Task B: Punctuation

Correct Answer

In general it's believed that fussy behaviour in small children may be reduced by a combination of parents' touch and a rocking motion.

Rule

The apostrophe indicates the omitted letter/s in a contraction e.g.

it is = it's

they are = they're

should have = should've

Correct Answer

Nurses shouldn't assume that because of a child's age he or she is unable to understand certain health issues.

Rule

'Nurses' is merely a plural noun (more than one nurse). There is no possession, no belonging, so it doesn't have an apostrophe.

Correct Answer

It's believed that children's concepts of health and illness depend on their previous experiences.

Rule

If the possessive noun is plural (more than one child) and does not end with s, we just add 's e.g.

children's toys

women's health issues

Correct Answer

There are differences between children's and adults' perceptions of pain associated with an injection. It is a nurse's duty to consider these differences.

Rule

If the possessive noun is singular (one nurse), the apostrophe goes before the s e.g.

the child's pain

a doctor's diagnosis

Correct Answer

Parents can reduce the anxiety of a child's first hospital visit by talking about it in advance. They shouldn't wait until the child arrives at the hospital.

Rule

The apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of a letter/s from a word e.g.

have not = haven't

would have = would've

Correct Answer

It's important that nurses' education includes an understanding of the importance of effective communication that is appropriate to a child's background and culture.

Rule

If the possessive noun is plural (more than one nurse), and ends with an s, the apostrophe goes after the s e.g.

two doctors' diagnoses

both parents' concern

Correct Answer

A hospital can reduce anxiety in its infant patients by providing rooming-in facilities for parents.

Rule

If the possessive is a pronoun, it does NOT have an apostrophe e.g.

its patients

his opinion

their stethoscopes

Girls aged 14� to 15 years are generally concerned with how they look: the size of their ears, breasts, noses and hips.

Rule

Place a comma to separate items in a list. Note: there is usually no comma before the and at the end of the llst.

However, late maturers tend to be less obsessive.

Rule

Place a comma after an introductory word.

Anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, means 'nervous loss of appetite'.

Rule

Place a pair of commas to set off an appositive, an explanatory phrase after a noun. (These are also called non-restrictive elements as they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.)

Given that society emphasises the ideal body shape as being thin, losing a few kilograms can develop into an obsession for thinness.

Rule

Place a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.

The 'ideal' body is what many adolescents desire, so they strive to achieve perfection.

Rule

Place a comma before a coordinate conjunction (and, or, but, for, so, yet) in a compound sentence. (A compound sentence is one that is formed by two complete sentences.)

Because they are fearful of becoming fat, people with anorexia tend to experience an altered body image.

Rule

Place a comma after a dependent (or subordinate) clause if the dependent clause begins the sentence. (A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand on its own as a sentence.)

Nurses can help their patients, I believe, by assisting to effect improvement in body image.

Rule

Place a pair of commas around any element which interrupts the main idea (a parenthetical expression).

Your text, The Psychology of Nursing Care, was published at 175 Fifth Avenue, New York. My copy was purchased on September 10, 2006.

Rule

Place commas to separate the elements of location and date.

A range of symptoms is evident in senile dementia: difficulty in remembering, disorientation and restlessness.

Rule

Use a colon to introduce a list.

Some of this restlessness results from memory problems; however, in some cases there is a genuine desire to be active (Niven, 2006, p. 166).

Rule

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses when the second clause begins with connecting words (e.g. therefore, however, as a result, in fact).

Nurses face a dilemma: how much help to give people with dementia.

Rule

Use a colon to introduce an explanation or restatement. In this example, the text after the colon explains the dilemma.

The nurse should analyse the patient's abilities: identify his/her strengths; identify his/her challenges to his/her health status.

Rule

Use a colon to introduce an explanation. In this example, the text after the colon explains how to analyse the patient's abilities.

Use a semicolon to join two simple sentences with the same structure.

Consider providing clocks, calendars and daily programs; colour-coding rooms, doors and labels; and using large signs and noticeboards.

Rule

To avoid confusion, use semicolons to separate items in a list where one or more of the items contain a comma.

Talbot, L., & Verinder, G. (1994), Promoting Health: The Primary Health Care Approach, Marrickville, Aust.: Elsevier Australia.

Rule

Use a colon to separate the title from the subtitle in your reference list.