Comma Rules
AP style says NOT to use this comma in a simple series: “red, white and blue."
What is the Oxford comma?
AP style capitalizes this when it comes before a person’s name: president, mayor, etc.
What is a formal title?
AP style does NOT use this comma before “and” in a simple series.
What is the Oxford comma?
She has 5 cats, 3 dogs, and 2 birds.
What is the unnecessary Oxford comma?
Emory style says to use this logo whenever possible instead of individual hospital or clinic logos.
What is the Emory Healthcare logo?
Use a comma before this word when joining two independent clauses: “She went home, ___ she was tired."
What is “but” (or another coordinating conjunction)?
AP style says do NOT capitalize this when it stands alone: “the ___ spoke today” (president).
What is president?
In AP style, you abbreviate months only when used with this.
What is a specific date?
He is Ten years old.
What is incorrect capitalization and should use numeral “10”?
In Emory style, this term and its four values must be capitalized and listed in this exact order: One Emory, People Centered, Lead Change, Own It.
What are Cultural Beliefs?
AP style requires commas around this kind of extra information in a sentence: “Dr. Smith, ___, spoke today."
What is a nonessential clause (or nonessential information)?
In AP style, this word is capitalized when part of an official program name but lowercase in general use: “She works in cancer care, but helps lead the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University."
What is cancer?
In AP style, this is a common mistake: listing degrees like this after a name, “Jane Smith, R.N., B.S.N.” — AP style says to avoid most of these and instead just identify her as a ___.
What is a nurse (or describe the role instead of listing credentials)?
The nurse said it was 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
What is redundant wording and no need to have :00 (“p.m.” already means evening)?
The first time you use “ELTAC,” you must first write out this full name.
What is Emory Long-Term Acute Care?
AP style uses a comma before this word in direct address: “Doctor, can you check the patient?”
What is a name or title used in direct address?
In AP style, headlines capitalize only this and proper nouns: “Nurses improve patient care.”
What is the first word?
AP style prefers this over “over” when referring to numbers.
What is more than?
The event is on March 3rd.
What is using “3rd” instead of “3”?
This is the correct name—not “The Emory Clinic."
What is Emory Clinic?
In AP style, commas are NOT used before this word when it introduces an essential clause: “Patients who recover quickly are discharged early.”
What is “who” (or “that” in an essential clause)?
In AP style, this healthcare term is lowercase unless part of an official department or proper name: “She works in the ___ department.
What is emergency room?
In AP style, this is incorrect: “The patient was admitted into the hospital” — AP style recommends dropping this extra word and writing ___ the hospital.
What is “admitted to the hospital”?
The hospital treated more than 50% of it’s patients in under an hour.
What is the incorrect use of “it’s” instead of “its”?
Emory style recommends writing at about this grade level.
What is 8th-grade reading level?