PUNCTUATION MARKS

Punctuation marks are like the traffic lights of written language. They help guide readers
through your sentences and paragraphs, making your writing clear, concise, and
engaging. Just like traffic lights prevent accidents, punctuation marks prevent
misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

Here are some of the most common punctuation marks and their FUNCTIONS:

 Period (.): This marks the end of a complete sentence. It tells the reader to pause
briefly before moving on to the next thought.
 Question mark (?): This is used at the end of a sentence that asks a question. It raises
the reader's voice at the end, as if they are expecting an answer.

 Exclamation mark (!): This is used to show strong emotion, such as

surprise, excitement, or anger. It raises the reader's voice and adds emphasis to the
sentence.
 Comma (,): This is used to separate clauses or phrases within a sentence. It gives the
reader a brief pause to distinguish between different parts of the sentence.
 Colon (:): This is used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation. It tells the reader
that what follows is important and related to the preceding clause.
 Semicolon (;): This is used to separate two closely related clauses that could be
independent sentences. It's a stronger pause than a comma, but not as strong as a
period.
 Hyphen (-): This is used to join two words together to form a compound word, or to
divide a word at the end of a line.
 Parentheses (): These are used to enclose additional information that is not essential
to the main sentence. They add a side note or parenthesis to the sentence.
 Apostrophe ('): This is used to show possession, to form contractions, or to indicate
the omission of letters in a word.
 Quotation marks (" "): These are used to enclose direct quotations and dialogue. They
show the reader exactly what someone else said.
 Ellipsis (...): This is used to indicate a trailing off of thought, omission of words, or
unfinished speech.
 Period Or Full Stop (.):
This marks the end of a complete sentence. It tells the reader to pause briefly before
moving on to the next thought.

 Always put one space after a period before starting the next sentence.
 Don't use a period after a question mark or exclamation mark.
 Use periods consistently to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Five rules for using full stop with examples:

1. End of a statement:

 Use a period to mark the end of a complete sentence that makes a statement.
 Example: The cat sat on the mat.

2. End of a mild command:

 Use a period to end a sentence that gives a mild command or instruction.

 Example: Please close the door.

3. Indirect questions:

 Use a period after indirect questions, which are statements that report a question but
don't ask it directly.
 Example: I wonder what time it is.

4. Abbreviations:

 Use periods with most abbreviations, such as titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr.), time
(a.m., p.m.), and some Latin terms (e.g., i.e.).
 Example: The appointment is at 10:30 a.m. with Dr. Smith.

5. Decimals and website addresses:

 Use periods in decimal numbers and to separate parts of website addresses.

 Example: The price is $12.99. You can find more information on www.example.com.
 QUESTION MARK (?)
This is used at the end of a sentence that asks a question. It raises the reader's voice at
the end, as if they are expecting an answer.

 Always capitalize the first letter of the word that follows a question mark.
 Keep a single space between the question mark and the preceding word.
 Use only one question mark at the end of a sentence, even if it contains multiple
questions.

Five RULES for using the question mark (?), along with examples:

1. Use a question mark at the end of a direct question:

 Example: "What time is the movie starting?"

 Example: "Can you help me with this assignment?"
 Example: "Where did you put my keys?"

2. Use a question mark at the end of a question tag:

 Example: "You're not coming to the party, are you?"

 Example: "She's already left, hasn't she?"
 Example: "We're not going to make it, are we?"

3. Use a question mark within parentheses to indicate uncertainty or doubt:

 Example: The author of the article is unknown (?).

 Example: The date of the event is uncertain (?).
 Example: The meaning of the poem is debatable (?).

4. Use a question mark within a title to indicate a question:

 Example: The book is titled "Who Moved My Cheese?"

 Example: The article is titled "Can We Save the Planet?"
 Example: The movie is named "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

5. Do not use a question mark with indirect questions:

 Incorrect: I asked her what time it was?

 Correct: I asked her what time it was.
 Incorrect: He wondered if she would come?
 Correct: He wondered if she would come.

EXCLAMATION MARKS (!)

This is used to show strong emotion, such as surprise, excitement, or anger. It raises
the reader's voice and adds emphasis to the sentence.

 Use exclamation marks to add emphasis and emotion to your writing.

 Use them with commands, interjections, and strong statements.
 Avoid overuse to maintain clarity and professionalism.
 Use them with caution in formal writing, as they can come across as informal or
overly enthusiastic.

Five RULES for using exclamation marks (!), along with examples:

Rule 1: Use it to express strong emotions.

 Examples:
o "I can't believe I won the lottery!"
o "Wow, that was a close call!"
o "Happy birthday to my best friend!"

Rule 2: Use it with imperative commands.

 Examples:
o "Stop right there!"
o "Call me immediately!"
o "Don't touch that!" ✋

Rule 3: Use it with interjections.

