Answers to my interruptions challenge are brought to you by me. I found that there was no consensus on number 2, that many people wanted to put parentheses in number 3, that many people just wanted to rewrite number 5, but that everyone agreed that on number 6, (see Appendix B) belonged inside parentheses.
My answers follow the Gregg Reference Manual, but unless you put any punctuation in number 4, I can't bring myself to call any of the other answers out and out wrong, given that so many writers use parentheses more widely than grammar calls for, and that whether something deserves emphasis or de-emphasis is a matter of opinion.
Thank you to the winners: Anna Todd, Karyn Highet, Lisa Stumpf, Susan Czubiak, Bobbi J. Stonskas, and Geri Moran.
- It is very tedious, in my opinion, to type on a flat screen.
[independent comment-commas] - The blog--even after the extensive upgrade we purchased last quarter-- was still slow to load on mobile devices.
[emphatic, dramatic, long, and on a slightly different topic-em dashes] - The most widely accessible option, according to the magazine, is still the print version.
[independent comment-commas] - The company that provides the fastest downloads is still XYZ.
[relative clause essential to the meaning-no punctuation] - Norman, who arrived at the classroom before the computers were turned on, noticed the change in temperature right away.
[relative clause nonessential to the meaning-commas] - A more extended listing (see Appendix B) has been compiled by XYZ Press.
[reference material-parentheses]
The words affect and effect are commonly used incorrectly. See if you can avoid the confusion and select the correct usage. When ready, send your answers directly to me.
- What will the effect/affect of the new restrictions be?
- The new director will effect/affect some changes in the current policy.
- The revisions to the software will effect/affect how we use it.
- How will the new functions effect/affect our template?
- What effect/affect will the new interface have on our compliance initiative?
- The change is to/too difficult to explain over the phone.
- I want to upgrade the operating system, to/too.
- The file is to/too large to fit on my flash drive.
- The goal is to/too enhance functionality without increasing costs.
- To/too encourage use, we will offer to/too/two new incentives.
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