Administrative Assistant's and Secretary's Handbook, 5th Edition

Chapter 37

Punctuation

Purpose of Punctuation

The sole purpose of punctuation is to make the text clear. If a mark of punctuation does not clarify the text, it should be omitted. Of course, you’ll follow your boss’s preference if he or she instructs you, for example, to insert more commas or semicolons than today’s magazines and newspapers typically use. When public changes occur, not every person immediately approves. But if a matter is left to your discretion, remember that the old tried-and-true comma rule also applies for many other marks of punctuation: “When in doubt, leave it out.”

Nevertheless, there are still standards and formalities in punctuation that you must fully grasp, not only to satisfy your boss but also to help promote your ...