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1 Court Reporting: Bad Grammar/ Good Punctuation

2 The Comma That Separates 4 We reviewed his file, ma am. I know she started May 4, He works in Hammond, Indiana. 5 The Comma That Sets Off

3 We reviewed his file, ma am, before we hired him to work for us. I know she started May 4, 2011, but stayed just six months. He works in Hammond, Indiana, at the courthouse there. 7 8 I am asking that you grant us a continuance, Your Honor. I am asking that you grant us a continuance, Your Honor, so that I might investigate this new evidence

4 We had amassed a debt of over $25,000, however. We had amassed a debt of over $25,000, however, in a scheme that a friend of ours had talked us into We were therefore very much disgusted with their attitude. We were, therefore, very much disgusted with their attitude

5 I was again confronted with a very difficult choice. I was, again, confronted with a very difficult choice She had to have the test, too. She had to have the test too. He was a suspect, also. He was a suspect also. Bacteria was found there as well

6 I spoke with Jack Macdonald, Jr. I spoke with Jack Macdonald Jr. Joseph Ray, Sr.,., spoke to her. Joseph Ray Sr. spoke to her. She married Hamilton Brown III. 16 mww@

7 19 A We worked until well after midnight that night. There was a rush order that we had to get out. The next morning I was awakened by a call from A I was walking with my daughter. We were talking, and I was not really paying attention to what was going on around me. We were discussing her college applications. All of a sudden, there was a loud bang. When I looked up

8 22 A She said, How am I to do it? I said, Figure it out. This is what we pay you for. She said, This is beyond what I was hired to do. 23 Q What was the conversation? A He said, Get out. She said, I think not. He said, You have to. This is not working out. She said, I am staying

9 Q What was the conversation? A He said, Get out. out. She said, I think not. You have to. This is not working I am staying THE COURT: Overruled. Please do not answer. Reframe your question, Counsel

10 A I believe it was on the 15th that the -- Would you read that question back to me, please. 28 mww@

11 31 Rule Periods and commas go INSIDE quotes with NO exceptions in the entire language. 32 I read the article Protect Your Heart. It ends with 734. Mark that with the letter X. I think he used the term routine

12 He overused the word fabulous, and it consequently lost its meaning. When you put AW, are you saying that is where you were standing? 34 Rule Colons and semicolons go OUTSIDE quotes with NO exceptions in the entire language. 35 The boss described you as as dumb as a box of rocks ; right? This is marked Receipts ; this is marked Disbursements. I read it in the article New Scenes : This technology will change

13 Rule Interrogs and exclamation marks go in or out depending on Rule The first word of a quote is capped if it is a complete sentence or if it stands for a complete thought

14 A The boss is never wrong. Q What do you mean by The boss is never wrong? Q What do you mean by never wrong? 40 A He was doing close to 60. Q What do you mean by He was doing close to 60? Q 60? What do you mean by close to 41 Q A How far away was it? Pretty well over two miles. Q What do you mean by Pretty well over two miles?

15 Q A How far away was it? Pretty well over two miles. Q What do you mean by over two miles? 43 Rule The first word and the last word of all titles are capped. Cap all other words except short prepositions short conjunctions articles a, an, and the

16 A Final Earthquake Report for the Home of Lisa and Todd Morgan Crimes Against Humanity What Is He Headed For? Is He a Communist or Not? 46 Italics? Underlining? ALL CAPS Quotes? 47 It occurred sometime during the filming of The Help. It occurred sometime during the filming of The Help. It occurred sometime during the filming of THE HELP

17 A Brief Moment with the Rules in Formal English 49 Rule IN ENGLISH Italics/underlining for the names of longer works. Quotes for the names of shorter works. 50 My all-time favorite book is Gone with the Wind. The chapter I refer to is Congenital Bone Deformities

18 His day began with a cup of coffee and The Wall Street Journal. He always quoted the article entitled Why Severance Pay Should Be Withheld. 52 To impress her, he tried to score tickets to The Producers. The lawsuit involved a dispute over who wrote the lyrics to My One True Love

19 I don t know the word in English, but in Spanish it s regatear. Callate was the word he used over and over. 55 A Callate was the word he used over and over. A Callate was the word he used over and over. 56 A A C est la guerre. (Witness spoke in French.)

