PROPER PUNCTUATION

Relevance & Purposes

 Relevance: “Some people write well, yet allow

themselves to be disabled by a fear of punctuation and
grammar. They know how to pre-write, organize, and
revise, but proofreading for punctuation and grammar
causes them difficulties. There’s no need to fear these
conventions of standard written English. In fact, these
conventions can help you become a more effective
communicator.” – Gary A. Olson

 Purpose: This PowerPoint Presentation is to provide you

with a review of proper punctuation usage.
Please punctuate the following
and explain what the words
mean:
A woman without her man is nothing
A woman, without her man, is
nothing.

Or

A woman: without her, man is

nothing.
 Commonly-applied Punctuation Marks
Note: Full Stop,
•Full Stop (.) Question Marks, and
•Question Mark (?) Exclamation Points
are END MARKS.
•Exclamation Point (!)
• Apostrophe ( ’ )
•Comma (,)
• Parentheses/Parenthesis ( )
• Brackets [ ]
• Semicolon (;)
• Colon :
•Hyphen -
• Dash --
• Quotation Marks “”
•Ellipsis…
What is an end mark

An end mark is punctuation that

comes at the end of a sentence to let
you know when the sentence ends.

Punctuation supports reading by

helping readers know when the writer
has fully expressed an idea or point.
The full stop is the most famous end mark. It comes
at the end of statements and commands.
It is raining today.

Do not interrupt while I am talking.

A question mark means something is being asked.

Are you going to lunch?

An exclamation mark shows excitement or strong

Feeling.
That is a huge dog!
The Full Stop is also used as more than just an end mark.

It is used in abbreviations, too:

 1290 College Rd .
 . .
E B White
 Ms. White
 Dr. Atchley
Full Stop

It is used to indicate a decimal fraction

 15.9
 68.25

Full stop are dropped in the case of following

abbreviations
 Dr (doctor), Mr (mister)
 kg (kilogram), hr (hour), kph (kilometers per hour)
 CAT (Common Admission Test)
 The Colon

The colon is made with two periods.

It is used for time, and it comes before a list.

Example: 11:35pm
Example: I will need the following items from the store:
bananas, grapes, watermelon, and lemons.
 The Colon
It is used to introduce an explanation
The problem is this: how are/do we get trained hands at reasonable
salaries ?
It is used to introduce a long quotation
The Gita says: “ only action is within your power, not its reward.”
It is used to separate two contrasts
Man proposes: God disposes.
The colon is used to sum up a number of preceding clauses
I went where I liked; I ate what I wanted; I was free as the wind:
such are the reminiscences of my childhood.
 The Semi-colon
It is a punctuation mark (;) used to separate parts of a
sentence or list and indicating a pause longer than a comma,
but shorter than a full stop. In a sentence, a transition word
may follow the semi-colon.

Example: I think, I read, I discuss; this is how I try to

understand a problem.

;
 The Semi-colon
A semicolon is frequently used to separate two
coordinating clauses when the second is introduced by
one of the adverbs therefore, hence, however,
moreover, indeed, thus, still, accordingly, also and then

I listened intently for a repetition of the cry; however, I

did not hear the sound again.
 -- THE DASH I can -- no, I
must -- I
must dash
A dash is a punctuation mark that writers use to towards the
finish line.
denote a sudden break or shift in thought.
(One dash = Two hyphens)

Use the dash:

(1) to indicate a break or shift in thought: For example: Example: Do
we -- can we--dare we ask for more money?

(2) to introduce a word or group of words which you wish to

emphasize. Example: What he needed most he never got—love.

3) to set off strongly distinguished parenthetical material: Example: I

think--no, I am positive -- you should go.

4) to indicate omission of letters and words: For Example: Senator S--

was from my hometown.

--
 -- THE DASH
Use the dash:

 A dash is used to summarize several subjects, all

belonging to the same verb
Friends, colleagues, relatives –none stood by him.

 A dash is used along with the colon to introduce

a quotation
The poet says:--
 - THE HYPHEN
Mark Of Separation Used Between Parts Of A Word.

