English Language Reference Desk

From Wikiversity

Welcome to the English Language Reference Desk, part of the English Language Department and the English as a second language program!

Please ask any questions you may have about the English Language, or how to use or pronounce it, here.

Add your question to the list, at the bottom of the page.

Archives: 2007 | 2008 | 2009

[edit] Abbreviation with punctuation within a parenthetical expression placed at the end of a sentence

Hello...I'm hoping this is a regularly watched page. I'm writing a scientific paper and ran into a curious problem. When a plant name is first mentioned in a paper, it's customary to include the species authority in parentheses following the name of the plant. Also, the name Linnaeus is always abbreviated as L. In a sentence like the following, I have no difficulties doing such:

Ten Raphanus sativus (L.) seeds were distributed evenly in each of three petri dishes.

However, what should be done about the following sentence? I feel awkward using two periods, and I also feel awkward removing either of them:

Two extracts were prepared of Solidago altissima (L.).

Thanks in advance for any help that can be offered! Bob the Wikipedian 02:38, 17 September 2009 (UTC)

That looks fine to me, because there's a parenthesis between them. The only time I see a problem is when you end a sentence with two periods, three periods, etc.. In those cases I would drop one.  :-) StuRat 12:17, 18 September 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. Personally, it bothers me that way, so I managed to reorder the words a bit like so:

Two extracts of Solidago altissima (L.) were prepared.

Bob the Wikipedian 00:29, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

Technically, using two periods in succession like that is "nonstandard" usage in American English (technically, the last period should be dropped). However, many Americans do such, and I actually prefer it. That said, reordering (as you have done) is generally the better option. The Jade Knight ^(d'viser) 17:58, 28 September 2009 (UTC)