A Short Quiz About Partial Quotations

A Short Quiz About Partial Quotations A Short Quiz About Partial Quotations A Short Quiz About Partial Quotations By Mark Nichol Formatting quotations can be tricky, especially when the words between the quotation marks do not constitute a complete sentence. How would you revise these clumsily formatted partial quotations? For each example, compare your corrections to mine in the paragraphs following each one. 1. â€Å"These days, says Smith, ‘The market does the valuation work for you.’† To clarify the context, the writer has provided the quotation with an introductory phrase the person quoted did not actually utter; therefore, it is not inserted within the quotation marks. And because although â€Å"The market does the valuation work for you† is a full sentence the potential quotation is â€Å"These days, the market does the valuation work for you,† the original quote is treated as a partial quotation and therefore does not begin with an initial-capped word: â€Å"These days, says Smith, ‘the market does the valuation work for you.’† Also, the attribution tag (â€Å"says Smith†) could be relocated to follow the quotation, but the sentence’s rhythm is better as is. 2. â€Å"But he conceded that, ‘with the world like it is, the situation looks a little different now.’† If you do choose to make a partial quote immediately follow a contextual paraphrase, note that unlike as in the case of a simple attribution tag, when the paraphrased part of the sentence and the quotation portion are linked by that, they are not separated by a comma: â€Å"But he conceded that ‘with the world like it is, the situation looks a little different now.’† However, if you convert the initial phrase to an attribution tag, do insert a comma after it: â€Å"But, he conceded, ‘with the world like it is, the situation looks a little different now.’† 3. â€Å"If you own a business ‘dependent on an abundant, reliable water source,’ he said, you probably aren’t thinking about building a plant in Las Vegas.† In journalistic writing, quoted material gives the article a sense of accessibility you feel like you are there listening to the source and of veracity. But some people are more quotable than others, and some reporters are better at recording their source’s utterances better than others. Often, in the rush to capture a speaker’s comments, the reporter manages just a phrase here and there and presents them as partial quotes. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Here, as is frequently true, the exact words are inconsequential because the statement is mundane; there’s no personality or pithiness in the prose. In that case, it’s usually better just to treat the information as a paraphrase a rewording of the quotation even if it includes words or phrases (or the entire sentence fragment) actually uttered by the source: â€Å"If you own a business dependent on an abundant, reliable water source, he said, you probably aren’t thinking about building a plant in Las Vegas.† 4. â€Å"Smith kept his cool, but he was clearly upset that the plan was meant to ‘discredit the committee’s work and undermine its conclusions before those conclusions are even reached.’† This partial quotation could be converted to a paraphrase, but because the issue is sensitive and the speaker is critical in his choice of words, most reporters would retain the markers indicating that these are the source’s exact words. However, although it is strongly implicit in this sentence that Roberts is the source of the partial quotation, that’s not good enough. Even if a contextual phrase preceding a partial quotation refers to the speaker, insert an attribution tag: â€Å"Smith kept his cool, but he was clearly upset that the plan was meant to, as he put it, ‘discredit the committee’s work and undermine its conclusions before those conclusions are even reached.’† 5. â€Å"He championed an $11 billion water bond ensuring ‘a reliable water supply for future generations, as well as restoring ecologically sensitive areas.’† This quotation is less stable than the previous one because it’s even less clear here that the person identified as the subject uttered the partial quotation. Make the connection clear: â€Å"He championed an $11 billion water bond ensuring, he said, ‘a reliable water supply for future generations, as well as restoring ecologically sensitive areas.’† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Congratulations on or for?How to Punctuate with â€Å"However†20 Criminal Terms You Should Know

