My feeling is that if it's not a sentence don't punctuate it as one.
2006This is an interesting point. I have been reading this claim of 2006 here and in other threads. But personally I like to punctuate everything.
Punctuating everything would seem to make as little sense as punctuating nothing.
But let me step back and say that I was talking primarily about capitalizing the first letter of the first word and puting a period at the end of something that is not a complete sentence.
However, internal punctuation can be useful in something that is not a complete sentence.
nice explanations, made things clear
What is the value of capitalizing the first word and putting a period at the end of something like the above? To me it's only a thoughtless habit.
But I have to say that although I am not a young teenager anymore I am not any kind of language professional.) Neither am I, but that shouldn't stop us from giving our opinions. They might even have some merit.
And do language professionals say that sentence fragments should be capitalized, etc. just as complete sentences are?
Thanks for your input.
!
I could also ask you to find some references that say that everything should be capitalized/punctuated like a full sentence.Would you please indicate some good references which corroborate this point?
I am not doubting they exist, this is a sincere student asking for references.
And to me it's a valid usage. It's actually a complete sentence, if you capitalize the first word and put a period at the end. (I would even devide it into two sentences).nice explanations, made things clear
What is the value of capitalizing the first word and putting a period at the end of something like the above? To me it's only a thoughtless habit.
I don't know what language professionals say, but I'm sure if you take any excerpts from literature, for example, you'll never see a sentence written without capital letters and a punctuation mark at the end. Any sentence - 'incomplete' (by your definition) or otherwise. Here are some examples:And do language professionals say that sentence fragments should be capitalized, etc. just as complete sentences are?
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Good morning, Sarat.
(1) Like about 100 other people, I have been following this thread with especial interest.
(2) One of the best teachers at this site stated that your sentence ("Some people learn better in groups but many learn best by themselves" is problematic.
(3) He states, however, that it would be correct if it were changed to two sentences: Some people learn better in groups. Many learn best by themselves.
(4) I recently discussed this with an experienced teacher who grades ESL examination papers. She doesn't understand either why the sentence in No. 2 is rejected, but the sentence in No. 3 is accepted.
(5) I hope someone will use very simple baby steps to explain the problem to me. I am a very slow learner.
Have a nice day!
2006And to me it's a valid usage. It's actually a complete sentence, if you capitalize the first word and put a period at the end. No, it's not!
A complete sentence does not necessarily have to contain both subject and predicate. It can consist of one word: "Good.", "Uh-huh." "Absolutely!"
really?? What you say is a joke.
I don't know what language professionals say, but I'm sure if you take any excerpts from literature, for example, you'll never see a sentence written without capital letters and a punctuation mark at the end. yes, if it's a complete sentence (see below)*
He lay crumpled on his back. That's a complete sentence.
Very lonely, very dead. not a sentence
No answer. Silence. Not even a sound of breathing. not sentences
Capitalization and a period at the end do not make a complete sentence. You have things backwards.
"You say you've seen them before: where was that at?" "In England before the war." This is a conversation, so the question of punctuation is not relevant. But if you are writing a book, for example, and you are relating oral communication, the editor might require you to write it like that, for whatever reason. *
Are you implying that these are not sentences and we should start them with lowercase letters and omit periods?
"In England before the war." is not a sentence, no matter how many times you claim it is! But you can believe whatever you wish.
Also, my comments about the topic have only directly concerned what has been written on this site.
I hope to have nothing more to say about this topic. If you don't like my opinion, you can ignore it. But don't try to say that sentence fragments are sentences. Some other student may believe you.
Actually, other teachers have also pointed it out to students when some of their 'sentences' are just fragments. I am taking it one step further in saying that fragments shouldn't be capitalized/punctuated. There's just no good reason to do it.
I could also ask you to find some references that say that everything should be capitalized/punctuated like a full sentence.
Common sense says that not every thing needs to be treated like a full sentence.
If someone asks a simple yes/no question. I will just write 'no'. Nothing will convince me to write 'No.'!
'No.' looks ridiculous.
I sincerely find your style interesting. It is good for my eyes to read and appreciate your careful style above of not punctuating what is not a complete sentence. It is consistent, accentuates and clarifies the differences between sentences and "fragments." However, as I wrote previously, personally I prefer to punctuate everything.And to me it's a valid usage. It's actually a complete sentence, if you capitalize the first word and put a period at the end. No, it's not!
A complete sentence does not necessarily have to contain both subject and predicate. It can consist of one word: "Good.", "Uh-huh." "Absolutely!"
really?? What you say is a joke.
I don't know what language professionals say, but I'm sure if you take any excerpts from literature, for example, you'll never see a sentence written without capital letters and a punctuation mark at the end. yes, if it's a complete sentence (see below)*
He lay crumpled on his back. That's a complete sentence.
Very lonely, very dead. not a sentence
No answer. Silence. Not even a sound of breathing. not sentences
Capitalization and a period at the end do not make a complete sentence. You have things backwards.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Good afternoon, Ademilson.
(1) Hopefully, one of the teachers will soon tell you and me the answer.
(2) May I just offer these ideas:
(a) Maybe many native speakers think both are "correct."
(b) Most books tell us that the comparative and superlative of adverbs are
used the same as the comparative and superlative of adverbs. That is,
use the comparative when two things are compared; use superlative when
three or more things are compared.
(i) Of course, there are many exceptions to the "rule."
(c) Here is a sentence from Mr. L. G. Alexander's very popular LONGMAN
ENGLISH GRAMMAR:
I work FASTEST when I'm under pressure.
(i) Mr. Alexander used the superlative. Many (maybe!) because of all the
different working conditions that are possible, the condition of my being
under pressure makes me work fastest.
(d) So let's look at your examples:
(i) Some people learn BETTER by going to class.
(a) Maybe (maybe) that means that they learn better by going to class THAN some other way (for example, taking classes on the Internet).
(ii) Some people learn BEST by going to class. Of the many ways to learn (going to class, taking classes on the Internet, hiring a tutor, being an apprentice, taking correspondence courses), going to class is how some people learn best of all.
Have a nice day!
Pardon me but could you please tell me exactly what you mean with...
******not a teacher*****
thanks a lot
(These are) Nice explanations which make things clear. :tick:
Using capitalization and punctuation means that you think it is a complete sentence. It's not a sentence.
Common sense says that not every thing needs to be treated like a full sentence.
svartnik, I thought you were banned from here. (As I remember, your 'name' didn't start with a capital letter.)Whose common sense?
A person asks ''Are the following sentences correct?" And I answer as below.
1. y
2. y
3. n
4. y
5. n
6. n
Should every "y" and "n" be capitalized and have a period added?
Several people said that they capitalize "everything".
But (never say never), if for some reason I was obliged to answer it like that, still I would prefer to capitalize and add a period.