USE A HYPHEN:
1) To Separate (Join) The Parts Of Compound Words: Examples: fast-moving;
sister-in-law; half-asleep; X-ray; know-it-all; forty-seven; three-fourths

2) To Indicate The Division Of A Word Broken At The End Of A Line:

Examples:
This year the History Society of our college went on an edu-
cational trip.
a) Never divide a monosyllable: Example: strength, laughed
b) Do not divide a syllable with a silent vowel: Example: climbed, yelled
c) Do not divide a word with only 4 letters: Example: also, only, open
d) Divide two consonants standing between vowels: Example: struc-ture, alter-
native, exis-ten-tialism
USE QUOTATION MARKS
1) To enclose every direct quotation and each part of an interrupted quotation: Example:
“What will my starting salary be?” I asked the manager. “Well,” he replied, “I’m not
sure.”

2) in a dialogue. Use a separate paragraph for each change of speaker. Example:

“Dad,” cried Neil.
“There, there, everything will be just fine,” his dad said.

3) to enclose words with a widely different level of usage: Example: The person who has “had
it” so far is his mother.

4) to enclose chapter headings and the titles of articles:

Example: Grant wood’s famed painting, “American Gothic,” was recently reproduced in
American Gothic Journal.

USE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS (‘) to enclose a quotation within a quotation.

Example: The coach said, “when you say, ‘I’ll be there on time,’ I expect you to mean
what you say.”
USE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS (‘)

The title of books, magazines, newspapers, essays, poems,

etc., are enclosed within inverted commas (usually single)
or at italicised

‘My Last Duchess’ is a great dramatic monologue written by

Robert Browning.
 THE APOSTROPHE’
. . . looks like a single quotation mark, but is used for a different purpose.

USES FOR AN APOSTROPHE:

1) To form a possessive. EX: Joe’s
mother’s brother
2) To indicate a contraction. EX: It’s,
which translates to It is.
3) To indicate omission of a letter from
words or a figure from numerals. EX:
Yes, ma’am.
4) To indicate the plurals of letters,
numerals, symbols, abbreviations.
EX: Only A’s, B’s and C’s are
considered passing grades at the Art
institute.
 THE APOSTROPHE’
(cont.)

USE THE APOSTROPHE

1) And s to form the possessive case of a noun not ending in s:
Ex: Children’s; town’s
2) To form the possessive case of a plural noun ending in s:
Ex: Boys’ and ladies’ classrooms
3) Alone or with s to form the possessive of nouns ending is s:
Ex: Robert Burns’ or Burns’s (rule: words of one syllable)
4) and s in the last element of compound nouns:
Ex: My son-in-law’s boat; King Henry IV’s funeral; somebody
else’s ticket
5) To show that letters of figures have been omitted:
Ex: Aren’t; shouldn’t; the civil war was fought 1861-’65.
6) And s to indicate the plurals of numerals, letters, etc. Ex: Uncrossed
t’s look like 1’s. He uses too many and’s and but’s in speaking.
The Comma

,
The comma is used to separate a list.

Example: My favorite animals are giraffes, dogs, cats and birds.

It is also used between the date and the year.

Example: Today is March 6, 2007 and I plan to enjoy today.

A comma can also tell you where to pause in a sentence.

Example: All is well, but not necessarily forgotten.

 The Comma
A comma is used to separate phrases or clauses in series. Here a
comma before the and preceding the last number of the series is
desirable for the sake of clarity

He glanced out of the window, looked surprised, ran to the door, and
turned the key.

If a subordinate clause comes before the principle clause , we

separate it with a comma
If you need my help, write to me.

Yes and no
Yes, you may give some sandwiches to the child.
 The Comma
If a word is repeated for emphasis, each time it occurs, it is set off
with a comma

Work, work, work, if you wish to succeed.

A comma is used to set off a noun of address

This is a very responsible job, Anu.

 Parenthesis
Parenthesis -- Round brackets - ( ) - are used in a similar way to
commas when we want to add further explanation, an
afterthought, or comment that is to do with our main line of
thought but distinct from it. 

