PUNCTUATION

FULL STOP ( ).
 A full stop is used at the end of every
sentence, e.g. It is cold outside.
 Use the full stop after an initial, J.P. Jones
 After an abbreviation or each part of most

abbreviations: A.M. lbs. R.T.E. Dr. Mr.

 After each number or letter that begins a

heading in a list or outline: 1. A. ii.

QUESTION MARK ?
 Use the question mark after a direct question. How old is
Bill?
 After a statement followed by a short question. It’s cold

outside, isn’t it?

 Use the question mark after a word that denotes a

question. What? Why?

Note the difference between the direct questions above and
I wonder what they will do now.
I enquired had the hotel wireless broadband.
These are not direct questions because the do not consist
of the actual words used when asking questions. These
questions, therefore, should not have question marks.
EXCLAMATION MARK !
 Use an exclamation mark to denote a
surprised tone of voice.
Good lord! Manchester City have won the
league!
 A tip: Do not use excessively especially in

formal writing.
 When to use apostrophes

Apostrophes can be used in the place of missing letters.

They help us to translate spoken words into writing.
E.g.
don’t, isn’t, he’s, wouldn’t
Apostrophes are also used to show possession. They show if something
belongs to a noun e.g.
the baby’s rattle, the dog’s eyes
When the noun is plural, the apostrophe comes after the plural form,
e.g.
The boys’ bicycles, the children’s teacher

With numbers other than years, either way (with or without and apostrophe) is
okay. Be consistent.
There are three 9’s on this page.
There are three 9s on this page.
5
 INVERTED COMMAS. “”
 Use quotation marks to enclose the exact words of a
speaker. Mary exclaimed, “I refuse to go”!
 Use quotation marks to enclose quoted words or phrases

within a sentence. The Taoiseach told us we must “put our

shoulders to the wheel.”
 Use quotation marks for definitions.
 Use quotation marks for sayings.
◦ My mom loves to use the saying “every dog has its day.”
 Commas and period always go inside the quotation mark.
◦ Marsha said, “Let’s go,” and we did.
◦ The title of the song is “Don’t Speak.”

 Colons and semicolons always go outside the quotation

mark.
◦ Catherine said, “I’ll clean my room”; now we’ll see if she means it.
◦ Mom uttered the first rule of “parental law”: just because I said so!
 Rules for Quotation Marks
 If you have a quotation within a quotation, use single
quotation marks around it.
◦ Parker said, “My mom said, ‘No way!’ so I guess I can’t
go.”
◦ She whispered, “I love the song ‘Singing in the Rain.’”

If only a yes or no is quoted, it doesn’t matter if you use

quotation marks or not. Be consistent.

If several different speakers are quoted, start a new

paragraph for each new speaker, especially in a long
dialogue.
 Question marks and exclamation points depend on what
is being quoted. If it is just the quoted material the
question mark or exclamation point goes inside the
quote. If the whole sentence is a question or
exclamation, the punctuation goes outside the quote.

 Examples:
◦ I think he is the one that yelled, “Fire!”
◦ I was furious when he smugly said, “Drop dead”!
◦ She asked, “Is that really you?”
◦ Are you the one who yelled, “Help”?
When to use inverted commas

Inverted commas can be used to show

words which are spoken.

They can also be used around words or

quotations from a written text.

Inverted commas are sometimes used

around words to show that the words are
not true, or to show irony or sarcasm.

They can be used to show the title of a book,

poem or story.
 COMMA ,
 Use the comma to separate the parts of address. He lives at 6
Hillside Grove, Waterford.
 After the greeting and closing of an informal letter. Dear John,
Sincerely yours,
 Use the comma between words or phrases in a list or a series and
before the and or the or which precedes the final item in the list.
The group includes Ireland, Spain, Italy or Croatia.
 Use commas to ‘bracket’ a weak interruption in a sentence. Her
findings, I would suggest, throw new light on the matter.
 To pause in a sentence: The Minister, Mr. Ryan, gave the order.
 To set of thousands, millions etc., in large numbers. 4,523.
9,045,384. It is really the marking point of a thousand or in the
case of a million, a thousand - thousand and so on.
Rules for Commas
 Use a comma after conjunctive adverbs (those
are adverbs working as conjunctions – they
link two sentences and show how the two are
related).

