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PUNCTUATION
How the Marks Work
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PURPOSES
1) Terminate (end a sentence)

2) Introduce (begin a sentence)

3) Separate (clauses & phrases)

4) Enclose (parentheses & commas)

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COMMA’S m
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HISTORY (,)
First, the Greeks referred to the
mark as a short section of a speech

In the Middle Ages, scribes used a

special mark to signal a pause in
speech

By 1566, the mark we recognize

today was being used in Italy
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Rule #1: COMMAS & m
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CONJUNCTIONS (,)
They come before a coordinating
conjunction

, and , but , for , nor , or , so , yet

e.g. My wife speaks three languages, but

she does not understand some English
idioms I say from time to time.
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Rule #2: COMMAS & m
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INTRODUCTORY
CLAUSES (,)
They follow an introductory clause/phrase
that precedes an independent clause

Dependent Clause + (,) Independent Clause

Independent Clause + Dependent Clause

e.g. Of the numerous things wrong with

America, the healthcare system is one of
the worst.
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Rule #3: COMMAS m
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& LISTS (,)

They separate words, phrases, or
clauses in a series or list

e.g. I love beer, dark chocolate,

and poetry.
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Rule #4: COMMAS & m
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COORDINATING ADJ. (,)
They separate coordinating adjectives (2 or
more adjectives that modify the same noun)

e.g. I found an old, thin newspaper article

in my closet that was fifty years old.

Not all adjectives are coordinate in a

sentence (*TEST-place “and” between the
adjectives or SWAP words within the
sentence)
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Rule #5: COMMAS & m
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NONESSENTIAL PARTS
(,)
They separate nonessential clauses or phrases

appositives, vocatives, or expletives/

interjections, parenthetical elements

e.g. Hey, what are you doing?

e.g. Alice, thanks for the gift.

e.g. Gabriel, an archangel, is the name of my

son.
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CONTINUED

They set off parenthetical elements

e.g. Even if you know how to cook,

you should, nevertheless, refer to a
cookbook every once in a while for
new cooking ideas.
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COMMA-SPLICE (,) ar

It is the incorrect use of a comma

to separate two independent clauses

e.g. We like to go to the park, it is

also nice to go out for sushi.
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SEMICOLON (;)/ m
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COLON (:) HISTORY

Both marks come from the Greek

word “kolon”

It means “a unit of meaning”

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Rule #1: SEMICOLONS m
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& CLAUSES (;)
It connects independent clauses not
linked by coordinating conjunctions

Both clauses need to relate to one

another

e.g. I love dark chocolate; it is

good for you because it has
antioxidants.
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Rule #2: SEMICOLONS & m
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ELEMENTS WITH COMMAS
(; ,)
They separate elements that
themselves contain commas (list
within a list)

e.g. You should choose ham,

chicken, or char-grilled vegetable
sandwiches; cups of tea, coffee, or
water; red or white wine.
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Rules 1-3: COLONS & ra
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TIME, SCRIPTURE,
TITLES, SUBTITLES (:)
They separate figures in time, parts of
scripture, and titles from subtitles

e.g. This class begins at 8:00 in the

morning.

e.g. Marzano’s book, Classroom Instruction

that Works: Research-Based Strategies for
Increasing Student Achievement, is a great
tool for teachers.
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Rule #4: COLONS m
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& SUMMARIES (:)

They direct attention to an explanation or
summary

Think of it as an equal sign; you want to

equate one part of the sentence with
another (its explanation)

e.g. There is one thing we must do about the

education system: give it more money,
period.
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Rule #5: COLONS m
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LISTS(:)

They introduce a series or list

e.g. The things we need for the

party are as follows: balloons,
hats, napkins, juice, and cups.
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Rule #6: COLONS m
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& QUOTATIONS (:)

They introduce a quotation

Used in block quotations in APA

and MLA research writing styles
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Rules 1 & 2: THE m
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DASH (-)
Marks a break in thought

Sets off parenthetical elements for emphasis

or clarity

e.g. Idaho is known for its potatoes—don’t

forget about its lovely gems.

