Since there are a considerable number of consumers who purchase using their credit cards, an increase in interest rates may lead to an uptick in credit card rates and the amount consumers have to pay for monthly credit card charges. With this, consumers who are not so liquid, i.e. those who do not have ample cash on hand, may cut back on credit purchases. In the same way, consumers may perceive that lower credit card rates make them better off as they are able to derive "savings" from what they would have paid when rates were much higher. This goads them to spend more to take advantage of low rates. Savings Incentive Apart from spending, interest rates also affect consumer savings. With higher interest rates, consumers have greater incentive to save because their deposits may earn higher interest income. However, a low interest rate regime brings about disincentive to save. When interest rates slide, so does the

Starbucks for or Against the War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

Starbucks for or Against the War in Iraq Essay Although it is unclear as to whether or not Starbucks ever actually refused to donate coffee to US troops fighting overseas or not, if they did it was not because â€Å"they don’t support the war or anyone in it† as the original message sent out by Sgt. Howard C. Wright claims. The Starbucks company policy regarding donations has strict guidelines regarding beneficiaries that must fall under their definition of a â€Å"public charity,† which the Military does not. Also, according to the Starbucks website, the company has not at any time taken a stand for or against the Iraq War; although they have stated that they support the men and women fighting for their country in the United States Military and the British Royal Marines. United States Marine Sgt. Howard C. Wright, who wrote the original email sent out in May of 2004, sent out another email approximately 5 months later recanting his previous statement and apologizing. The original email was sent out by Sgt. Howard C. Wright of the United States Marines after hearing by word of mouth that Starbucks did not support the war or the people fighting it. Sgt. Wright, it seems, sent the email out after hearing the story from a friend, who heard it from a friend, and then speaking to the Marine who had supposedly contacted Starbucks before first doing any research into the matter. Sgt. Wright has since received many copies of Starbucks’ policy regarding the issue to help and resolve any misconceptions there may have been. In typical rumor fashion, neither party is able to supply a copy of the original request sent by Sgt. Wright’s fellow Marine, nor a copy of the response to the request sent out by Starbucks. Since there is no written proof that this truly ever happened many have dismissed the allegation as being false and moved on. Although Starbucks made sure to post an article on the company website in January of 2005, and then update it in May of 2012, denying the allegations and confirming the fact that employees are able, and do in fact, send their weekly free coffee to the troops, bad press always travels faster and farther than good press. This leads into the fact that there are going to be people that will continue to boycott Starbucks based on the original rumor simply because they will not believe the subsequent email sent out by Sgt. Wright recanting his original statement. Even though Starbucks has a strict policy on the donation of goods only to â€Å"public charities† I believe it would be in their best interest to donate coffee to the United States Military and do it on a large enough scale to get media attention. This may put quite a dent into their earnings for the year but in turn would create a plethora of new customers because people support businesses that support our troops. January 11, 2005 and May 2012. Starbucks Support of the Troops/Military [Updated May 2012]. Retrieved February 25th, 2013. URL: http://news.starbucks.com/about+starbucks/myths+facts/militarydonations.htm August 8, 2004 and February 10, 2013. G. I. Joe. Retrieved February 25, 2013. URL: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp

