PUNCTUATION

 

PUNCTUATION

1. Uses of the comma (,)

a.     Use commas to separate elements which might otherwise seem to run together

1.    To Prevent a confused, ambiguous, or awkward reading.

2.    To separate two main clauses joined by a coordinating

3.    To separate elements in a series

4.    To separate contrast elements in this, not that, construction

5.    To separate directly quoted material from such speech tags as HE, answered, She answered, we replied, etc.

6.    To separate elements in dates, addresses, and place names.

b.    Use commas to set off an interrupting construction.

1.    To set off an appositive

2.    To set off nouns of address

3.    To set off conjunctive adverbs and other transitional markers

4.    To set off a nonrestrictive modifier

c.     Uses commas to mark an inversion

1.    To emphasize an inverted element

2.    To set off a long introductory phrase or an adverbial clause preceding the main clause

Unused of the comma

a.     Do not use a comma instead of a period between sentences.

b.    Do not use a comma between closely related elements except to mark an interrupting construction

c.     Do not use commas excessively

2.    Uses of the semicolon (;)

a.     Use  a semicolon to separate closely related independent clauses not connected by a conjunction.

b.    Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a transitional connective

c.     Use semicolon to separate elements in a series which contains internal commas.

Unuses of semicolon

a.     Do not use a semicolon as the equivalent of a colon

b.    Do not use a semicolon as the equivalent of a comma

3.    The Period  (.)

a.     A period is used to mark the end of a declarative sentence

b.    A period is used to mark an accepted abbreviation

c.     A period is used before a decimal and between dollars and cents.

5.  Question  (?) and Exclamation Marks (!)

a.     The main use of the question mark is to indicate that a sentences is to be understood as a question.

b.    The exclamation mark is used to show that a statement is imperative or that it is spoken with strong  emotion.

6. Colon (:)

a.     To indicate that something is to follow, especially a formal statement or series.

b.    In place of  comma before long or formal direct quotations.

c.     Before a clause which restates the idea of the preceding clause in different words.

7. Quotation Marks ( “ “)

a.     To enclose the actual words of  a speaker (direct discourse)

b.    To identify words which are being discussed as words.

c.     To enclose the titles of short stories, poems, paintings, songs, etc

d.    In bibliography, to distinguish the title of a selection from that of the book from which it is taken

8. Single quotations marks  (‘ ‘) are used:

a.     To mark quotations within quotations

b.    In type, as a substitute for double quotation marks to improve the appearance of the page.

9. Punctuation with quotation marks

a.     When the quoted words are followed by a comma, put the comma inside the quotation marks.

b.    A period, like a comma, always goes inside the quotation marks

c.     If the quotation is a question, the question mark goes inside the quotation marks, if the whole sentences is a question is not, the question mark goes outside.

d.    The exclamation mark, like question mark, goes inside if the quotation itself is an exclamation, otherwise it goes outside.

e.     Since the semicolon and the colon almost never occur at the end of a quotation, they are always placed outside the quotation marks.

f.      When the dash is used to stand  for an omitted part of quotation, it is included within the quotation marks

10. Apostrophe (’)

a.     To indicate the possessive case of nouns and some pronouns.

b.    To indicate the omission of letters or figures.

c.     To indicate the plural of letters or figures

11. Ellipsis (…) and Dash (-)

a.     To stress a word or phrase at the end of a sentence

b.    To set off a summary or conclusion to an involved sentence

c.     To mark an interrupted or unfinished construction

d.    Use in pairs, dashes set off a pronounced interruption.

12. Parentheses and Bracket ( )

a.     To enclose an exclamation, qualification, or example

b.    To enclose cross-references.

c.     In formal business transactions, to repeat a sum previously stated in words.