EXAMPLES
• The government's education report (April 2005) shows that
the level of literacy is rising in nearly all areas.
• I visited Kathmandu (which was full of tourists) on my way to
the Himalayas for a trekking expedition.
• You can eat almost anything while travelling in Asia if you
are careful to observe simple rules (avoiding unboiled or
unbottled water is one of the main rules to be aware of.)
 Bracket
Square brackets (also called brackets, especially in American
English) are mainly used to enclose words added by someone
other than the original writer or speaker, typically in order to
clarify the situation:
Example:
He [the police officer] can’t prove they did it.
 Ellipsis…
• Use an ellipsis when omitting a word, phrase,
line, paragraph, or more from a quoted
passage. Ellipses save space or remove
material that is less relevant. They are useful
in getting right to the point without delay or
distraction:
• Full quotation: "Today, after hours of careful
thought, we vetoed the bill."
• With ellipsis: "Today … we vetoed the bill."
 Quick Test, Part 1
Directions: In the items that follow,
choose the option that corrects an error in
the underlined portion(s). If no error exists,
choose “No change is necessary.”
 Item 1

Although Raymond
Although Raymondwill
willeat
eata agrasshopper,
grasshopper,he he
A B
refuses all green vegetables;
vegetables;such
vegetables, such
suchasas
aspeas,
peas,
peas,
C
spinach, and even cucumbers.

A.Although, Raymond
B.grasshopper he
C.vegetables,
vegetables, such
such
D.No change is necessary.
 Item 2

Before his calculus exam

exam Scott
exam, Scott
Scottrubbed
rubbed
rubbedhis
his
his
lucky
lucky
lucky
A B
rabbit’s foot
foot and
andfound
foundhis
hisfavorite
favoritepencil.
pencil.
C

A.
A.exam,
exam, Scott
Scott
B.rubbed, his
C.foot, and
D.No change is necessary.
 Item 3
Francine has five chair’s
chair’sbut
chairs butsix
but sixguests
six guests
guestscoming
coming
coming
A BB
for Thanksgiving dinner; she hopes that old Uncle

Ross remembers
rememberstotobring
bringan
anextra.
extra.
C

A.
A.chairs
chairs
B.guest’s
C.remember’s
D.No change is necessary.
 Item 4
Roseanne washed the piles of dirty dishes;
dishes;while
dishes while
while
A
Maria vacuumed the filthy rug; they tried
tried to
to
B
complete a month’s
month’sworth
worthofofhousekeeping
housekeepingininaa
C
single hour.

A.
A.dishes
disheswhile
while
B.tried, to
C.months
D.No change is necessary.
 Item 5

Audrey can’t
can’t leave
leave work
work early,
early, and
and Peggy
Peggy wont
wont
won’t
A B
help with the cupcakes, so I guess I’ll’ll have
have to
to do
do
C
all the baking myself.

A.cant
B.won’t
won’t
C.Ill
D.No change is necessary.
 Item 6
During our picnic,
picnic,we
wewere
weretormented
tormentedbyby
A
insects: ants
insects: antsswarming
swarminginto
intothe
thepotato
potato
B
salad, bees
salad, beesbuzzing
buzzingby
byour
ourears,
ears,and
andaakatydid
katydid
C
jumping into Henry’s open mouth.

A.picnic we
B.insects; ants
C.salad bees
D.No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
 Quick Test, Part 2
Directions: In the items that follow,
choose the sentence that is correctly
punctuated.
 Item 7

A. Roger spent three hours writing Christinas

paper.
B. Roger spent three hour’s writing Christina’s
paper.
C. Roger
Roger spent
spentthree
threehours
hourswriting
writing
Christina’s
Christina’s
paper.
paper.
 Item 8

A. When the crickets and the frogs sing Luis

cannot get a good nights sleep.
B. When
When the
the crickets
cricketsand
andthe
the
frogs
frogs
sing,
sing,
Luis
Luis
cannot get
cannot getaagood
goodnight’s
night’s
sleep.
sleep.
C. When the cricket’s and the frog’s sing, Luis
cannot get a good nights sleep.
 Item 9

A.
A. Before
Before you
youstart
startpainting
paintingthethe
walls,
walls,
you’ll
you’ll
need
a dropacloth
need dropand
cloth
a ladder.
and a ladder.
B. Before you start painting the walls you’ll
need a drop cloth, and a ladder.
C. Before you start painting the walls, youll need
a drop cloth, and a ladder.
 Item 10

A. Darlene laughed at Jebs haircut; it looked,

as if goat’s had grazed on his head.
B. Darlene
Darlene laughed
laughedatatJeb’s
Jeb’shaircut;
haircut;it looked
it looked
as ifif goats
goatshad
hadgrazed
grazedononhis
his
head.
head.
C. Darlene laughed at Jeb’s haircut, it looked
as if goats had grazed on his’s head.