Ghost Sightings in Monroe, New Jersey :: Ghost Stories Urban Legends

Ghost Sightings in Monroe, New Jersey The following story was told to me by a nineteen year old man in his dorm room at College on a Saturday afternoon in March. He is from Monroe, New Jersey, and lives with his two parents, his younger brother, his dog Cougar, and his cat affectionately known as Hellspawn. His father works as a contractor, a security guard, and a fire extinguisher inspector, and his mother works at a local garden center. The story was told to him by the main subject, his gym teacher. His teacher told the story to his health class one day as a firsthand account, although he never specified when it occurred. This is the version told to me: Alright. So I was telling you about that gym teacher I had who was a substitute teacher, and he always claimed that he†¦ would get in the â€Å"zone† and be able to, like, see ghosts and stuff and communicate with them. He was at a Wawa one time, and he stepped outside and there was an old man out there, and he was like, â€Å"Excuse me, sir. . . I just need your help for a second.† He was like, â€Å"Yea, sure†¦ whatta ya need?† And the old man was like, â€Å"Could you go into this store†¦ and ya see that lady over there?† She’s like an elderly lady. â€Å"So could you like go over there and tell her that I love her?† And then he told him his name, ya know, whatever it was, and my gym teacher was like, â€Å"Yea, sure.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ So he went in there, and†¦ he went up to the lady and he was like, â€Å"Hey, I had a message from John,† whatever the hell his name was, â€Å"And he wanted me to tell you t hat he loves you.† And she told him that John had been dead for a couple of years†¦ He described what he looked like to her, and she was like, â€Å"Yea, that’s definitely John, and he’d definitely do something like that.† Umm, yea. So, I mean, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but, he told stories like that all the time. When asked, the storyteller elaborated that the old man was no longer outside the Wawa when his gym teacher went back outside. The teller had slight pauses in several places in his story, most notably before explaining that his gym teacher could see ghosts and after the elderly woman confirming it was her late husband.

Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 1

It was October. The trees of the cemetery had turned a decayed brown, and a cold breeze had whistled in, replacing the stifling heat of the Virginia summer. Not that I much felt it. As a vampire, my body registered only the temperature of my next victim, warmed by the anticipation of her hot blood coiling through my veins. My next victim was only a few feet away: a chestnut-haired girl who was currently climbing over the fence of the Hartnett estate, which ran adjacent to the cemetery. â€Å"Clementine Haverford, whatever are you doing out of bed so late?† My playful demeanor was at odds with the hot, heavy thirst coursing through me. Clementine was not supposed to be here, but Matt Hartnett had always been sweet on her. And even though Clementine was engaged to Randall Haverford, her Charleston-based cousin, it was clear the feeling was mutual. She was already playing a dangerous game. Little did she know it was about to turn deadly. Clementine squinted into the darkness. I could tell from her heavy-lidded expression and wine-stained teeth that shed had a long night. â€Å"Stefan Salvatore?† she gasped. â€Å"But youre dead.† I took a step closer to her. â€Å"Am I, now?† â€Å"Yes, I attended your funeral.† She cocked her head to the side. She didnt seem too concerned, though. She was practically sleepwalking, heady from sips of wine and stolen kisses. â€Å"Are you a dream?† â€Å"No, not a dream,† I said huskily. I grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her close to me. She fell against my chest, and the loud drum of her heartbeat filled my ears. She smelled of jasmine, just as she had last summer when my hand had grazed the bodice of her dress while we played one of Damons kissing games under the Wickery Bridge. I ran one finger along her cheek. Clementine had been my first crush, and Id often wondered what it would feel like to hold her like this. I put my lips to her ear. â€Å"Im more like a nightmare.† Before she could make a sound, I sank my teeth straight into her jugular vein, sighing when the first stream hit my mouth. Unlike what her name might suggest, Clementines blood wasnt nearly as sweet as Id imagined. Instead it tasted smoky and bitter, like coffee burned over a hot stove. Still, I drank deeply, gulping her down, until she stopped groaning and her pulse slowed to a whisper. She went limp in my arms, and the fire that burned in my veins and my belly was quenched. All week Id been hunting at my leisure, having discovered that my body required two feedings a day. Mostly I just listened to the vital fluid coursing through the bodies of the residents of Mystic Falls, fascinated by how easily I could take it from them. When I did attack, Id done so carefully, feeding on guests at the boardinghouse or taking one of the soldiers up by Leestown. Clementine would be my first victim whod once been a friend–the first victim the people of Mystic Falls would miss. Disengaging my teeth from her neck, I licked my lips, allowing my tongue to savor the spot of wet blood at the corner of my mouth. Then I dragged her out of the cemetery and back to the quarry where my brother, Damon, and I had been staying since wed been turned. The sun was just creeping over the horizon, and Damon was sitting listlessly at the edge of the water, glancing into its depths as if they held the secret to the universe. Hed been like that every day since wed woken up as vampires seven days earlier, mourning the loss of Katherine, the vampire whod made us into what we are now. Though she had turned me into a powerful creature, I celebrated her death, unlike my brother. She had played me for a fool, and the memory of her reminded me of how vulnerable Id once been. As I watched Damon, Clementine moaned in my arms, one eye fluttering open. Were it not for the blood seeping onto the blue lace neckline of her wrinkled, blue tulle dress, it would seem as if she were merely in slumber. â€Å"Shhh,† I murmured, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. A voice somewhere in my mind told me that I should feel regret over taking her life, but I felt nothing at all. Instead, I readjusted her in my arms, tossing her over my shoulder, as if she were simply a sack of oats, and walked to the edge of the water. â€Å"Brother.† I unceremoniously dumped Clementines nearly lifeless body at his feet. Damon shook his head and said, â€Å"No.† His lips had a chalky white texture. Blood vessels twisted darkly on his face; they looked like cracks in marble. In the weak morning light, he looked like one of the broken statues in the cemetery. â€Å"You must drink!† I said roughly, pushing him down, surprised at my own strength. His nostrils flared. But just as it was to mine, the smell of her blood was intoxicating to his weary body, and soon his lips met her skin in spite of his protestations. He began to drink, slowly at first, then lapped up the liquid as though he were a horse desperate for water. â€Å"Why do you keep making me do this?† he asked plaintively, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and wincing. â€Å"You need to regain your strength.† I prodded Clementine with the tip of my dirt-caked boot. She groaned softly, somehow still alive. For now, at least. But her life was in my hands. The realization trilled through me, as though my entire being were on fire. This–the hunt, the conquests, the reward of the pleasurable sleepiness that always followed a feeding–made eternity stand before us as an endless adventure. Why couldnt Damon understand? â€Å"This isnt strength. Its weakness,† Damon hissed, rising to his feet. â€Å"Its hell on Earth, and nothing could be worse.† â€Å"Nothing? Would you rather be dead, like Father?† I shook my head incredulously. â€Å"You have a second chance.† â€Å"I never asked for it,† Damon said sharply. â€Å"I never asked for any of this. All I wanted wasKatherine. Shes gone, so kill me now and be done with it.† Damon handed me a jagged oak branch. â€Å"Here,† he said, standing with his arms open wide, his chest exposed. Just one stroke to his heart and hed have his wish. Memories flashed through my mind: of Katherine, her soft, dark curls, her fangs bright in the moonlight, her head arched back before she bit into my neck, her ever-present lapis lazuli pendant that sat in the hollow of her neck. I now understood why shed killed my fiancï ¿ ½e, Rosalyn, why shed compelled me and Damon, why she used her beauty and innocent visage to make people want to trust and protect her. It was her nature. And now it was ours. But instead of accepting it as a gift, as I had, Damon seemed to think it was a curse. I cracked the branch over my knee and threw the shards into the river. â€Å"No,† I said. Though Id never admit it aloud, the thought of living forever without a friend in the world frightened me. I wanted Damon and I to learn to be vampires together. â€Å"No?† Damon repeated, his eyes snapping open. â€Å"Youre man enough to murder an old flame, but not your brother?† He shoved me to the ground. He loomed above me, his own fangs bared, then spit on my neck. â€Å"Dont embarrass yourself,† I said, scrambling to my feet. He was strong, but I was far stronger, thanks to my regular feedings. â€Å"And dont fool yourself into thinking Katherine loved you,† I growled. â€Å"She loved her Power, and she loved what she could make us do for her. But she never loved us.† Damons eyes blazed. He rushed toward me with the speed of a galloping horse. His shoulder, hard as stone, plowed into me, throwing me back into a tree. The trunk split with a loud crack. â€Å"She lovedme.† â€Å"Then why did she turn me, too?† I challenged, rolling to my feet as I rebuffed his next blow. The words had their desired effect. Damons shoulders sagged, and he staggered backward. â€Å"Fine. Ill just do it myself,† he murmured, grabbing another stick and running the sharp end along his chest. I slapped the stake out of his hand and twisted his arms behind his back. â€Å"You are my brother–my flesh and blood. So long as I stay alive, so shall you. Now, come.† I pushed him toward the woods. â€Å"Come where?† Damon asked listlessly, allowing me to drag him along. â€Å"To the cemetery,† I answered. â€Å"We have a funeral to attend.† Damons eyes registered a dull spark of interest. â€Å"Whose?† â€Å"Fathers. Dont you want to say good-bye to the man who killed us?†

