EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUNCTUATION
An analogy...
Punctuation in a piece of writing is like the
road signs along our streets and highways.
Much like road signs, proper punctuation
helps your reader know when to speed up or slow down, when to pay careful
attention, and when to stop.
Think about your writing as if it were a road
Comma
“speed bumps”
Use commas with coordinating
conjunctions to combine sentences
Combine two complete
sentences with coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, so)
I love coming to school, but I especially love English class.
The movie starts at 8:00, so let’s meet at 7:30. I’m going to dinner and then to a movie.
Use commas with subordinate clauses…
A subordinate clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb, but is
dependent on another part of the
sentence for its meaning (subordinate)
Use a comma if you see a
subordinating conjunction
(although, as, because, if, since,
…but only if they begin the sentence!
Use a comma:
If you go to the store, pick up some milk.
Because we practiced hard, we won the game.
Don’t use a comma:
Pick up some milk if you go to the store.
We won the game because we practiced hard.
[Since there is no “pause” when the
subordinate clause is at the end of the
Use commas to show separation in a series
A series is a list of three or more things.
I like money, TV, and cupcakes.
When I grow up, there are three things I would like to do: run with the bulls in Pamplona,
orbit the earth on a private rocket, and
Use commas after introductory phrases
Introductory phrases add detail and variety:
Running down the street, I fell into a pothole. Trapped under the ice, he began to panic.
Commas help avoid confusing (or troubling) sentences!
After we ate my neighbor came to visit.
Use commas with
“interrupters”
Interrupters break up a sentence,
usually to add important information
appositives (a clarifying word or phrase):
My neighbor, Mr. Jones, is nice. Mr. Jones, my neighbor, is nice.
nouns of direct address (speaking directly to someone)
DO NOT
use commas...
Alone to combine sentences (comma
splice!)
I like Coke, I also like Pepsi.
I like Coke, but I also like Pepsi.
Too much (annoying and frustrating)
I like, Coke and, I like, milk, but not, together. I like Coke, and I like milk, but not together.
Too little (confusing and unclear)
Semicolon (
;
)
Yield sign
Similar to a comma
(combines and connects) but
more powerful like a period
Use semicolons...
To combine related sentences
The first part of the test was easy; the second part was much harder.
With conjunctive adverbs
(however, therefore, otherwise)
Semicolon (;) vs. colon (:)
Semicolons are not the same as
colons (:)! Colons are used to
introduce an example or a list, like this:
Make sure you do the following things: breathe, eat, and sleep.
Never use a semicolon to introduce an
Hyphen vs. Dash
Hyphens are trailer hitches
Hyphens (
-
)
Connect two words into one word
ex-boyfriend vice-president mother-in-law
numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine
(use numerals for 100 or greater)
Dashes (
–
)
Are two hyphens put together
(--)
Microsoft Word will usually turn
two hyphens (--) into a dash (—)
Dashes add creative style to
Use dashes…
To add something for emphasis
I treat my brother—my 6’5”, 300 lb. brother—with tremendous respect.
He loves to eat eggs—by the dozen.
To show an abrupt change in thought
My brother—Did I mention I also have a sister?—
Parentheses
Helpful but not necessary road
Use parentheses...
To add something helpful or interesting
New Hampshire’s state motto (“Live Free or Die”) captures the spirit of its
residents.
New Hampshire has the country’s best state motto. (Though Maine’s—“The Way Life Should Be”—is a close
Apostrophes
Use apostrophes…
To show possession or ownership
Singular nouns: just add ’s
cat’s (The cat’s fur is soft.)
woman’s (The woman’s hair is blue.)
book’s (My book’s cover is torn.)
Mr. Morris’s (Mr. Morris’s webpage is
Apostrophes continued
Plural nouns that end in s: Just
add an apostrophe
cats’ (The three cats’ fur is soft.)
girls’ (Both girls’ hair is blue.)
books’ (All of the books’ covers
Apostrophes continued
Plural nouns that don’t end in s:
add ’s
children’s (The children’s toys are
filthy.)
men’s (The men’s room is closed.)
women’s (The women’s clothing
Common apostrophe error’s
NEVER, EVER use an apostrophe
to make a word plural! (It makes
Ellipsis (…)
Ellipses are like zombie warning
signs
A Final Thought
Remember the analogy: when you write
something, you are sending your readers on a journey—a road trip of your thoughts and ideas.
Proper punctuation helps your reader know
when to speed up or slow down, when to pay careful attention, and when to stop.
Using punctuation correctly and effectively
