Punctuation

Period or Full Stop

• Use a period at the end of a sentence that makes a
statement.
• Use a period at the end of a command
Hand in the poster essays no later than noon on Friday.
Use a period at the end of an indirect question
The teacher asked why Maria had left out the easy
exercises.
Use a period with abbreviations
Dr. Espinoza arrived from Washington, D.C., at 6 p.m
 Comma
• Use commas to separate independent clauses
when they are joined by any of these seven
coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor,
so, yet.
• The game was over, but the crowd refused to
leave.
• The student explained her question, yet the
instructor still didn't seem to understand.
• Yesterday was her brother's birthday, so she took
him out to dinner.
 Comma
• Common starter words for introductory clauses
that should be followed by a comma
include after, although, as, because, if, since,
when, while.
• While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
• Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late
for class.
• If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.
• When the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the
driveway.
 Comma
• Having finished the test, he left the room.
• To get a seat, you'd better come early.
• After the test but before lunch, I went
jogging.
• The sun radiating intense heat, we sought
shelter in the cafe.
 Comma
• Common introductory words that should be
followed by a comma include yes, however,
well.
• Well, perhaps he meant no harm.
• Yes, the package should arrive tomorrow
morning.
• However, you may not be satisfied with the
results.
• . Use a pair of commas in the middle of a
sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words
that are not essential to the meaning of the
sentence.
• Fred, who often cheats, is just harming himself.
• My niece, wearing a yellow jumpsuit, is playing
in the living room.
• The Green party candidate, who had the least
money, lost the election.
 Comma
• Apples, which are my favorite fruit, are the
main ingredient in this recipe.
• Professor Benson, grinning from ear to
ear, announced that the exam would be
tomorrow.
 Comma
• Use commas to separate three or more
words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.
• The Constitution establishes the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches of
government.
• The candidate promised to lower
taxes, protect the environment, reduce
crime, and end unemployment.
 Comma
• Use commas to separate two or more
coordinate adjectives that describe the same
noun.
• He was a difficult, stubborn child. (coordinate)
• They lived in a white frame house. (non-
coordinate)
• She often wore a gray wool shawl. (non-
coordinate)
• Your cousin has an easy, happy
smile. (coordinate)
 comma
• Use commas to set off all geographical
names, items in dates.
• July 22, 1959, was a momentous day in his life.
Who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, Washington, DC?
 Exercise
Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at
the wrong time is I believe amazing.
Running around the house the dog was
abruptly stopped by a fence.
If the opposition should win our candidate
would never have any political future.
Gracefully lightly and daintily the ballerina
moved across the stage.
 Glamour the woman's fashion magazine recently
incorporated with Charm another fashion journal.
Joe was born on May 7 1955 and his best friend was
born exactly two months later on July 7 1955.
Mr. and Mrs. Kwon my parents' best friends sat in
front of us at the football game.
November 11 1918 the armistice ending World
War I was signed
 Comma Splice
• A comma splice error occurs when two
independent clauses are connected with only
a comma. There are a few different ways to
correct a comma splice.
Comma Splice: My family bakes together nearly
every night, we then get to enjoy everything we
make together.
 Example
• My family bakes together nearly every night.
We then get to enjoy everything we make
together.
• My family bakes together nearly every night,
and we then get to enjoy everything we make
together.
• After my family bakes together nearly every
night, we get to enjoy everything we make
together.
 Exercise
• Megan read three novels last week, Sue read
four short stories.
• Grandma took her turn and jumped from the
plane, her parachute opened right away.
• She walked in the room, she sat in the corner.
• The goal of the marketing plan was to help the
department get the product sold, it was a
good plan.
• He wanted her for the job, she was his first
choice.
After a long talk with her department head, she
was ready for the new assignment.
• C Division’s production was down for the quarter,
however, our unit wasn’t responsible.
• Dustin wanted a new mountain bike, he liked the
hills and the dirt.
• He left his office for a break, therefore, he wasn’t
there when the system crashed.
 Semi-colon
• Use a semi-colon in place of the comma and
conjunction to separate the two independent
clauses in a compound sentence.

• Example: I like working outside; I also enjoy

reading.
 Semi-colon
• Use a semi-colon before the conjunctive
adverb (such as however and therefore) that
joins two independent clauses. Be sure to put
a comma after the conjunctive adverb.

• Example: I like working outside; however, I

also enjoy reading.
 Semi-colon
• I have been to Newcastle, Carlisle, and York in
the North; Bristol, Exeter, and Portsmouth in
the South; and Cromer, Norwich, and Lincoln
in the East.
• Shakespeare, a great dramatist, wrote a great
many plays; and he wrote a number of
sonnets too.
 Examples
• The manager did not approve the plan; he
suggested several changes.
• A pessimist sees the difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity
in every difficulty. (Winston Churchill)
• The meeting has been rescheduled for 4
o'clock; this reflects the director's new
agenda.
 Exercise
• It is raining outside I will bring my umbrella with
me.
• Hopefully, the weather will change soon
otherwise, the whole summer will go by without
the sun shining.
• She doesn't understand algebra therefore, she
will probably not pass the math final.
• We will play tennis tomorrow then we will go out
for dinner.
• She had very high grades in high school she
applied to Harvard University
• Some colleges offer full time scholarships
others do not.
• There is a lot of financial aid available you just
have to know where to look for it.
• Some institutions require a lot of financial
support from parents some require only a
little.
• It's such a beautiful day I will walk in Niagara
Falls.
 Colon
it is used to introduce an idea that is an
explanation or continuation of the one that
comes before the colon.
You are left with only one option: Press on until
you have mastered it.
There is one thing you need to know about
coleslaw: it looks and tastes like slurry.
The second main use of the colon is to introduce
a list.
The potion contained some exotic ingredients:
snails' eyes, bats' tongues and garlic.
 Exercise
• Many jobs interest me teaching, writing, editing,
and social work.
• There were a number of famous people at the
restaurant Brittany Spears, Jack Nicholson, and
Helen Hunt.
• There are a lot of chores I do not like doing
dishes, washing windows, and vacuuming rugs.
• He was a world class athlete a rowing champion
 Exercise
• She did not pass the most important of her exams
math.
• I like all kinds of desserts lemon pie, carrot cake,
strawberry ice cream, and chocolate pudding.
• There are several hobbies I particularly enjoy cake
decorating, dancing, and bicycling.
• One factor made our winter more difficult than
usual ice storms.
• She prized only one possession her diamond
necklace.
 Question Mark
• Use the question mark at the end of all direct
questions.
• What is your name?
• Do you speak Italian?
Do not use a question mark for reported questions
He asked me what my name was.
She asked if I was Spanish.
Question marks can sometimes appear within
sentences
"Why is she here?" asked Henry.
 The Apostrophe
The most common use of apostrophes is for
contractions.
isn't, hasn't, she's, there's, he's, I'll, you'll, she'll
I'd, you'd, he'd, I've, you've, you're, they're
In most cases we need to add 's to a noun to show
possession
• a ship's captain
• a doctor's patient
• a car's engine
• Ordinary (or common) nouns that end in s,
both singular and plural, show possession
simply by adding an apostrophe after the s.
• the ladies' tennis club
• the teachers' journal
• the bus' wheel
 The Exclamation Mark
• The exclamation mark is used to express
astonishment, or surprise, or to emphasis a
comment or short, sharp phrase.
• Help! Help!
• That's unbelievable!
• Get out!
• Look out