Period, Question Mark, Exclamation Point,

Semicolon, Colon, Dash

• Every mark of punctuation should help the reader. Here are the
rules for six marks of punctuation.
Period (.)
• Put a period (.) at the end of a sentence and after most
abbreviations.

• The students elected Ms. Daniels to represent the class.

• Sept. Mon. in. sq. ft. lbs.

Put a question mark (?) after a direct
question but not after an indirect one.

• Will we be able to use our notes during the test? (direct)

• I wonder if we will be able to use our notes during the test.

(indirect)
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!

Put a semicolon (;) between 2 independent clauses in a
sentence unless they are joined by one of the connection
words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
• My mother cosigned 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 a
capital letter can be used in its place. If they can, you are putting the
semicolon in the right spot.
• My mother cosigned for a loan. Now I have my own car.
• Some careers go in and out of fashion. However, people will always
need teachers.
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.)
• The truck comes in red, black, blue, and silver. (Here the list is simply part of
the sentence. There is no complete statement used to introduce 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 the quotation; therefore, no colon – just a comma- comes between them.)
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
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!