Scribd
Upload
47 views6 pages

Punctuation

1. Punctuation rules outline the proper uses of apostrophes, dashes, hyphens, periods, question marks, exclamation points, commas, colons, semicolons, and quotation marks. 2. Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or contractions. Dashes are used to set off extra information within a sentence, while hyphens connect compound words or prefixes and suffixes. 3. Different punctuation marks are used at the end of sentences depending on whether the sentence is a statement, question, or exclamation. Commas separate elements in a list or introduce a quote.

Uploaded by

noria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
47 views6 pages

Punctuation

1. Punctuation rules outline the proper uses of apostrophes, dashes, hyphens, periods, question marks, exclamation points, commas, colons, semicolons, and quotation marks. 2. Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or contractions. Dashes are used to set off extra information within a sentence, while hyphens connect compound words or prefixes and suffixes. 3. Different punctuation marks are used at the end of sentences depending on whether the sentence is a statement, question, or exclamation. Commas separate elements in a list or introduce a quote.

Uploaded by

noria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Punctuation Rules

Apostrophe (') There are three main uses of apostrophe ('):

1. Contracted words: Apostrophe marks dropped letters.

mustn't-must not / what's-what is

2.Possession:
Daniel's money / Nora's son
The car's color / Bicycle's tire

3. Plurals of "non-words":
I only get A's and B's.
Number 7's are the best.
Word + Apostrophe + S ('s)

1. Contraction of "is" With pronouns, nouns, question words or words like "there" and "here".

There's my best friend. (There is)


Here's Jack. (Here is)
He's my father. (He is)
When's your birthday? (When is)
How's your sister?(How is)
Andre's studying. (Andre is)

2. Contraction of "has" With pronouns, question words, nouns:

Selena's got homework to do. (Selena has got)


What's happened? (What has)
Frank's had an accident. (Frank has)
It's been a long time since I last saw you.(It has been)

3. Possession
The book's cover (The cover of the book) is torn.
Her daughter's name is Lisa.
My friend's car is red. (The car of my friend)

Dashes and Hyphens (--)


Hyphen Hyphens are used to connect two independent words, so they function as one unit. Some
compound words are hyphenated, some are one word, and some remain two words. The best idea
is to consult a dictionary -- compound words don't always follow consistent rules:

• Water-repellent
• Waterproof
• Water table
Two words that are functioning together as an adjective require a hyphen between them:

• A well-known scholar...
• A literary-minded critic...
• A structure-based analysis

Also, hyphens are always used with prefixes "self-" "all-" "ex-" and the suffix "elect-":

• A self-help clinic...
• An all-inclusive trip...
• His ex-wife...
• The president-elect...

When adjectives are listed in a series, the hyphens stay with the variable part of the compound
adjective:

• A first-class / second-class / third-class ticket

Dash

A dash looks like a double hyphen. When typing, putting two hyphens together, with no spaces
before or after, creates a dash. Dashes are usually used to set off information that would be in
parenthesis

• Wikipedia-- a popular website--can be a good source of basic information.

Dashes can also be used to set off appositives (nouns or noun phrases that modify a nearby noun)

• Basic needs--food, clothes, and shelter--can be very expensive.

Dashes can also indicate a sharp break in the flow of a sentence, such as a list or shirt in tone:

• Oil can be made from many plants--palm trees, soybeans, sunflowers, peanuts, olives and
coconuts.
• Sam took a deep breath, dribbled the ball several times, threw the ball with all his strength--and
missed the basket

Period '.'
1. A complete sentence that makes a statement ends with a period. A sentence is a group of
words containing a subject and predicate. In British English a period is called a 'full stop'.

It's your birthday.


You blow out the candle.
He went to Detroit last week.

2. Most abbreviations end with a period.

Dr. Smith lives on Creek Rd. near St. Mary's Hospital.

Question Mark '?'

1. A question ends with a question mark.

When is she coming?

Exclamation Point '!'


1. The exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence to indicate great surprise. It is also used
for emphasis when making a point. (strong feeling / excitement)
Be careful not to use exclamation mark too often.

What a wonderful day it is!


That ride was fantastic!
I can't believe he is going to marry her!

Comma ','
1. A comma separates things in series. (list of items)

I ate pizza, a burger, and ice cream.


I like reading, listening to music, taking long walks, and visiting my friends.

This is one of the most common uses of a comma. Notice that a comma is included before the
conjunction 'and' which comes before the final element of a list.

2. A comma separates an interruption from the rest of the sentence.

Mr. Walker, our teacher, is very clever.


3. A comma separates two independent clauses that are connected by a conjunction such as 'but'.

They wanted to purchase a new car, but their financial situation would not allow it.
I would really enjoy seeing a film this evening, and I'd like to go out for a drink.

4. Separate phrases (clauses)

In order to qualify for your certificate, you will need to take the TOEFL exam.
Although he wanted to come, he wasn't able to attend the course.

5. Introduce a direct quote (as opposed to indirect speech i.e. He said he wanted to come...).

The boy said, "My father is often away during the week on business trips."
His doctor replied, "If you don't stop smoking, you run the risk of a heart attack."

Colon ':'
1. A colon shows the reader that a list or explanation follows.

I will need the following items: scissors, paper, glue, and paint.
He had many reasons for joining the club: to get in shape, to make new friends, to lose some
weight, and to get out of the house.

2. To introduce a direct quote (a comma can also be used in this situation)

He announced to his friends: "I'm getting married!"


She cried out: "I never want to see you again!"

Semicolon ';'
The semicolon signals a pause longer than a comma but briefer than a period.

There are two uses for a semicolon:

1. To separate two independent clauses. One or both of the clauses are short and the ideas
expressed are usually very similar.

He loves studying; he can't get enough of school.


What an incredible situation; it must make you nervous.

2. To separate groups of words that are themselves separated by commas.

I took a holiday and played golf, which I love; read a lot, which I needed to do; and slept
late; which I hadn't done for quite a while.

They plan to study German, for their travels; chemistry, for their work; and literature, for their
own enjoyment.

Warning: Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon, unless it is followed by a proper noun.

Quotation Marks (double " or single ')

1. Quotation marks are used to identify the exact words of a speaker.

President Bush said, "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."

2. For speech within speech, the other style is used as inner quotation marks:

'Dave said, "Good afternoon, Frank"', recalled Frank.

Warning: Place the punctuation marks outside quotation marks, unless they are logically parts
of the quotation.

His answer to this was "no"; but two years later, he changed his mind.
Did he say "yes" or "no"?

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy