Module 3
Correspondence Mechanics

Click on the links below to go to that section of the module.

Practice with Series and Lists

Punctuating a series or a list is not complex, but it is painstaking. For each of the examples, decide whether or not the punctuation is correct as it is. If it is incorrect, revise it.

Example 1 We need the following supplies by Friday: 12 yellow legal pads, 15 blank name cards, 5 flipcharts and 2 flipchart stands.
Correct as is

 Your revision:

We need the following supplies by Friday: 12 yellow legal pads, 15 blank name cards, 5 flipcharts, and 2 flipchart stands.

(Add comma after “flipcharts.”)
Example 2

The agenda will cover the following:

  • AWS schedules
  • Management initiatives
  • Visitors from the field
  • The annual picnic
Correct as is Your revision:

Correct as is.
Example 3 The three members of the team will be: Nancy Jenkins, program assistant; Maria Gonzalez, task manager, and Farida Amar, HR officer.
Correct as is Your revision:

The three members of the team will be Nancy Jenkins, program assistant; Maria Gonzalez, task manager; and Farida Amar, HR officer.

(No colon after the verb. Use semicolons in a series when the items contain internal commas.)
Example 4 The workshop outline states three objectives:
  • Describing the importance of reader’s needs, writer’s purpose, and document’s main message in writing e-mails and letters,
  • Planning and drafting both responsive and initiative e-mails and letters.
  • Applying standard guidelines in analyzing and revising e-mails and letters
Correct as is Your revision:

The workshop outline states three objectives:

  • Describing the importance of reader’s needs, writer’s purpose, and document’s main message in writing e-mails and letters;
  • Planning and drafting both responsive and initiative e-mails and letters; and
  • Applying standard guidelines in analyzing and revising e-mails and letters.
Example 5 The report addresses the issues involved and the solutions recommended.
Correct as is Your revision:

Correct as is.
Example 6 In this workshop, participants will: describe the criteria for writing clear documents, plan and draft both responsive and initiative e-mails and letters and apply standard guidelines in analyzing and revising e-mails and letters.
Correct as is Your revision:

In this workshop, participants will describe the criteria for writing clear documents; plan and draft both responsive and initiative e-mails and letters; and apply standard guidelines in analyzing and revising e-mails and letters.

(No colon after the verb; semicolons help separate complex items in a list.)
Example 7

Four issues are already being addressed:

  • Marcelle will identify a coordinator to plan the event schedule.
  • Itzhak and Brigitte will research where we should advertise.
  • Ruben will plan how to register participants.
  • Lee, Chris and Pat will explore possible locations.
Correct as is Your revision:

Four issues are already being addressed:

  • Marcelle will identify a coordinator to plan the event schedule.
  • Itzhak and Brigitte will research where we should advertise.
  • Ruben will plan how to register participants.
  • Lee, Chris, and Pat will explore possible locations.

(Correct with the exception of the missing comma in the final series.)

The next section of this module addresses relative pronouns.