Lesson 2:

PUNCTUATION MARKS
Carlo G. Pamintuan, LPT
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PUNCTUATION MARKS

◉ Punctuation marks are symbols that are used to aid the

clarity and comprehension of written language.
◉ Punctuation is how you tell your readers to take a breath.
◉ Correct punctuation helps your readers comprehend your
message. It also gives you some control of the pace of the
narrative to further convey your feelings.

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Uses of Common
Punctuation Marks

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1. PERIOD
a. End of a Setence
b. Abbreviations
c. Outlines
d. Numericals

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PERIOD (.)

a. End of a Sentence
The period is used to indicate the end of a sentence not
otherwise ended by a question mark, exclamation point, or
the period following an abbreviation.

Example:
○ As the car turned to corner, she let out a scream.

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PERIOD (.)

b. Abbreviations
The period is used to indicate an abbreviation, although it
is optional for some.

Examples:
○ Prof. for Professor
○ Dr. for Doctor
○ Hon. for Honorable

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PERIOD (.)

c. Outlines
In outlines, the period is used optionally after letters or
numbers designating sections and sub-sections.

Example:
1. Period
a. End of a Sentence
b. Abbreviations
c. Outlines
d. Numericals
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PERIOD (.)

d. Numericals
Period is used in a numerical form such as representing a
decimal point within a sentence.

Example: 12.5

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2. QUESTION MARK
a. Interrogative Sentences
b. Imperative Sentences

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QUESTION MARK (?)

a. To mark the end of an Interrogative

The question mark is used to mark the end of any sentence
that asks a question.

Example:
○ Is it time to leave?

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QUESTION MARK (?)

b. In Imperative Sentences
In imperative sentences which make requests will take
either a question mark or a period.

Examples:
○ Will you please leave?
○ Will you please leave.

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3. EXCLAMATION POINT
a. Exclamatory Sentences
b. Interjections

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EXCLAMATION POINT (!)

a. The exclamation point is used to mark the end of an

exclamatory sentence.

Examples:
○ Will you please leave!
○ Move out of my way!

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EXCLAMATION POINT (!)

b. The exclamation point is used after an interjection or after

any word used as an interjection.

Examples: Hey!
Excellent!
Help!

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4. COMMA
A comma is customarily indicates
a brief of pause.

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COMMA (,)

a. Separating elements within a sentence

Example:
○ Here’s one you are going to have to think about. Like
mother said, it’s for your own good.

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NOTE: Look at long sentences which have independent clauses

which need separation. Find the natural breaks in the flow of
sentence; the places where a reader might pause to grasp a
concept before moving on.

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COMMA (,)

b. Elements in a Series
For the sake of clarity, words and clauses in a series need
to be separated.

Examples:
○ The dress comes in four colors: aqua, pink, orange, and
black.
○ He set out to streamline the office, trim the budget, and
increase the output.

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COMMA (,)

c. Independent Modifiers
Independent modifiers are those modifiers which are not
dependent on or directly associated with any other
modifiers; two or more which modify the same member
should be separated by a comma.

Example:
○ The long, black station wagon drove down the dusty
road.

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COMMA (,)

d. Comma in Quotations
Use a comma to separate a direct quotation from its source
unless it is superseded by other punctuation.

Examples:
○ She said, “I want to see the play.”
○ “I want to see the play,” she said.

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“May I go to the play?” she asked.

Comma superseded by the question mark.

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COMMA (,)

e. Opening and Closing of a Letter

The opening and the closing of any letter are followed by a
comma.

Examples: Dear John,

Sincerely yours,
Very truly yours,

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COMMA (,)

f. Dates and Addresses

The parts of dates and addresses are separated by commas.

Examples:
○ October 27, 2020 or 27 October, 2020
○ 143 Kundiman Street, Sampaloc, Manila
○ Los Angeles, California

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COMMA (,)

g. Name and Titles

Titles after a name are commonly separated by a comma,
as are the elements of a name when they are reversed.

Examples: Carlo G. Pamintuan, LPT

Pamintuan, Carlo G.

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COMMA (,)

h. Numbers
Commas are used to separate the thousands in large
numbers.

Example: 7, 071, 639

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777, 777, 777
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5. COLON
The colon is used to end a clause
introducing a list of items.

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COLON (:)

a. The colon is used to end a clause introducing a list of

items.

Example:
○ The Parts of Speech are as follows: Nouns, Pronouns,
Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunction,
and Interjections.

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COLON (:)

b. The colon is also used to highlight a clause to follow.

Example:
○ As you go through life, remember one thing: The most
humiliating criticism is indifference.

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COLON (:)

c. Traditionally, the colon has followed the salutation in

opening of a business letter.

Examples: Dear Sir:

Dear Madam:
To whom it may concern:

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COLON (:)

d. The colon is used after a division of time, literature, etc. to

indicate a subdivision follows.

Examples: 3:45 P.M.

15:45:17
John 3:16

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6. SEMICOLON
The semicolon is used to join two
independent clauses with or
without a modifying connective.

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SEMICOLON (;)

a. The semicolon is used to join two independent clauses with

or without a modifying connective.

Example:
○ Sharon has a managerial position; she enjoys the rights
and privileges which go with the responsibility.

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SEMICOLON (;)

b. In Place of a Comma
A list of phrases or clauses is best separated by semicolons,
particularly if the clauses are punctuated by commas.