◦ Conjunctive adverbs include:

however, furthermore, indeed, meanwhile,
nevertheless, therefore, unfortunately
Use a comma after most introductory phrases and
clauses.

Since I forgot my combination, I could not open my

locker.

Since I forgot is an introductory clause and I could not

open my locker is an independent clause.

Use commas before and after appositives (an

appositive explains who or what the noun is).
Our Principal, Mrs. Griffin, gave a speech at the
assembly.
Katie Stevens, the best ballerina in the
performance, shone as the star of the evening.
Rules for Commas
 Introductory clause examples:
◦ In spite of the fact that all the evidence supported
his guilt, he plead innocent.
◦ Being one who believes in punctuality, I am never
late to an appointment.

 Short introductory clauses don’t necessarily

have to have a comma.
◦ In May, I will be graduating.
◦ In May I will be graduating.
Both sentences are grammatically correct.
 Rules for Commas
 Use commas to emphasize an adverb (describes a verb and
adjective).

◦ Tori ran fast and got home before her mother. (This sentence is
correct.)
◦ Tori ran, fast, and got home before her mother. (This sentence
is also correct and adds more emphasis on how she ran.)

Use a comma to show that two parts of a sentence are being

contrasted.

I’m going out with Ken, not Ron.

It’s a book, not a movie.
I really wanted the Xbox, not the Playstation.
Use commas when adjectives come after the noun.

My car, waxed and polished, will surely impress

my girlfriend.
The football players, tired and dirty, celebrated
their victory.
Mr. Smith’s cat, hungry and scared, meowed
from the top of the tree.

Use a comma before and/or after an interjection.

Interjections are the only words that add
emotion to the writing and can be eliminated
completely without changing the meaning of the
sentence.
Use commas with direct quotations (what someone says).

1. “I saw Fighters,” yelled John, “last night at the

amphitheater!”
2. “I’m not afraid of the dark,” whispered Bobby, “I’m
almost eight years old.”
3. Jane cried, “I lost my homework for Geometry!”

Use commas when speaking directly to someone (this is

called a direct address).
Keith, it is time to go.
I’ve told you three times, boys and girls, to do your
homework.
If you don’t believe me, Janet, go ask Mrs. Turner.
Commas can be used after an adverb or adverbial phrase
or clause which opens a sentence. Slowly, the door
opened.

They are used after a non-finite clause at the start of a

sentence. Having finished, she left the table.

Commas are often used when addressing someone. Keep

going, Joe.

Commas can be used around additional information. The

film, a classic, was enjoyed by everyone.

Commas can divide items in a list. The rock was cold,

rough, scarred and mossy.

Commas are used to help punctuate speech. She

muttered, ‘See you.’ 17
COLON :
 Use the colon after a complete statement followed by
a list. Campers must take these items: bedding, linen
and cooking utensils.
 Use the colon to separate the parts of a citation.

Chapter 15: 14-22

 The colon can be used to write ratios. The sand and

cement should be mixed in a ratio of 2:1.

 Colons are used to give examples that directly

relate to the sentence.

 Use a colon before subtitles of books, articles,

chapters, etc.
◦ The title of the book is Bill Gates: Man of the Year.
When to use colons
A colon is used to introduce things: ideas, items in a
list, a quotation or an explanation. He’d lost
everything: his friends, his happiness and his pride.

A colon can also be used between a statement and

an explanation of the statement. This time he’d win:
he couldn't afford to lose.

A colon can also be used between two halves of a

sentence – balancing the two halves. Time is a great
teacher: unfortunately it kills all its pupils.
Don’t use a colon after a preposition.
I want to travel to: New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and
Montreal. (Incorrect)
I want to travel to New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and
Montreal.
(Correct)
I want to travel to the following cities: New York, San Francisco,
Atlanta, and Montreal.
(Correct)

Use colons to indicate dialogue when you’re writing a play or

script.

Use a colon after words such as caution, wanted, or note.