How to Keep a Caterpillar Alive All Winter

Its easy to raise a fall caterpillar you have collected and keep it alive through winter. By knowing what type of caterpillar you have and understanding what life cycles it will go through while in your care, you can provide a safe home for your caterpillar during any season. Caring for Changing Caterpillars The key to caring for a caterpillar at any time of year is to provide conditions that mimic the caterpillars natural cycle and habitat through seasonal changes. For example, some caterpillars survive winter by burrowing under leaf litter or squeezing into bark crevices, while others pupate as cooler weather approaches and remain in this state until spring. In other words, caterpillars dont always stay in caterpillar form through changing weather conditions. You will need to  provide food  for your fall caterpillar so that it can grow, just as you would for a caterpillar captured during any other time of year. Eventually, the caterpillar will stop feeding and may become more sluggish. This is a sign that it is preparing itself for winter, and what comes next for your caterpillar depends on the species. At this point, you need to know what types of changes your caterpillar will go through to anticipate its needs. Overwintering Stages of Common Butterflies and Moths You should find out whether your caterpillar is going to stay in the larval stage all winter or pupate. These lists tell you the common species that will remain a caterpillar through winter and those that will transform into a cocoon. These butterfly families tend to stay in the caterpillar stage through winter: Skippers (Hesperiidae)Tussock caterpillars (Lymantriidae)Tiger moth caterpillars (Arctiidae) Pupae These butterfly families tend to spend the winter as a cocoon or chrysalid: Cup moths  (Limacodidae)Flannel moths  (Megalopygidae)Swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae)Whites and sulphurs (Pieridae)Tiger moth caterpillars (Arctiidae)—some Most loopers, inchworms, and spanworms, or geometer moths (Geometridae) spend their winters as pupae, but some will remain caterpillars. Knowing your species of caterpillar will prepare you to care for it as it changes. Keeping Caterpillars Over the Winter Keeping caterpillars over winter is easier for species that remain in the caterpillar stage than those that pupate. When caring for species that overwinter as caterpillars, simply clean any remaining frass and food plants from the container and cover the resting caterpillar with a layer of dead leaves. Move the container to a porch, unheated garage, or shed so that the caterpillar can experience natural temperatures and conditions, keeping the humidity as close to that of a caterpillars natural habitat as possible. If the caterpillar is kept in an environment that is too dry, it may desiccate and die.  When spring arrives, watch for signs of activity from the caterpillar. Keeping Cocoons or Chrysalides Over the Winter Preparing Butterflies to Pupate Many types of butterfly caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides. Provide some twigs or stems for these caterpillars to give them something from which to suspend themselves and pupate. Make sure there is enough space for the cocoon to dangle. You can accomplish this by securing the twigs with clay at the bottom or cutting pieces that will fit tightly against the edges of the container without falling. Preparing Moths to Pupate Moth caterpillars typically pupate in the soil, sometimes incorporating leaves into their pupal cases. If you have captured a moth caterpillar, place a layer of peat moss and leaves in its container. Once it spins a cocoon, you can remove any remaining leaves. Be careful not to disturb the cocoon when clearing the container. Storage and Care of Pupae Caterpillar containers always need to be moved to an unheated area for the winter and this is most important for caterpillars that pupate. Pupae are especially sensitive to changing weather conditions, so you must choose their location wisely. If you are going to store your pupae or caterpillars outdoors, be sure to keep them out of the sun. Even on a cold winter day, a container can warm up considerably if placed directly in the suns rays. This might lead to premature emergence, or it could dry out the pupae. As it gets closer to spring, lightly mist the pupae with water to simulate the increased humidity and moisture of the changing seasons. When spring returns, try to keep your caterpillar or pupae cool until other members of the same species are emerging in the environment around you. If you arent sure, wait until the trees in your area grow their leaves for the season before moving the container to a warmer location.