It also represents omitted letters or words

e.g. 1-5; m-p

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PARENTHESE ( ) m
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Rule
They set off nonessential matter

Enclose numerals or letters in a list

Deemphasizes elements they enclose

e.g. This painting (see example 3)

details the Impressionist Period
of the 19th century.
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PARENTHETICAL m
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SPECTRUM

Emphasis Neutral Deemphasis

— , ( )
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THE PERIOD (.) ar

A mark that indicates the end of a

sentence

or

Abbreviations

e.g. I eat McDonalds too often.

e.g. My nickname is Dr. Walsh.

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QUESTION MARK m
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(?)
The mark follows a direct question

e.g. How do you feel?

Indirect questions are formed as

statements and require a period

e.g. I wonder if you could lend

me some money for the weekend.
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EXCLAMATION m
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POINT (!)
The mark indicates strong feeling

e.g. We love basketball!

Indicates an excited statement or

utterance

e.g. Yeah! Hooray!

Exclamation points usually do not

occur in formal academic writing
unless directly quoted
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APOSTROPHE m
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USES (’)
1) It indicates ownership

e.g. This is Olivia’s scarf.

2) It omits letters in contractions

and numbers

e.g. ’94 can’t, won’t, don’t

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QUOTATION m
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MARKS USES (“ ”)
1) It sets off direct quotations

e.g. Bill said, “Gummy bears are my favorite food.”

He is such a funny kid.

2) Titles of short works

e.g. “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe is one of my

favorite poems.

3) Words used ironically

e.g. SPAM is a “healthy” part of every meal on Saipan.

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DIRECT VS. m
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INDIRECT DISCOURSE

Direct discourse is an exact

quotation from a source

Indirect discourse is a report of

what another source says

Primary vs. Secondary vs. Tertiary

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SQUARE m
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BRACKETS [ ]
They set off additions or alterations to quoted
material

e.g. “We love [this] game,” said the coach

after winning the championship.

Replaces parentheses within parentheses

e.g. There were only four attending committee

members (From the left: Joan, Adrian, Carol
[for the first half of the meeting], and Luis.).
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ELLIPSIS (…) ar

It indicates omission from a quoted

passage

e.g. “We won the game…and the

season.”

Reflective pause or hesitation in

creative writing

e.g. “I…I don’t know what to do.”

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SLASH (/) ar

It signifies line divisions in quoted poetry

(line-breaks)

e.g. These be/three silent things:/the falling

snow…the hour/Before the dawn…the mouth
of one/Just dead.

Indicates that either term is applicable

e.g. him/her; and/or

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IMPORTANCE OF m
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PUNCTUATION
Punctuate this sentence:

A woman without her man is

nothing.

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

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QUIZ
What are the 4 purposes of punctuation?

The use of a comma BEFORE the words like

and, but, so, are called ________
conjunctions.

T/F: Commas follow introductory clauses.

T/F: Commas should not be used in lists.

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QUIZ
Commas separate what kind of adjective
pairs?

T/F: Commas separate nonessential clauses

and phrases.

T/F: Commas do not separate parenthetical

elements in a sentence.

What do we call the misuse of a comma?

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QUIZ
Semicolons separate ________ clauses that
relate to each other.

Semicolons separate elements that

themselves contain ________ .

T/F: Colons separate figures in space,

parts of scripture, and titles from subtitles

T/F: Colons introduce lists, quotations, or

summaries.
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QUIZ
Apostrophes indicate _______ , and the
omission of _______ and/or _______ .

Quotation marks signify direct _______ ,

titles of short works, and words used
_______ .

T/F: The period is used to end a sentence

or represent abbreviations.
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QUIZ
What mark indicates an excited
statement?

How do dashes and parentheses

differ?

What are three successive periods

called? What is their purpose?

Slashes reveal breaks in _______ .