 Examples:
o "Ouch!"
o "Wow!"
o "Congratulations!"

Rule 4: Use it after direct quotations expressing strong feelings.

 Example:
o He shouted, "Get out of my way!"

Rule 5: Use it sparingly.

 Overusing exclamation marks can make your writing seem childish or unprofessional.
 Use them strategically to emphasize the most important or emotional parts of your
writing.

Comma (,):
This is used to separate clauses or phrases within a sentence. It gives the reader a brief
pause to distinguish between different parts of the sentence. Commas are not used before
every coordinating conjunction. They are only used when the coordinating conjunction joins two
independent clauses.

Five RULES for using commas, along with three examples for each:

1. Separate items in a list:

 I went to the store and bought apples, bananas, and oranges.

 She enjoys reading, writing, and painting.
 We need to pack clothes, toiletries, and snacks for the trip.

2. Separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction:

 I was tired, so I went to bed early.

 He studied hard, but he still failed the test.
 She wanted to go to the party, or she wanted to stay home and watch a movie. (The
coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

3. Set off introductory words or phrases:

 After a dependent clause: Although it was raining, we still went for a walk.
 After an adverb: Honestly, I don't know what to do.
 After a prepositional phrase: In the meantime, we can start working on the project.

4. Set off nonessential clauses or phrases:

 My sister, who lives in London, is coming to visit next week. (The phrase "who lives in
London" is nonessential because it doesn't change the main meaning of the sentence.)
 The house, which was built in 1850, is now a museum.
 The book, written by a famous author, was a bestseller.

5. Separate direct quotations from the rest of the sentence:

 He said, "I'll be there at 7 o'clock."

 She asked, "Can you help me with this?"
 They shouted, "Congratulations!"

COLON (:)
This is used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation. It tells the reader that what
follows is important and related to the preceding clause.

 Use a colon only after a complete sentence or independent clause.

 Do not use a colon after a verb or a preposition.
 Capitalize the first word after a colon if it's a complete sentence or a proper noun.
 Use a colon sparingly to avoid overwhelming your reader with too many pauses.

Five RULES for using a colon (:), with three examples for each:

1. To Introduce a List:

 Example 1: I need to buy several things at the grocery store: milk, eggs, bread,
and cheese.
  Example 2: The syllabus includes the following topics: grammar, punctuation,
sentence structure, and essay writing.

 Example 3: The ingredients for this recipe are simple: flour, sugar, butter, eggs,
and vanilla extract.

2. To Introduce an Explanation:

 Example 1: I had to cancel our plans: I wasn't feeling well.

 Example 2: The experiment failed: the temperature was too high.

 Example 3: Here's the problem: we don't have enough money.

3. To Introduce a Quotation:

 Example 1: My favorite quote is by Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more

important than knowledge."

 Example 2: The teacher said: "Please turn to page 56 in your textbooks."

 Example 3: The sign read: "Caution: Wet Floor."

4. To Separate a Title from a Subtitle:

 Example 1: Book: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 Example 2: Movie: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

 Example 3: Article: The Benefits of Exercise: How Physical Activity Can Improve
Your Health

5. To Indicate Time and Ratios:

 Example 1: The meeting will start at 3:00 PM.

 Example 2: The score was 4:2 in favor of the home team.

 Example 3: The recipe calls for a 2:1 ratio of flour to sugar.

 SEMICOLONS (;)
This is used to separate two closely related clauses that could be independent
sentences. It's a stronger pause than a comma, but not as strong as a period.

Five RULES for using semicolons (;), along with examples:

1. Connecting Related Independent Clauses:

 Use a semicolon to join two complete sentences that are closely related in thought.
 Example: "I love reading books; they transport me to different worlds."
 Example: "The journey was long and tiring; however, we finally reached our
destination."

2. Separating Items in a Complex Series:

 Use semicolons to separate items in a list when those items already contain commas.
 Example: "The team included players from New York, Boston, and Chicago;
London, Paris, and Rome; and Tokyo, Beijing, and Sydney."
 Example: "I need to buy milk, eggs, and bread; laundry detergent and fabric softener;
and a new toothbrush."

3. Before Conjunctive Adverbs:

 Use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbs (like

however, therefore, moreover, consequently, furthermore, etc.) when they connect two
independent clauses.
 Example: "The restaurant was closed; therefore, we had to find another place to eat."
 Example: "She studied hard for the exam; consequently, she got a high score."

4. With Quotation Marks:

 Use a semicolon outside the closing quotation mark when the quotation is followed by a
sentence that is not part of the quoted material.
 Example: "She said, 'I'll be there soon'; but she didn't arrive for another hour."
 Example: "The author wrote, 'The world is a book, and those who do not travel read
only one page'; this quote has always inspired me to explore new places."
 5. With Superfluous Commas:

 Use a semicolon to correct a comma splice, which is the incorrect use of a comma to
join two independent clauses.
 Example: "The weather was beautiful, we decided to go for a picnic." (Incorrect)
 Example: "The weather was beautiful; we decided to go for a picnic." (Correct)

HYPHEN (-):
This is used to join two words together to form a compound word, or to divide a word at
the end of a line.