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SEMICOLON (;)

b. In Place of a Comma

Example:
○ Among the things we packed for the trip was a small,
green tent; two sleeping bags; a selection of fresh and
freeze-dried foods; a lantern, with fuel for two nights;
an assortment of pots, pans, and eating utensils; and a
change of clothes.

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7. APOSTROPHE
a. Showing Possessions
b. Contractions

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APOSTROPHE (’)

a. Showing Possessions
The apostrophe is used with s to show the possessive form
of nouns which do not end in s.

Examples:
○ One man’s hat
○ This lawyer’s case
○ The dog’s bone

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APOSTROPHE (’)

b. The apostrophe is used alone to show the possessive form

of nouns which end in s.

Examples:
○ The scissors’ edge
○ Mr. Jones’ car

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NOTE: Singular nouns ending in s, such as Jones may also take

an apostrophe s ending. It is the writer’s choice.

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APOSTROPHE (’)

c. The possessive of more than one taken together as a unit is

shown by making the last member possessive.

Example:
○ Joan and Bob’s house is on the outskirts of the city.

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APOSTROPHE (’)

d. To indicate individual ownership, make each member

possessive.

Example:
○ Joan’s and Bob’s houses are outside the city.

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APOSTROPHE (’)

e. Contractions
The apostrophe is used to indicate the position of missing
elements in contractions.

Examples: don’t aren’t

won’t haven’t
the summer of ’19
in October ’20

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8. QUOTATION MARKS
a. Direct Quotations
b. Punctuation within
Quotations
c. Titles
d. Extraneous Material in
Quotes
e. Single Quotation Marks

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

a. Direct Quotations
Only the exact words of the speaker or writer are enclosed
in quotation marks.

Examples:
○ She said, “I want to go, but only if we leave by dawn.”
○ “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself,” said
Roosevelt.

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

b. Punctuation within Quotations

A period or comma is always placed before the closing
quotation marks.

Examples:
○ John said, “The report is due this week.”
○ “The report is due this week,” said John.

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NOTE: The speaker is always separated from the quotation by

a comma whether at the beginning or ending of a sentence.

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

NOTE: The question mark or exclamation point is enclosed with the

quotation marks when it applies only to the quote and outside the
quotation marks when it applies to the entire sentence. Punctuation is
not required within the quotation marks when punctuation is placed
after the closing quotation mark.

Examples:
○ “When do you need to leave?” he asked.
○ Who said, “I think, therefore I am”?

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

c. Titles
Titles of short works such as magazine articles, essays,
songs, poems, paintings, and sculptures are set off by
quotation marks. The rule of thumb is that anything long
enough to appear in book form including plays, opera,
collection of arts, etc. are underlined or printed in italics.
All other titles are set off by quotation marks.

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

d. Extraneous Material in Quotes

Quotation marks are used to direct attention to special
words in a sentence such as slangs, technical terms,
colloquialisms, nicknames, and material referred to
elsewhere in the sentence.

Note that such highlighting may also be achieved by

underlining, or printing in italics or bold face.

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QUOTATION MARKS (“ ”)

e. Single Quotation Marks

Single quotation marks are used in the same manner as
double quotes to set off material already contained in
double quotes-in effect, to set off a quotation within a
quotation.

Example:
○ “I think she said, ‘be ready by noon,’” Tom reported.

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9. HYPHEN
The hyphen is used to join the
parts of certain compound words.

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HYPHEN (-)

a. The hyphen is used to join the parts of certain compound

words.

Examples: mother-in-law
Pre-Orientation

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HYPHEN (-)

b. It may also be used to create an expression comprised of

several words which are to be taken as unit.

Examples: cock-of-the-walk
holier-than-thou

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HYPHEN (-)

c. The Dash
A dash indicates a break in the flow of a sentence, usually
to insert a parenthetical remark or for emphasis.

Example:
○ When I passed the house – the one at the end of block –
it was empty.

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10. PARENTHESES ( )
and BRACKETS [ ]

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PARENTHESES ( )

a. Parentheses are used to separate incidental information

which would otherwise interrupt the flow of the sentence.

Example:
○ We will set out on December 12 (Susan’s birthday) to
tour the area.

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PARENTHESES ( )

b. Parentheses are often used to separate confirming numbers

in a sentence.

Example:
○ The admission price is eight thousand pesos (P8, 000.00) for advance
reservations and ten thousand pesos (P10, 000.00) the day of the
show.

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PARENTHESES ( )

c. Parentheses set off letters or numbers which are used in a

sentence to enumerate items in a list.

Example:
○ Our goal is to see that you (a) understand the proper use
of English and (b) use your knowledge to communicate
effectively in the language.

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BRACKETS [ ]

d. Brackets are used to insert editorial commentary; that is to

indicate that the material inserted is not a part of the
original material.

Example:
○ He said that they [the Jones family] have only lived in
this area for six months.

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11. INTERROBANG
A non-standard punctuation mark
indicating a question expressed in
an exclamatory manner.

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INTERROBANG (?!)

a. The interrobang is a combination of a question mark and an

exclamation point to emphasize those statements which
engender both wonderment and a strong emotional
response: not quite a question, but certainly questionable.

Examples:
○ She did what?!
○ What are you doing?!

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REFERENCES:

◉ AZ Quotes. Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell
us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop. Retrieved from https://
www.azquotes.com/quote/719322
◉ CAS English Faculty Members. Purposive Communication 101 Module –
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
◉ Google. Interrobang. Retrieved from https://
www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=GrmWX7n9BJSDoAT8wpWYCA
&q=interrobang&oq=interrobang&gs

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Thanks!
Any questions ?

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