Punctilious About Punctuation? Check Out 'The New Yahoo! Style Guide'

For many people, the Internet is a wild frontier where no rules apply, like an old Western town without a sheriff. Aside from Twitter, this view of the Web as a literary land without laws is pulp fiction. Just because your words are viewed on a screen instead of a piece of paper doesn't mean you can forget about proper punctuation rules.

For those who have not paid attention to punctuation since Mrs. Redpen's high school English class, Yahoo! has released a 21^st Century style guide that spells out everything a Web writer needs to know -- from writing clickable headlines to applying proper punctuation. Especially written for the Web, "The Yahoo! Style Guide" can help online writers avoid the most vexing punctuation gaffes, from common comma crimes to questionable question marks.

Here are just a few examples of punctuation rules from "The Yahoo! Style Guide" to help keep the Internet grammar police off your tail. To ensure perfect punctuation, you can purchase a complete copy of "The Yahoo! Style Guide" at Amazon, Yahoo! Shopping, or wherever books are sold.

Yahoo! Style Guide Punctuation Rules
Don't Get Too Excited About Exclamation Points!!!

Even though the trademarked brand, Yahoo! has an exclamation point after its name, "The Yahoo! Style Guide" warns Web writers not to overuse this flamboyant punctuation mark. As the guide points out, "When overused, the exclamation point loses its impact." A writer who overuses exclamation points is like the woman who wears too much eye shadow - more garish than glamorous.

The exclamation point is best used by a sixth grade girl exclaiming to her BFF: "OMG, I'm so excited about going to the mall this afternoon!!!!!!" -- not the Web writer who wishes to be taken seriously. When in doubt, use a period to end your sentence, and allow your word choice to convey your excitement.

Not so good
The avocado tasted delicious!

Better
The nutty avocado snapped her taste buds awake.

Yahoo! Style Guide Punctuation Rules
Be Cautious With Commas

Many amateur writers use commas higgledy piggledy, inserting them every so often in sentences without even knowing why. Commas, however, should always have a strategic purpose and not be used as a sentence decoration. "The Yahoo! Style Guide" gives specific examples of when -- and when not -- to use a comma.

Yahoo! Comma Rule #1: When to use a comma to separate adjectives

"The Yahoo! Style Guide" states that commas should be used to separate adjectives only when the word and could be substituted for the comma.

Not so good
Santa Claus was a jolly, fat, old man.

Better:
Santa Claus was a jolly, fat old man.

Although the words "jolly" and "fat" describe the noun phrase "old man," the reader would likely interpret the first sentence as "Santa Claus was a jolly and fat and old man" -- as if he might otherwise picture Santa as a young whippersnapper.

Yahoo! Comma Rule #2: When to use a comma to separate items in a series

The Yahoo! Style Guide states that commas should always be used to separate items in a series, including words separated by the conjunctions and, but and or. The following example reveals the logic behind this comma rule:

Not so good
Morticia enjoys music, guns and roses.

Better
Morticia enjoys music, guns, and roses.

In the Better sentence, the reader correctly infers that Morticia enjoys three things, music and guns and roses -- not the punkish hard rock band, Guns N' Roses.

Yahoo! Style Guide Punctuation Rules
Avoid Havoc with Hyphens

"The Yahoo! Style Guide" recommends using hyphens between certain words to avoid confusion. Since the same word can be used as an adjective or noun, the hyphen helps the reader guess the intended meaning.

Not so good
She went on a liquid fast diet.

Better
She went on a liquid-fast diet.

In the Not- so- good example, the reader could think the word fast means quick, as in a crash diet, instead of describing the type of diet -- a liquid-only diet in which the person consumes no solid foods.

More Valuable Tips for Web Writers

In addition to these examples, "The Yahoo! Style Guide" contains virtually every important punctuation rule for Web writers, as well as other indispensable tips, such as shortening text blocks and identifying key words for search engine optimization. Along with a bag of Cheez-Its and a spill-proof mug of Mountain Dew, it won't be long before every serious Web writer has a copy of "The Yahoo! Style Guide" sitting next to his computer.

Source:
http://styleguide.yahoo.com (official website of "The Yahoo! Style Guide")