8 Steps to Changing Your Career

8 Steps to Changing Your Career If you’re considering changing your career, you might want to consider following these key steps. 1. Think why  you want to make a changeThe first step is to ask yourself some important questions. Do you hate your job? Do you think the grass is greener somewhere else? The more important question is: why are those things true? Once you get clear on the â€Å"why,† you can figure out what’s really motivating you, and have a chance of finding something that will truly hold your interest and attention. It can also save you from facing the same (or different) unforeseen problems in your next position.2. Think what  your ideal future looks likeFollowing your passion is one thing, but making smart career choices is another. Figure out exactly what you want your new career to look like, what exactly you want to be doing on a daily basis. Then figure out what you already have in your back pocket that qualifies you. What is your capital here? What can you leverage to e ase your transition and net this in the win column?3.  Assess everything you’ll need to tackleMake sure you know exactly what you need to have prepared in order to make your transition. Are there any skills or certifications you need to acquire first? Do you have the financial safety net to transition? Will there be any other factors such as childcare or housing that you’ll need to consider? Avoid getting your pants caught around your ankles and only make your move when you know you can execute.4. Make a planBefore you act, plan. Figure out your goal, and set a timeline. Break it up into steps and milestones and then set about checking each off. Measure your progress and enjoy the momentum you build as you work toward your new career.5. Track your progressHold yourself accountable to your timeline. Set deadlines and reminders for different pieces of your transition plan. Make lists, or even Excel spreadsheets, to keep yourself on track. You’re investing a lot in making this change, make sure you’re wasting none of your time or energy.6. Pivot your brandYou’ll need to shift your image a bit so that your new audience will understand and accept you. Make it easier for them to â€Å"get† you, where you’re coming from, and why they should want you. Figure out how to set yourself apart from competitors who’ve been in that field for years. Figure out how your old career narrative can be adapted as an asset in your new one. Think of yourself as a daring new product for a tired field, then sell that.7. Call in the cavalryYou have people. You have a network. Mobilize them. Consider asking your most trusted contacts for help. Ask for specific things that will make it easiest for the people who have your back to contribute effectively to your cause. You have a network; use it!8. Meet the right peopleYou need to know some important contacts in your new field. This is a given. Don’t let it stress you out. Show that you are genuinely interested in their experience and expertise, flatter carefully but not too much, and don’t ambush anyone. A little genuine respect can go a long way in sweetening up valuable allies.Change is scary. If you follow these steps, you won’t be at a risk of bailing on your career change dream. Do your homework, be methodical and open-eyed, and then take a well-placed flying leap.

Determinants of Capital Structure of Listed Saudi Arabian Companies Dissertation - 1

Determinants of Capital Structure of Listed Saudi Arabian Companies - Dissertation Example This study seeks to discover whether or not there is such a significant effect. In the study, the independent variables identified were seven financial and economic firm indicators, while the dependent variable proxy for capital structure is the leverage or level of debt capital relative to the total capitalization of the firm. Multivariate regression modelling was employed in the assessment of which variables proved significant in determining capital structure, and in what direction it tended to influence the firm’s debt. The dissertation concludes that firm size is the most significant determinant across three of the five industrial sectors, followed by profitability which is a significant determinant for two sectors. Of the remaining, four factors were significant for one sector each. Manufacturing and industrial firms are significantly related to four determinants, the most of any other sector. Retail and services has two significant determinants, while the other three sec tors have one each. Firm size relates to higher debt, while profitability relates to lower debt. Acknowledgements Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 4 Table of Contents 5 Chapter 1: Introduction 8 1.1Chapter overview 8 8 1.2 Background of the research problem 8 1.3 Research problem 10 1.4 Research objectives 10 1.6 Significance of the study 11 1.7 Scope and limitation 11 1.8 Chapter summary 11 Chapter 2: Literature Review 12 2.1 Chapter overview 12 2.2 Review of existing theories on capital structure policy determination. 12 2.3 Corporate control as a factor in capital structure determination 15 2.4 Evidence from different countries 16 2.5 Determinants of capital structure 20 2.6 Determinants of capital structure in Saudi Arabian companies 25 2.7 Chapter Summary 28 Chapter 3: Methodology 31 3.1 Chapter Overview 31 3.2 Research Design