Punctuation Marks

When you talk, you are probably unaware of the "invisible"

commas, periods, and other punct marks that you are using. In
conversation, your pauses and voice inflection punctuate your
though clarify your meaning, in writing, however, you must use
a conventional set of symbols, punctuation to help your reader
understand your meaning.

Over the years, we have gradually developed a standardized

pattern of usage for all punctuation ma This usage has been
set into rules that are observed by the writers who wish to
make their writing precise as possible.
The punctuation guidelines presented in this book will enable you to write with
clarity, consistency, accuracy.
A. Periods

1. Place a period at the close of every declarative sentence and imperative

sentences. A period is als the close of groups of words that are used to sentences
even though they are not comp sentences.

a. Please hand me the pen.

b. Oh no, we were near the fire.

2. Place a period after every part of an abbreviation.

a. U.S.A.

b. A.D.

c. Phil

B. Exclamation Points.

1. Place an exclamation point after an exclamatory sentence and an exclamatory set

off from

sentence.

a) We can't lose now

b) Hold the line!

c) Wow! I don't believe it!

C. Question Marks

1. Place a question mark after an interrogative sentence or after a question that is not a
complete

sentence.

a) Do you call this a competition?

b) The date? January 28.

D. Commas

1. Introductory words

Introductory words such as yes, no, where, why, and oh are followed by a comma.

a) Oh, no, another detour.

b) Why nobody with any sense would do that.

Adverbs such as besides, however, anyhow, nonetheless, at the beginning of the sentence are
followed by a comma.

2. Introductory Phrases and Clauses

A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence is followed by a comma.

A long adverbial clause at the beginning of a sentence is followed by a comma. A succession of

prepositional phrase at the beginning of a sentence is followed by a comma.

a. Watching the trail, we saw the truck approach. (participial phrase)

b. On the ledge at the top of the tower, the princess brushed her long, blond tresses. (succession of
prepositional phrases)

c. When the prince arrived, he scratched his head and looked at the tower. (adverbial clause)
70 LUZVIMINDA D. SANDAGAN

3. Transposed Words and Phrases

.

Words and phrases at the beginning of a sentence from their normal position are
usually ser a comma.

a. He naturally checked the address in the directory. (normal order)

Naturally
. he checked the address in the directory. (transposed order) It was
obviously a case of mistaken identity. (normal order)

Obviously, it was a case of mistaken identity. (transposed order)

4. Appositives

An appositive is a set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.

a. Ms. Pangan, an authority on gastrointestinal disease, thinks my illness is not

serious.

b. The collector, Mr. Lopez, bought the chair at an auction.

5. Words of Direct Address

Words of direct address are set off by commas.

a. Gimmy, did you buy the ticket?

b. My fellow citizens, I ask you to- not for me- but for the great Philippines.

6. Parenthetical Expressions

Words and phrases used to explain or qualify a statement are called Parenthetical Expression.
These words may also be used as basic parts of the sentence. It is only when they are parenthe
that they are set off by commas.

a. Her theory, I understand, is sound.

b. John, of course, knows where it is.

Some Expression often used parenthetically:

Of course As a matter of fact In fact Indeed I believe (hope, think) On the other hand I suppose.
For example

The following expressions, when used parenthetically within the sentence, are set off
by com therefore, moreover, nevertheless, however, consequently.

a. You realize, therefore, that you run a risk.

b. The carnival, however, was a tremendous success.

7. Dates, addresses, Geographical names

a. In Ayala, Makati center, we visited the museum,

b. The package arrived January 28, 2016.

c. The letter was addressed to Blk. 14, lot 2, Corinthian St. Rockaville III, Sta. Rita,
Guiguinto Bulacan
8. Modifiers

Clauses are set off by commas from the rest of the sentence.

a. The speed limit, which is rigidly enforced, helps decrease traffic accidents. b. Teachers, who spend
their lives educating young people, are rarely remembered when their students attain success as
adults.

Series

Words of three or more items of the same kind are separated by commas. Typewriters, calculators,
and Dictaphones were ordered for the business education rooms

b. The human rights committee met, discussed, specific proposals, and adopted a new constitution. c.
Lorna piled the luggage on the counters, in the corners, and outside the doors of the waiting.

10. Coordinate Adjectives

Commas are placed between coordinate adjectives that modify the same noun. a. The soaring,
majestic spire seemed to reach for the sky.

b. The flashing, blinding, zigzag lightning terrified us.

11. Clarity

Use a comma to separate words or phrases that might be mistakenly joined in reading

a. No one spoke, but Christine looked hopefully at the doctor. b. Before attacking, the soldiers
checked supply lines.

c. After eating, the survivors renewed strength and hope.

12. Words Omitted

Use a comma when words are omitted from parallel word groups.

a. The riper, the tastier.

b. Pat sewed the seams and Leroy hem

E. The Semicolon

1. A semicolon is placed between the main clause of a compound sentence when they are not joined

by a conjunction.
a) You may approve of the measure; we do not.

b) Mr. Go discussed the nature of time; he introduced many new ideas

2. A semicolon is used between clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs or by phrases like for example
in fact, for instance.

a) The problem of the absences has become acute; in fact, it is the first agenda for faculty
consideration.

b) Jill has a genius for leadership as well as many other talents; for example, she can play there
musical instruments.

3. A semicolon is used between main clauses joined by a conjunction if the clause before the
conjunction contains commas.
a) Her brother won't clean, cook or do laundry; nor will he do any other chores around the house b)
The train stops at the 5th Avenue, Monumento, and Roosevelt; but it does not run at all after midnight.

4. A semicolon is used between a series of phrases if they contain commas.

a) My ambition is to be a lawyer; Noreen's, a photojournalist; and Jack's, the owner

of a chair stored.
b) At the carnival, Rick won a radio; Sandy, a cassette tape recorder; and Emil, a huge panda bear

F. Colon

1. Colon is used to introduce a list of items. a) His virtues are patience, wisdom, and understanding of
human motives.

b) Information is available in the encyclopedia, atlases, and dictionaries.

2. Colon is used to introduce a formal quotation.

a) The president opened the meeting with these words: "We are beginning a period of expansion in
which all of you will play a key role."

3. Colon is used between two sentences when the second explain the fact. The second sentence begins
with a capital letter.

a) I think I know the cause: I ate six chocolate eclairs and three brownies.

4. Colon is used (a) after the formal salutation of a letter, (b) between the hour and the minute figures of
clock time, (c) in biblical references, (d) between the title and subtitle of a book, and (e) between the
numbers referring to volume and pages of books and magazines.
a) Dear Sir/Madam:

b) 6:15 AM

d) Genesis 2:4-7

c) Volume 11: pages 65-72

e) The wide world: A High School Geography

G. Dash

1. A dash is used to show an abrupt in thought.

a) The trouble is - I suppose he knows it himself - he just can't get along with people. b) I am
firmly convinced - but what might do my opinions carry anymore?

2. A dash is used to set off a long explanatory statement that interrupts the thought. a) Robert
Frost - who had to gain his first recognition abroad - is now considered by many to be
American's most distinguished poet.
b) There was a feeling of curious anticipation - a feeling shared throughout the world - when
communist China first invited the President of the United States to visit Peking-

3. The dash is used after a series to indicate summarizing statements. a) Old prints, faded
manuscripts, the yellow pages of the books long out of print - these were his special delights.

H. Parentheses

1. Commas, dashes or parentheses are used to set off words that are supplementary or
explanatory. If the material is so distantly related as to require parenthesis, the passage might
better be written to place the parenthetical material in a separate sentence.

a) She speaks French and Arabic (her family has lived in France and the Middle East), but
English is her first language.

1. Brackets

A. Brackets are used to enclose connections or material inserted by a writer who is quoting
someone else's material.
a) "On the 4th [5th of March, Hayes took office.

J. Ellipses

A. Indicate the omission of unused parts of a quotation by ellipses: three dots (...) to indicate an omission
within a sentence; four dots (....) to indicate an omission at the end of the sentence.

With malice toward none; with charity for all... let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the
nation's wounds.... Abraham Lincoln

K. Apostrophe

The apostrophe is used with nouns to show possession or ownership: Susan's wardrobe, the d paws,
Papa's favorite. 1. The possessive form of a singular noun is usually made by adding an apostrophe and
ss) to the noun.

a) boy's

c) city's d) Coco's

b) John's
2. If a plural noun does not end in s, add both apostrophe and s ('s) to form the possessive.

a) men's b) children's

c) alumni's

3. If a plural noun ends in s, add only the apostrophe to form the possessive.

a) horses'

b) actors

c) waiters'

4. A compound noun is a noun composed of more than one word. Some compound nouns are writter
with hyphens between the parts. Only the last part of a hyphenated noun shows possession.

a) father-in-law

b) editor-in-chief
5. When the names of two or more persons are used to show joint ownership, only the name of th last person
mentioned is given the possessive form. Add an apostrophe or an apostrophe and s accord with the spelling of that
name. a) John and Jenny's family

b) father and son's family

6. If the names of two or more persons are used to show separate ownership, each name is given
possessive form.

a) Webster's and Clay's oration b) Rochelle's and Rodelle's careers

7. Use an apostrophe and s to form the possessive of indefinite pronouns.

a) someone's

b) nobody's

c) anyone's

The apostrophe is not used to form the possessive of personal pronouns.

a. theirs

b. yours c. hers

8. When used as adjectives, words expressing time and amount are given the possessive form.

a) a day's wages b) an hour's time

c) three days' wages

9. An apostrophe is used to show the omission of letters or figures.

a) the class of '85

b) o'clockc) shouldn't

a. Gerunds

The gerund is a verbal noun that ends in -ing. It is used in a sentence as a noun and in almost every

way that a noun can be used.

1.Training for Olympics is hard work. (subject)

2. Josephine enjoys camping. (object)

3. Before applying, check your qualifications. (object of the preposition)

The gerund phrase is consisted of the gerund together with its modifiers, objects, or predicate words.

The gerund may be modified by single adjectives and adverbs or by phrases or by clauses.

1. Rapid reading has become a national interest. (Rapid is an adjective modifying reading)

2. Baby tried walking quickly to avoid Jimmy.(Quickly is an adverb modifying walking)

3. Experimenting without adequate equipment is difficult.(without adequate equipment is a phrase

modifying experimenting)

4. Persevering after you have failed is a test of character. (after you have failed is a clause modifying
persevering)

Gerunds may be completed by objects or predicate words. These words are part of the gerund
phrase.
b. Participle

There are several forms of the participle.

Present participle: participating Past participle; participated

Perfect participle: having participated Possessive perfect participle: having been participated

The present participle always ends in -ing. The past participle is the third principal part of the ver and
its endings are various.

The participle is always used as an adjective to modify a noun or a pronoun.

1. Hesitating, Joy questioned the wisdom of discussing the incident.

(hesitating modifies Joy) 2. Surrounded, the suspect surrender.

(surrounded modifies the suspect)

The participial phrase is consisted of the participle together with its modifiers, objects, or predic
words.
When a participle is modified by an adverb, a phrase, or a clause, these modifiers are part of the

participial phrase.

1. Listening attentively, we heard the plane approaching. (the adverb attentively modifies
listening)

2. Driving without a license, Josh got into trouble. (without a license modifies driving)
THANKYOUUUUUUU!