Five RULES for using hyphens, along with three examples for each:

Rule 1: Join words to create compound adjectives (when they come before a
noun).

 Example 1: The company held a well-attended meeting.

 Example 2: I'm experiencing short-term memory loss.
 Example 3: She wore a blue-green dress.

Rule 2: Create compound numbers between 21 and 99.

 Example 1: There were thirty-two students in the class.

 Example 2: I'm turning twenty-five this year.
 Example 3: The recipe calls for fifty-seven grams of flour.

Rule 3: Write out fractions.

 Example 1: I ate one-third of the pie.

 Example 2: The project is two-thirds complete.
 Example 3: He gave me one-half of his sandwich.

Rule 4: Avoid confusion in meaning.

 Example 1: He re-covered the sofa with new fabric. (To distinguish from
"recovered" as in "got better")
 Example 2: The little-used car was still in good condition. (To clarify that the car is not
small, but rather seldom used)
  Example 3: The man-eating shark was a terrifying sight. (To make it clear that the shark
eats humans, not that it's a shark who is a man)

Rule 5: Use hyphens with certain prefixes and suffixes.

 Example 1: The all-inclusive resort had everything we needed.

 Example 2: The ex-president was still active in politics.
 Example 3: The self-taught chef opened a successful restaurant.

PARENTHESES ():
These are used to enclose additional information that is not essential to the main
sentence. They add a side note or parenthesis to the sentence.

 Place parentheses outside of other punctuation marks, except for question marks
and exclamation marks when they apply to the entire sentence within the
parentheses.
 Use parentheses sparingly to avoid interrupting the flow of your writing.

Five RULES for using parentheses, along with examples:

1. Enclose non-essential information or asides:

 Use parentheses to add extra details or thoughts that aren't crucial to the main
sentence.
 You should be able to remove the information within the parentheses without affecting
the sentence's main meaning.

Example: "The meeting will be held on Tuesday (unless there are any objections)."

Example: "My favorite author (who also happens to be my aunt) is coming to town for a
book signing."

2. Clarify or provide additional information:

 Use parentheses to explain abbreviations, acronyms, or technical terms.

 They can also be used to add dates, references, or other details that enhance
understanding.

Example: "The mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine is a new type of vaccine."
 Example: "The study was conducted in 2023 (Smith et al., 2024)."

3. Separate multiple citations or references:

 When citing multiple sources, use parentheses to enclose each reference in a clear and
organized way.

Example: "Previous research has shown that exercise can improve mood (Jones, 2019;
Lee & Wang, 2021)."

4. Set off numbers or letters in lists or outlines:

 Use parentheses to clearly indicate items in a list or outline, especially when using
letters or numbers.

Example: "The three stages of the project are: (1) planning, (2) execution, and (3)
evaluation."

5. Enclose complete sentences within another sentence:

 If a complete sentence falls within a larger sentence and is not essential to its
meaning, enclose it in parentheses.
 This often creates a more conversational tone or adds an aside.

Example: "We traveled for ten hours that first day. (It was exhausting.) The closer we
got to Florida, the more excited we became."

APOSTROPHE ('):
This is used to show possession, to form contractions, or to indicate the omission of
letters in a word.

 Don't use apostrophes to make regular plural nouns. For example, it's "cats" not "cat's."
 Possessive pronouns (like "his," "hers," "theirs," "its," "ours," and "yours") already show
possession and don't need apostrophes.

Five RULES for using apostrophes, along with examples:

1. To Show Possession of Singular Nouns:

 Add 's to the end of the singular noun.

o Example: The cat's whiskers twitched.
o Example: The girl's dress was beautiful.
o Example: My brother's car is parked outside.

2. To Show Possession of Plural Nouns Ending in "s":

 Just add an apostrophe after the "s".

o Example: The students' desks were arranged in rows.
o Example: The teachers' lounge was empty.
o Example: The puppies' tails wagged excitedly.

3. To Show Possession of Plural Nouns Not Ending in "s":

 Add 's, just like with singular nouns.

o Example: The children's laughter filled the room.
o Example: The women's coats were hanging on the rack.
o Example: The men's team won the game.

4. To Form Contractions:

 An apostrophe replaces missing letters in a word or phrase.

o Example: It's (It is) a beautiful day.
o Example: I can't (cannot) believe it.
o Example: They're (They are) going to the park.

5. To Form Plurals of Letters, Numbers, and Symbols:

 Use an apostrophe to avoid confusion or create a plural sense.

o Example: I got straight A's on my report card.
o Example: The 1990's were a time of great change.
o Example: Do you mind your p's and q's?