PUNCTUATION
Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of written words. They tell us when to start, stop, pause, show
emotion, and ask a question. Punctuation is used for the purpose of making clear the meaning of written words.
END MARKS
Use periods, question marks, and exclamation points at the ends of statements, questions, exclamations, and commands.
Example: Please hand me that book.
Do you see the cat in that tree?
Wow! What a fabulous speech you gave!
Please call the dog.
Exercises: Add the necessary periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
1. Class will begin at 8:30 on Tuesday 2. Wow – these students sure are smart 3. How do you write a metaphor
4. Look at the board to check your homework
5. Sentences that vary in length are more interesting to read 6. Have you ever read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
PERIODS
An abbreviation is a shortening of a word. We use Mr. for mister. We always use a period after an abbreviation.
Please avoid using abbreviations in formal writing whenever possible.
The following are examples of correct abbreviations:
1. With titles before names—Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Lt. Prof.
2. After initials in names—T.S. Perkins, J.J. Jefferson 3. For stating times of of day—8:00 A.M. 6:20 P.M.
4. Use abbreviations to state historical dates—1,000 B.C. (before Christ). A.D. 732 (Latin phrase Anno Domini
5. When abbreviating the names of well-known organizations, you may either use periods or omit them:
P.T.A. Or PTA (Parent Teacher Organization) U.F.O. or UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)
Words formed from the initials of a proper name are acronyms. No periods should be used in these Example: SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus)
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 6. In lists and schedules certain abbreviations may be used to save space.
Example: Addresses - Ave. (Avenue) St. (Street)
Geographical Names – N.Y. (New York) Ft. Collins (Fort)
Days, Months – Wed. Jan. (Wednesday, January) Companies- Pacific Power Co. (Company)
Exercises: Add the necessary periods.
1. She lives at 1212 Sunny St , San Diego, Ca and her house is lovely 2. The address on the letter read: Prof A T Gorder, 299 Crito St in New York 3. Dr Espinoza arrived from Washington, DC, at 6 p m
4. Ms. Yuan, who works at NASA, lectured to Dr. Garcia’s physics class at 9:30 a.m.
COMMAS
USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE ITEMS IN A SERIES
A series is a number of similar items in a row. It takes at least three items to make a series. Put commas between the items in a series.
Example: We put pennies, nickels, and dimes in piles.
She likes Peter, Ian, John, and Mark as possible baby names.
There were cars for the boys, dolls for the girls, paints for the father, and books for the mother.
Note: It is permissible to omit the comma before the and which joins the last two items, but it is more common to add it.
#1 If all the items in a series are joined by conjunctions “and” or “or”, do not use commas.
Example: The leaves turn red and brown and orange in the fall.
#2 Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun.
Example: It was a cold, damp, dark October afternoon.
Note: Do not use a comma before the final adjective in a series if the adjective is thought of as part of the noun or a color. (October afternoon)
#3 If one of the words modifies another word in the series, do not separate then with a comma.
Example: He wore a light blue jacket. (means pale blue) He wore a light, blue jacket. (lightweight)
#4 Use a comma for compound sentences joining main clauses.
Example: We talked to the pilot, and we asked many questions.
Note: When a conjunction joins two verbs or two subjects, not two main clauses, a comma is not used.
We talked to the pilot and asked many questions.
***NOTE: The comma may be omitted when a compound sentence is short.
We’ll start out and you follow.
Exercises: Add the necessary commas.
1. The astronauts could not see or hear or feel but they were not afraid.
2. There are no telephones electric lights or automobiles on the island.
3. Glen works after school on Saturdays and during the summer.
4. We’ll read and you listen.
5. She ran to the store and she grabbed a gallon of milk.
6. There were counts and countesses dukes and duchesses princes and princesses and even kings and queens at the ceremony.
7. Before their trip the Mingers turned off the gas turned out the lights barred all the windows locked all the doors and forgot to turn off the water!
8. It was wet messy smelly and depressing when they came home.
9. His kindness patience and courtesy won him many friends.
10. I gave you the paper and ran.
Hyphens
Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line.
1. Divide a word only between syllables.
2. Do not divide a one-syllable word.
3. Do not divide a word so that one letter stands alone.
Also, use a hyphen in compounds made up of two or more words used as an adjective before a noun. This includes coined phrases. Do not use a hyphen when one of the words is an adverb ending in -ly. These compounds will add vividness to your writing, but one should not use too many.
Examples: I received a last-minute call.
Will you and marguerite help me put the silver- ware on the table?
Exercises: Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.
1. The little lost girl had that I'm going to cry again look on her face.
2. Spies must have the I like danger attitude to be successful.
3. We found many interesting things in a forty year old trunk.
4. He gave an I dare you to touch me sneer to the others.
5. Did you read that hair raising story last night?
Dashes
Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought or speech. Dashes are used to give emphasis to written ideas and are typed by using two hyphens. They should be used sparingly. Use a dash to show a break in thought or sentence structure.
Example: He had tried to change—you’re not even paying attention!
The right thing to do—I know it’ll be hard—is to apologize.
Exercises: Use dashes where they are needed in the following sentences.
1. We will invite Susan she is the new girl next door to our party.
2. The dog slid on the vinyl his nails acting like skates and crashed into the trash can.
3. When our stockpile was sold indeed, dumped for surplus all our sales were compromised.
4. Today has been but I will not bore you with my troubles.
5. Let me tell you about watch where you are going!
Brackets
Use brackets to enclose an explanation added to quoted or parenthetical material.
EXAMPLE Elena said in her acceptance speech, “I am honored by this [the award], and I would like to thank the students who volunteered this year.” [The words are enclosed in the brackets to show that they have been inserted into the quotation and are not the words of the speaker.]
Semicolons
Use a semicolon between independent clauses if they are not joined by and, but, for, or, so or yet.
Use a semicolon rather than a comma before a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses that contain commas.
EXAMPLE Jimmy took my suitcase upstairs; he left his own travel bag in the car.
They visited Phoenix, Arizona; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and San Antonio, Texas.
Exercises: Insert a semicolon, or comma, where needed.
1. We haven’t seen the movie for it hasn’t come to our town yet.
2. Paris France Cairo Egypt and Copenhagen Denmark are all the places that I would like to visit someday.
3. She finished her homework then she decided to go to Sally’s house.
4. Uncle Ray likes sweet potatoes Aunt Janie prefers peas and carrots.
5. Reading is my favorite pastime I love to begin a new book.
6. The two companies merged and they became the largest consumer goods firm in the nation.
Colons
Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions such as the following or as follows. Use a colon between the hour and the minute. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
EXAMPLE
You will need these items for map work: a ruler, colored pencils, and paper.
8:30 A.M. 10:00 P.M.
Dear Sir or Madam:
Exercises: Insert a colon or comma where needed.
1. Meet me at the mall at 230.
2. They need the following from the store milk, cheese and bread.
3. Three states I would like to visit are Maine Vermont and Oregon.
4. You should begin your business letter with Dear Mr. Smith and then state your point.
5. The alarm is set to go off at 710.
