PUNCTUATION AND

CAPITAL LETTERS
Period, question Mark,Exclamation point, Semi
colon, Colon, Dash.
Period
 Put a period (.) at the end of a sentence and after
most abbreviations.
The students elected Ms.Daniel to represent the class.
Sept. Mon. In. Sq. Ft. Lbs.
Semicolon (;)
 Put a semicolon (;) between two independent clauses
in a sentence unless they are joined by one connecting
words, fanboys.
My mother consigned for a loan; now I have my own car.
Some careers go in and out of fashion; however, people
will always need teachers.
 To be sure that you are using a semicolon correctly, see if

a period and capital letter can be used in its place. If they

can, you are putting the semicolon in the right place.
 My mother consigned for a loan. Now I have my
own car.
 Some careers go in and out of fashion. However,
people will always need teachers.
Question Mark
 Put a question mark (?) after a direct question but
not after an indirect one.
Will we able to use our notes during the test? ( direct)
I wonder if we will be able to use our notes during the
test. (indirect)
Exclamation Point
 Put an exclamation point (!) after an expression
that shows strong emotion. This mark is used
mostly in dialogue or informal correspondence.

I can’t believe I did so well on my first exam!

Colon (:)
 Put a colon (:) after a complete statement that
introduces one of the following elements: a name, a
list, a quotation, or an explanation.
The company announced its Employee-of-the-Month:
Lee Jones. (The sentence before the colon introduces
the name that follows it)
That truck comes in the following colors: red, black,
blue, and silver. (the complete statement before the
colon introduces the list that follows it.)
 That truck comes in red, black blue, and silver. (here the
list is simply part of the sentence. There is no complete
statement used to intoduce the list and set it off from the
rest of the sentence.)
 Thoreau had this to say about time: “Time is but the
stream I go a-fishin in.”( the writer introduces the
quotation with a complete statement. Therefore a colon
comes between them.)
 Thoreau said, “ Time is but the stream I go a- fishin in.”
(here the writer leads directly into a quoation; therefore,
no colon-just a comma-comes between them.)
Dashes (_)
 Use dashes (--) to isolate inserted information, to
signal an abrupt change of thought, or to emphasize
what follows.
Lee Jones– March’s employee-of-the-Month–
received his own special parking space.
I found out today– or was it yesterday?—that I have
inherited a fortune.
We have exciting news for you—we’re moving!