Caution: wet floor.
Wanted: interior designer specializing in abstract art.
Note: Colons have specific uses.
Rules for Colons
 Use a colon before a long, formal quotation.
Governor Smith stated to the press: “I think
that children should study grammar for at
least six hours a day. Learning to speak
and write correctly is far more important
than anything else – including eating. In
fact, I believe that eating is a complete
waste of valuable time.” Then he said,
“April Fools!”
 SEMI-COLON ;
 Use a semi-colon between the parts of a sentence
when they are not joined by the conjunctions and, but,
or, for or nor

 Use a semicolon between two sentences that are very

closely related.
◦ My family is Jewish. We celebrate Chanukah but not
Christmas.
◦ My family is Jewish; we celebrate Chanukah but not
Christmas.
(Being Jewish and celebrating Chanukah are very
closely related, and that relationship is emphasized
by putting them in the same sentence.)
When to use semi-colons

A semi-colon can be used to separate main clauses

in a compound sentence. It often replaces and or
but.
(The semi-colon is useful as it can:
• help to maintain the theme of a sentence
• avoid sudden short sentences
• avoid too much use of and or but.)

Semi-colons can also be used to

punctuate lists of long items (instead of
commas).
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ELLIPSES ...
 Use ellipses within a quotation to indicate all
places where a word or words have been
omitted. The house ... was built in 1935.
 Use ellipses at the end of a quotation to

indicate words omitted before the full stop

but also include the full stop. “He was a giant
of a man....” For: “He was a giant of a man
and highly respected.”
DASH -
 Use dashes to emphasize by-the-way,
parenthetical expressions.
◦ My grandmother bought me a puppy – an
adorable little bulldog! – for my birthday.
◦ I’ve lived in Portland – the one in Oregon,
not Maine – all my life
 Use a dash to sum up a list or idea.

◦ Red, white, and blue – those are the

American colors.
◦ Victory – that’s the name of the game.
 Rules for Dashes
 Use a dash to link two parts of a sentence.
◦ Always hook your seatbelt – it’s the law.

◦ I gave you my last $20, so don’t waste it. (using a comma works, but is
not as strong as a dash.)

◦ I gave you my last $20 – so don’t waste it.

Use a dash for clarity and emphasis.

Finally Robin fell exhausted into bed on top of the cat. (Confusing)
Finally Robin fell exhausted into bed – on top of his cat!

Use a dash to set off a long appositive (a description of who or what the
subject is) or an appositive with lots of commas.
I love Beaver Creek, a small ski area in Colorado with long, challenging
runs.This sentence is correct, but weak.

I love Beaver Creek – a small ski area in Colorado with long, challenging
runs.
 Rules for Underlining and Italics
 Use italics primarily instead of underlining, especially when typing.
Underline when you are writing out by hand or using it for a special
purpose. Either way is grammatically correct – be consistent.
Use italics or underlining for names of books, magazines, newspapers,
movies, operas, plays, and other large works.
The New York Times The New York Times
The Addams Family The Addams Family
Time Magazine Time Magazine

Use quotation marks (not underlining or italics) for the names of songs,
poems, magazine articles, newspaper articles, short stories, chapters of
books, and other small works.
“Singing in the Rain” - song
“Education Growing” – article
“The Road Not Taken” – poem

Use italics or underlining for emphasis (but don’t abuse this).

I really mean it this time: Don’t bite the dog!
Guess who asked me to the prom – Hartley!
Will I never finish this algebra homework?
Use italics or underlining for foreign words.
I ordered coq au vin for dinner.
I ordered coq au vin for dinner.

Some words are no longer considered foreign words, such as quiche and
salsa. You decide what is considered foreign, but be consistent.

Pneumonia is a tough word to spell.

“Pneumonia” is a tough word to spell.
Pneumonia is a tough word to spell.
 Rules for Hyphens
 Use a hyphen with some prefixes, especially all-, co-,
ex-, half-, great-, numbers, and capital letters.
◦ all-knowing, all-around
◦ co-conspirator, co-author
◦ ex-husband, ex-convict
◦ half-truth, half-hearted
◦ great-grandmother, great-uncle
◦ 5-cent piece of candy, 40-foot tree
◦ T-shirt, PG-rated

Use hyphens with compound numbers from 21 to 99.

twenty-one, ninety-nine
Rules for Punctuation
 Be consistent.
 Edit and revise your essays specifically for

punctuation.
 Do not rely on punctuation marks to set your

tone, your wording is much more important.

 Rewrite sentences that “seem” weird – they

probably are.