Dear Nancy: Is there a rule for the use of the trademark or registered symbol after the brand name of a product or medication? If so, do you use it only on the first mention but not throughout the transcript? Please help. Signed, To Use or Not to Use Dear To Use or Not [...]
I never know when to hyphenate.
Dear Nancy: I never know when to hyphenate. Can you explain it so my head stops hurting? Signed, Head Hurting from Hyphens. Dear Head Hurting from Hyphens: Hmmm, how to help her hunt for hyphen happiness. I can play the alliteration game too! I’m so cool. Here are some examples of easy (no hyphens) sentences [...]
My proofreader and I are at odds.
Dear Nancy: My proofreader and I are at odds. Can you help us with a punctuation question? Usually, when you have a question that ends in “is that true”, it’s set off by a semi-colon. When “is that true” is in the middle of the question, it is supposed to be in commas, correct? For [...]
I know direct quotes begin with a comma and cap.
Dear Nancy: I know direct quotes begin with a comma and cap, as in: Q. You say here, “Form follows function.” What do you do when your witness or attorney insists on saying the word “that” where it doesn’t belong, preceding a direct quote, as in: Q. You say here that form follows function. In [...]
Okay, is it nurses’ notes, nurses notes, nurse’s notes, nurses note, nurse’s station nurses’ station, nurses station.
Dear Nancy: Okay, is it nurses’ notes, nurses notes, nurse’s notes, nurses note, nurse’s station nurses’ station, nurses station. Obviously, in an ongoing case, sometimes they are referring to one nurse, sometimes two, is it always plural possessive? I am trying to stay consistent throughout lots of depos and I am confusing myself, I [...]
What does “nummah than a hake” mean?
Dear Nancy: In court the other day an attorney, trying to make his way through dense medical testimony, confessed to the doctor he was “nummah than a hake” when it comes to medical words. Say what? Isn’t a hake a fish? Signed: Buffaloed in Maine Dear Buffaloed in Maine: A hake is a food fish, [...]
When a question begins “Why don’t you tell me…”, is that punctuated as a statement or a question?
Dear Nancy: When a question begins “Why don’t you tell me…”, is that punctuated as a statement or a question, or does it depend on the circumstances? Signed, Punky on Punctuation Dear Punky on Punctuation: That’s a good question. Why don’t I answer it now. A lawyer who asks “Why don’t you tell us your name, [...]
Would you write “nother” with or without an apostrophe?
Dear Nancy: I keep hearing witnesses say the phrase “a whole nother” thing, instead of saying “a whole other” thing or “another” thing. Would you write “nother” with or without an apostrophe? Signed: A Brother from a Whole Nother Mother Dear Brother from a Whole Nother Mother: I Googled whole nother and found entire blogs [...]
I’m not sure whether to transcribe something as a singular possessive or plural possessive.
Dear Nancy: Two defense attorneys objected to the introduction of a document. The judge says to plaintiff’s attorney, “You have [counsels’/counsel’s] objections.” I’m not sure whether to transcribe it as a singular possessive or plural possessive. I am inclined to go with plural possessive, You would have counsels’ objections, but counsel is already plural, like [...]
Are the old rules for writing inoperative?
Dear Nancy: Your article in the April JCR prompts a question about “new paragraph” usage, i.e., starting a new paragraph with the phrase, “Which brings me to those fascinating blogs,” etc. I’m from the old school and we were taught that a sentence must have at least a noun and a verb; if not, it’s [...]
Nationally known court reporting professional Nancy Varallo answers your important business questions.
