PUNCTUATION:

Periods / Semi colon /, fanboys / Colon /

;transition, /.Transition, / Emphatic Dash
With TWO complete sentences
Semi colon; TWO complete sentence / SUPERLIST
Correct: He walked all the way home ; he shut the door.
Correct: The conference has people who have come from
Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, California; Alamo, Tennessee; and other
places as well.( SUPER LIST)
Correct: Bring any two items; however, sleeping bags and
tents are in short supply.
Correct: He walked all the way home. He shut the door.
Correct: He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.

Colons : complete sentence: listing / definition / clarification.

A colon may be used to introduce a long quotation.

He got what he worked for: he really earned that promotion.

Correct: I want an assistant who can do the following:
(a) input data (b) write reports (c) complete tax forms.
Correct: He got what he worked for: a promotion.
Use a colon rather than a comma to follow
Ex: Dear Ms. Rodriguez:

Dashes
Dashes added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.
Examples: You are the friend, the only friend, who offered to help me.
You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me.
 Emphatic dash complete sentence: listing / definition / clarification
Ex: I pay the bills—she has all the fun.
Dashes replace otherwise mandatory punctuation, such as the commas
Without dash: The man from Ames, Iowa, arrived.
With dash: The man—he was from Ames, Iowa—arrived.

Without dash: The May 1, 2013, edition of the Ames Sentinel arrived in
June. With dash: The Ames Sentinel—dated May 1, 2013—arrived in
June he famous dessert recipe required some basic ingredients: flour, sugar,
eggs,milk, and baking powder.

Aunt Julie loves to travel: warm beaches and historic landmarks are her
favorite destinations.

The famous dessert recipe required some basic ingredients—flour, sugar,

eggs, milk ,and baking powder.
QUOTATION MARKS
Rule 1. Use double quotation marks to set off a direct (word-
for-word) quotation.
Rule 2. Either quotation marks or italics are customary for
titles: magazines, books, plays, films, songs, poems, article titles,
chapter titles, etc.
Rule 3. Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside quotation
marks.
Examples: The sign said, “Walk.” Then it said, “Don’t Walk,”
then, “Walk,” all within thirty seconds. He yelled, “Hurry up.”
Rule 4. Never use single quotation marks in sentences like the
previous three.
Incorrect: I had a visit from my ‘friend’ the tax man.
PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS
Correct ( )
Rule 1. Use parentheses to enclose information that clarifies or
is used as an aside.
Example: He finally answered (after taking five minutes to
think) that he did not understand the question.
 Rule 2. Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire
sentence is inside the parentheses. Example: Please read the analysis.
(You’ll be amazed.)
Correct ( ).
Example: Please read the analysis (you’ll be amazed).
Correct ( ):
Correct ( ),
Correct: When he got home (it was already dark outside), he fixed dinner.

QUESTION MARKS Use a question mark only after a direct question.

Correct: Will you go with me?
Incorrect: I’m asking if you will go with me?
Rule. A question mark replaces a period at the end of a sentence.
Incorrect: Will you go with me.
Commas
 To separate three or more items
 Example: We had coffee, cheese and crackers and grapes.
 To separate adjectives With two independent
clauses
 Example: He is a strong, healthy man.
 We could also say healthy, strong man.
 Example: We stayed at an expensive summer resort.
 Run-on sentences or comma splices Joined by
connectors such as and, or, but, etc.
 When the subject does not appear in front of the
second verb With introductory words
Correct: After he walked all the way home, he shut the door.
Correct: He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.
  To set off interrupting expressions
 Example: I am, by the way, very nervous about this.

 With names
 Example: My brother Bill is here.
Title +name (NO commas)
Name + Title ( USE COMMAS)
 With dates
 It was in the Sun’s June 5, 2003, edition.
 No comma is necessary for just the month and year.
 Example: It was in a June 2003 article.

 With city and state

Example: I’m from the Akron, Ohio, area.

 With Jr. and Sr.

 Correct: Al Mooney Sr. is here. Correct: Al Mooney, Sr., is here.

 With nonessential words, clauses, and phrases

This recipe, my grandmother’s favorite, has been in the

family for generations.
I bought a new skirt, a short skirt with a sunflower
pattern.
Theresa is from Ohio, the Volunteer State.

 With quotations
 Examples: “I don’t care,” he said. “Stop,” he said.
  To separate contrasting parts of a sentence
, although / , while / ,even though / ,though,
 With certain introductory words
Here is an example of a comma used correctly:
Because Sarah did not study punctuation, her performance was
weaker than she had hoped.
Regardless of her skills, the coach would not allow Sarah to
play during the game.

Commas with transitions:

 C+ C = ;t, / . T,

 One complete sentence = ,transition ,

Commas with Such as / including

 Comma+ such as

 Comma +such as .......... +comma

 Such as

 Comma+ including
 Transitions

Example Transition... Similar Transitions

I love eating vanilla ice cream. However, too presents an opposing fortunately, on the other
much of it makes me sick. point or balances a hand, conversely, in
previous statement contrast, on the contrary,

Math trains you to approach problems more adds new and in addition, also, moreover,
analytically. Furthermore, it helps you calculatethe supporting information too, as well, additionally, not
minimum tip when you eat out. to mention , besides

Pandas are rapidly becoming extinct. In fact, some gives emphasis to a as a matter of fact, indeed, to
experts predict that pandas will die out in50 years. point by adding a illustrate, for instance, for
specific detail/case example

The state is facing a flu epidemic. Consequently, shows cause and as a result, hence, therefore,
all hospital rooms are filled atthe moment. effect thus, accordingly,so, for this
reason

Granted, the SAT is a long and tedious exam.Still, concedes a point to make nevertheless, regardless,
it's necessary for college admissions. way for your ownpoint nonetheless, still, even so,

Place the bread on an ungreased baking sheet. shows order or subsequently, previously,
Finally, bake in a preheated oven for 10minutes. sequence afterwards, next, then,
eventually, before

Social security numbers uniquely identify citizens. In shows similarity similarly, likewise, by the
the same way, IP addresses identifycomputers. same token

In conclusion, the world would be a happier gives a summary or in summary, to sum up, in
place without nuclear weapons. restatement short, in other words
 Apostrophes

’s ’
If a word is singular PLURAL WORDS THAT END
IN “S”
If it’s plural but it doesn’t end
in “ S” .

 The giraffe’s neck is really All of the contestants’

long. buzzers weren’t working.

 The children’s playground has The students’ behavior was

monkey bars. unacceptable.

 The school’s code of conduct is Noun

very strict.
Adj +noun
 Noun

 Adj +noun

Rule 1. Never use an apostrophe to make a name plural.

Incorrect: The Wilson’s are here.
Correct: The Wilsons are here.
Incorrect: We visited the Sanchez’s.
Correct: We visited the Sancheze.

Rule 2 . Amounts of time or money are sometimes used as possessive adjectives that
require apostrophes.

Correct: three days’ leave