20 What If We Don t Share the Alphabet? 58 A A SAI SOU (phonetic). (Witness spoke in Chinese.) 59 TIME OUT: How Do You Pronounce That?

21 Q A Q Is that Reiss or Reiss? Reiss. Okay. Reiss. 61 Q Is that Reiss or Reiss (pronouncing)? Q Is that Reiss or Reiss (as pronounced)? 62 Q Is that RICE or REESE (phonetic)? Q Is that RICE or REESE?

22 Rule Sic translates as in the original. It is used to point out a mistake. 65 The chief engineer, Headlund [sic], was given. Is the most recent occurrence on June 31 [sic] further evidence of?

23 Let s Tread Lightly: Can [verbatim] Be An Alternate for [sic]? 67 Q Mrs. Wakefield, did you? 68 Q Mrs. Wakeman, did you? Q Mrs. Wakefield [verbatim], did you?

24 Q A How it is spelled? Z-o-c-e-r. MR. RAY: I believe it is -o-r. 70 Q A Q A How is it spelled? Z-o-c-e-r [verbatim]. When was it prescribed? Right after the blood test

25 goverment suppose to athelete prespiration incidently hinderance 73 pacifically ax nucular supposively bof

26 I just want to be considerated. She was acting obliviated. We were looking for a feeling of usness in the company. 76 I just want to be considerated. She was acting obliviated. We were looking for a feeling of usness in the company

27 He rolled the doctor across the page. When you were acting, did you hire anyone in the position of administrative assistant? He did a good job at horse. 79 He rolled the doctor across the page. When you were acting, did you hire anyone in the position of administrative assistant? He did a good job at horse

28 What do you mean by approximately? When you use approximately, what do you mean? You used the word approximately. 82 Rule IN ENGLISH, words used as words are italicized/underlined. IN REPORTING, words used as words are quoted. 83 When you say ripped, what do you mean? You keep using high flying. Please define Charcot foot for us, Doctor

29 What do you mean by up against? The document has several references to estimates. I see the words not applicable used here frequently. 85 Put the initials RJM in the blank. Put an X next to the appropriate location. 86 Please add an X. Put X s there. Put Xs there. Put X s there

30 Please add an X. Put X s there. Put Xs there. 88 Open Quotes Close Them at the End

31 Q I am going to read from the report that was submitted: The company intends to make restitution in. Several thousand dollars is. We will initiate this action on February What to Quote? and What About That Comma? 92 It says Debits. It states Patient entered in a comatose state. It reads There were two options

32 There is a column marked Sales. It says in the late afternoon of August 5, the patient. It reads the outer edge of the patellar tendon. 94 A I set the meeting for May 12 to discuss the allegations and charges. Q When you say for May 12 allegations and charges, I assume you were aware of what those were at that time? 95 Q Q It states that His expectations were such that. What I am referring to is The bank will reimburse you to the extent

33 Changed the Word? 97 Q Your reads I need to look into this before it goes further. When you wrote that you need to look into this, what did you mean? 98 What If It Is Just NOT Close?

34 Q I am going to read from the report that was submitted: (Reading) The company expects to make restitution for. 100 Definition Discourse is a conversation. For punctuation purposes, discourse is relating a conversation that has taken place. The form is often something similar to he said/she said

35 Lead-In Words 103 Discussion We often get in and out of quotes with words that indicate something has been said: he said, she stated, et cetera. We will call these lead-in words. They lead us into discourse. 104 Rule Always separate lead-in words from the quoted material with punctuation in discourse

36 He said, I am reporting the disturbance at this time. I replied, There is no way I can be there in time. Get to the nearest shelter, she exclaimed. 106 Modern Lead-In Words 107 I went, You have to go with me. She goes, I have to do it. I m all, He had better be here. He s, like, Don t bother me

37 Rule Interrogs and exclamation marks go in or out depending 110 Rule You look first at the quoted material. If the question is being asked within the quoted material, the interrog goes inside

38 He said, Did you receive the invoice from them in a timely manner? I asked, How far are you willing to go in your support of her? Are you going to finish today? he inquired. 112 Rule If both the quote and the lead-in words are asking a question, the interrog still goes inside because the quote is still asking a question. 113 Did he say to you, How could you do this to me? Did you reply, How much is this going to cost me this time? Where are you going? did he ask?

39 Rule If the quoted material is not asking a question but the lead-in words are asking a question, then the interrog goes outside the quotes. 115 Did he say, I am not involved in this in any way? Did you reply, Get me the numbers as soon as possible? 116 Rule If you have punctuation before the quote, you must have punctuation to get out of the quote

40 He said, I am reporting the disturbance at this time, and went immediately to the boss. I replied, Is there any way to get it now? explaining my situation to them. 118 THE APP If you don t have a QR reader, download QR Scanner by Grip d for the iphone; go to for the Adroid. 119 If you want a text message to come to your phone for new blog posts, opt in by texting txtrs MargieWW TO

41 Rule Single quotes are NEVER correct unless they are inside of double quotes. 122 Rule The rules about periods and commas, colons and semicolons are the same for single quotes as they are for double quotes

42 Rule If you are looking for where the interrog goes, you look inside the single quotes first, then inside the double quotes, then at the lead-in words. 124 He said, I read the report entitled Are Risks Rising? He said, Did you read the report entitled Are Risks Rising? Did he say, Did you read the report entitled Are Risks Rising? 125 He said, Did you read the report entitled Earthquake Losses? Did he say, Did you read the report entitled Earthquake Losses?

43 He said,, I read the report entitled Earthquake Losses.. Did he say,, I read the report entitled Earthquake Losses?? 127 Without Lead Lead--In Words 128 He said something like Don t leave until I return and walked out the door.. She was referring to the statement John doesn t want to be involved and wanted to know why he was

44 He ended with the words I hold him responsible.. He ended with the words Did you hold him responsible?? 130 Did he end with the words Did you hold him responsible?? Did he end with the words I hold him responsible?? 131 He referred to Help me with this,, pointing to the large box he was trying to move.. She was asking about When did he leave?? and persisted until I answered

45 He told me to come in and that I will help you figure this out.. She believed that he was a permanent employee and You have to follow these rules Stringing Them Together 134 He said things like I need to get out of here and I have to get this done.. Did he say things like I need to get out of here and I have to get this done??

46 He said things like I need to get this done and What are you going to do to help me?? and I need to get out of here Did he say things like I need to get this done and What are you going to do to help me?? and I need to get out of here?? 137 mww@

47 139 Rule THE GENERAL RULE: Put a number that is ten or under into words and a number that is eleven and over into figures. 140 more than these four are needed more than these 17 are needed sent just five yesterday sent 32 just yesterday

48 Rule THE CONSISTENCY RULE: Express numbers that are in the same area of the transcript and meaure the same or similar things in a like manner. 142 have 12 and need six more have 12 and need 6 more showed three but need 14 showed 3 but need

49 At the Beginning of the Sentence 145 Seven of us left at the same time.. 789,000 were delivered.. Thirty of us were there were sent In the Thousands

50 1400 more today 1,400 more today increase of 37 thousand increase of 37, Beginning with 1,000, over 7,000,000 over 7 million over a million over 1 million over 1.5 million over 1,500,

51 sending 975,000 today and well over 2 million next week sending 975,000 today and well over 2,000,000 next week 151 a 3,000,000-a-month rate a 3 million-a-month rate 152 received 3 million dollars received $3 million a $3,000,000-a-month rate a $3 million-a-month rate

52 Percentages 154 over 6 percent over 35 percent a 7 percent increase a 3 percent-increase raise 155 Fractions

53 up by a third up by one third two thirds of the group increased by three fourths a one-third decrease in sales three-fifths rate 157 up by 9 and 2/3rds up by 9 2/3 7 3/4 of the total rate of 5 3/8 158 up by one third yesterday but by more than 2 2/3 today up by 1/3 yesterday but by more than 2 2/3 today

54 sent in only a half sent in only one half two and a half or more 2 1/2 or more 160 A Dilemma or Two 161 Discussion In our modern world of searchable documents, we might have to rethink how we transcribe certain numbers

55 Discussion Only we are focusing on the way something is said. 163 He said at five o clock what do you transcribe? 164 at five o clock at 5 o clock at 5:00 at 5:00 o clock

56 He said in what do you transcribe? in 2-08 in 2 08 in 208 in 2008 He said got four or five thousand dollars for the effort what do you transcribe?

57 four or five thousand dollars four or 5,000 dollars four or $5,000 four- or $5,000 4 or $5, or $5, mww@