Five Tips for Punctuating Testimony
1. Using a word that although a legitimate English word and correctly spelled, it is neither the one spoken nor the appropriate word in the context of the sentence.
In order to get out of his current pickle, the golfer decided that it would be best to ask his caddy for a sandwich.
2. Using the right phonological word (sound alike) but with the wrong spelling:
Did he tell you that she said that he heard that they had learned that the statement was only heresay?
3. Allowing two separate independent sentences to run together:
When the lightning struck our house, it scared my little brother and my grandmother called to see if we were all
right.
4. Generally, use a comma after well and now, a period after all right and okay. Don’t forget a semicolon before is that correct and is that right.
5. Neglecting to set off with commas the name of a person who was addressed directly by another person. The commas are used to show that although important, the person’s name is not essential to the sentence’s meaning.
Excuse me, madam. How high, madam, is your instep?