ntr: ACK! just found out I've been using the wrong punctuation in letters...

groovygrl · March 2011

OK so I totally was taught (back in the very early 90s, ahem...) in my h.s. typing class with business letters to put a comma after the greeting. MH mentioned something about a colon today & I was like, no, no, no...and I googled & sure enough, a colon! I had no idea. Did this change at some point or I am just an idiot? Also some things said you can use NO punctuation after the greeting and closing. That seems bizarre to me.

Argh. Vent over, banging head on wall. LOL.

DEBBIE33CASEY · March 2011

I guess it depends on what kind of letters you're writing. But I'd honestly be more worried about grammar than punctuation. It kills me to hear bad grammar on tv, in person, etc. I feel like in most cases using commas in place of colons is more socially acceptable. LOL.

shihtzumomma · March 2011

I've always thought you were supposed to use commas. I learned the same thing in school.

groovygrl · March 2011

DEBBIE33CASEY:
I guess it depends on what kind of letters you're writing. But I'd honestly be more worried about grammar than punctuation. It kills me to hear bad grammar on tv, in person, etc. I feel like in most cases using commas in place of colons is more socially acceptable. LOL.

I agree 100% about the grammar, but I guess I just really thought this was a tried & true punctuation rule so I was pretty surprised!

sunflowergrl · March 2011

I use a comma for everything but business formal letters (like cover letters). And I use punctuation ofter my closing. But, did you know that you are supposed to use only one space after a sentence closing punctuation? THAT looks funny to me, I'm not sure I'll ever stop using two lol.

groovygrl · March 2011

sunflowergrl:
I use a comma for everything but business formal letters (like cover letters). And I use punctuation ofter my closing. But, did you know that you are supposed to use only one space after a sentence closing punctuation? THAT looks funny to me, I'm not sure I'll ever stop using two lol.

Yes, I did actually learn about that change sometime in the last couple years & I agree, I automatically hit the space bar twice.

Why do they change these things, what is the point? LOL

ESD_0707 · March 2011

I don't remember how I was taught in high school, but now I teach writing to seventh graders, so I am aware of the colon!

Also, remember using MLA in college? Turns out they wanted to change that too in 2009. I have to read up before each research unit to make sure I'm not teaching my students the wrong things!

1momma · March 2011

the old men in the dungeon dont have a method to the puncuation madness. WHAT is this about one space after a sentence! Madness!

ESD_0707 · March 2011

1momma:
the old men in the dungeon dont have a method to the puncuation madness. WHAT is this about one space after a sentence! Madness!

Holy TICKERS!!! Haha!

lilwildthing · March 2011

I don't know why they change the rules, it makes my job as a teacher more difficult! I also use two spaces after each sentence, I think it makes things easier to read. Another one...when I was getting my undergrad they changed the capital letter J to not having a line across the top. Well, they have changed it back! My DS's name starts with a J and I guess I am writing it wrong. I learned it with a line, unlearned it, and now I guess I am supposed to relearn it.