What is Punctuation?

Punctuation is used to create sense,

clarity and stress in sentences. You
use punctuation marks to structure
and organize your writing.
 Period
• A period [ . ] use at the end of a
sentence that makes a statement.
 Comma
• A comma [ , ] that is used to separate
words or groups of words in a sentence.
 Quotation mark
• QUOTATION MARKS [ “ ” ] TO SET OFF
MATERIAL THAT REPRESENTS QUOTED OR
SPOKEN LANGUAGE.
 Exclamation Point
• an exclamation point [ ! ] at the end of an
emphatic declaration, interjection, or
command.
 Question Mark
• A QUESTION MARK [ ? ] USE AT THE END OF
A DIRECT QUESTION.
 Semicolon
• A semicolon [ ; ] is used to
separate two parts of a sentence
that have a relationship to each
other in terms of meaning when
each part could stand alone as a
sentence in its own right.
• a semicolon [ ; ] help sort out a list:
There were citizens from Bangor, Maine;
Hartford, Connecticut; Boston,
Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode
Island.
• to separate closely related independent
clauses:
My grandmother seldom goes to bed this
early; she's afraid she'll miss out on
something.
 Colon
A colon [ : ] is used to divide
a sentence when the second
part explains or elaborates on
what has gone before.
• a colon [ : ] before a list or an explanation
that is preceded by a clause that can
stand by itself.
• Think of the colon as a gate, inviting one
to go on:
• There is only one thing left to do now:
confess while you still have time.
• The charter review committee now
includes the following people: the
mayorthe chief of policethe fire chiefthe
chair of the town council
 Hyphen (-)
• A hyphen [ - ] is used at the end of a
line when a word must be divided or
to link the parts of a compound word
or phrase.