PunctuationPunctuation

Periods and Other End MarksPeriods and Other End MarksPeriodPeriod1. Use at the end of a declarative sentence.1. Use at the end of a declarative sentence.Ex. My teacher is the best ever.Ex. My teacher is the best ever.2. Use at the end of most imperative sentences.2. Use at the end of most imperative sentences.Ex. Give the dog a bath.Ex. Give the dog a bath.3. Use at the end of an indirect question.3. Use at the end of an indirect question.Ex. She asked me to go to the store.Ex. She asked me to go to the store.4. Use at the end of most abbreviations and initials.4. Use at the end of most abbreviations and initials.Ex. Mr., min., Ave., Dr., Ph.D., Oct., U.S.A.Ex. Mr., min., Ave., Dr., Ph.D., Oct., U.S.A.(abbreviations without periods TV, VCR, DVD, CD, (abbreviations without periods TV, VCR, DVD, CD, ER, etc.)ER, etc.)5. Use a period after each number and letter in an 5. Use a period after each number and letter in an outline or list.outline or list.

I. HorsesI. Horses A. Fast horsesA. Fast horses 1. Thoroughbreds1. Thoroughbreds

2. Arabians 2. Arabians

Periods and Other End MarksPeriods and Other End Marks

Exclamation PointExclamation Point1.1. Use at the end of an exclamatory sentence.Use at the end of an exclamatory sentence.

Ex. Blondee ate my homework!Ex. Blondee ate my homework!2. Use after an interjection or after any other 2. Use after an interjection or after any other

exclamatory expression.exclamatory expression.Ex. Wow! That’s a big hunk of cheese!Ex. Wow! That’s a big hunk of cheese!

Question MarkQuestion MarkUse at the end of an interrogative sentence.Use at the end of an interrogative sentence.He asked me, “Will you please go to the store He asked me, “Will you please go to the store and buy milk?”and buy milk?”

Commas in SentencesCommas in Sentences

There are eight ways to use a comma in a There are eight ways to use a comma in a sentence.sentence.

1.1. Commas are used to combine two complete Commas are used to combine two complete sentences to create a sentences to create a compound sentencecompound sentence. The . The comma comes before the conjunction.comma comes before the conjunction.

Ex. The class was noisy, and they had to stay in for Ex. The class was noisy, and they had to stay in for recess.recess.

2. Commas come after every 2. Commas come after every item in a seriesitem in a series except except the last one.the last one.

Ex. Go to the store and buy a stick of butter, a Ex. Go to the store and buy a stick of butter, a gallon of milk, and a loaf of bread for dinner.gallon of milk, and a loaf of bread for dinner.

Commas in SentencesCommas in Sentences

3. Use a comma between two adjectives of 3. Use a comma between two adjectives of equal importance.equal importance.

Ex. The tall, beautiful woman is a star.Ex. The tall, beautiful woman is a star.4. Use a comma after an introductory 4. Use a comma after an introductory

word or phrase.word or phrase.Ex. Quietly, pack your bags to go home.Ex. Quietly, pack your bags to go home.5. Use commas to set off words or phrases 5. Use commas to set off words or phrases that interrupt, or break the flow of thought in that interrupt, or break the flow of thought in a sentence.a sentence.Ex. Tommy, finally, raised his hand to Ex. Tommy, finally, raised his hand to

speak.speak.

Commas in SentencesCommas in Sentences6. Use a comma to set off a noun of 6. Use a comma to set off a noun of

direct address.direct address.Ex. Stop talking, Courtney, before you Ex. Stop talking, Courtney, before you

earn a earn a detention.detention.7. Use a comma to set off an appositive 7. Use a comma to set off an appositive

phrase when it is not needed in a sentence. phrase when it is not needed in a sentence. ((An An

appositive phrase defines or names a noun or pronoun right before itappositive phrase defines or names a noun or pronoun right before it))Ex. The principal, Mrs. Dutton, just walked Ex. The principal, Mrs. Dutton, just walked

into the room.into the room.8. Use a comma whenever the reader may 8. Use a comma whenever the reader may otherwise be confused.otherwise be confused.Ex. The art of writing, my life’s work, is so Ex. The art of writing, my life’s work, is so

much fun!much fun!

Commas in Dates, Addresses, Commas in Dates, Addresses, and Lettersand Letters

Commas in Dates – Use a comma between the Commas in Dates – Use a comma between the day and year unless in a sentence then add a day and year unless in a sentence then add a comma after the year to continue the sentence.comma after the year to continue the sentence.Commas in Addresses – Use a comma between Commas in Addresses – Use a comma between the city and state on an envelope. If written in a the city and state on an envelope. If written in a sentence, put a comma after the street address, sentence, put a comma after the street address, between the city and state, the zip code and between the city and state, the zip code and country, and after the country (if included) in country, and after the country (if included) in order to continue the sentence.order to continue the sentence.Commas in Letters- Use a comma after the Commas in Letters- Use a comma after the greeting of casual letters and closing of casual greeting of casual letters and closing of casual and business letters.and business letters.

Punctuating QuotationsPunctuating QuotationsDirect QuotesDirect Quotes– Use quotes to mark the beginning and end of a direct Use quotes to mark the beginning and end of a direct

quote.quote.Ex. “I will not tolerate talking during a test,” explained the Ex. “I will not tolerate talking during a test,” explained the teacher. teacher.

– Use commas to set off explanatory words with direct Use commas to set off explanatory words with direct quotes.quotes.

Ex. “I will notEx. “I will not,,” explained the teacher” explained the teacher, , “tolerate talking during “tolerate talking during a test.” a test.”

– If a quote is a question or exclamation, place the If a quote is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point inside the closing question mark or exclamation point inside the closing quotation marks.quotation marks.

Ex. “I will not tolerate talking during a test!” shouted the Ex. “I will not tolerate talking during a test!” shouted the teacher. teacher.

– If quoted words are part of a question or exclamation, If quoted words are part of a question or exclamation, but not the actual question or exclamation, place the but not the actual question or exclamation, place the end mark outside the closing quotation marks.end mark outside the closing quotation marks.

Ex. Did the teacher say, “I will not tolerate talking during a Ex. Did the teacher say, “I will not tolerate talking during a test”?test”?

Punctuating QuotationsPunctuating Quotations

Indirect QuotationsIndirect Quotations– Do not use quotation marks to set off indirect quotes.Do not use quotation marks to set off indirect quotes.

Indirect = Did he ask you to the prom?Indirect = Did he ask you to the prom?Direct = Did he ask, “Will you go to the prom with me?”Direct = Did he ask, “Will you go to the prom with me?”

Divided QuotationsDivided Quotations– Use quotations to enclose all parts of a divided Use quotations to enclose all parts of a divided

quotation.quotation.– Do not capitalize the first word of the second part of a Do not capitalize the first word of the second part of a

divided quote unless it begins a new sentence.divided quote unless it begins a new sentence.– Use commas to set off explanatory words.Use commas to set off explanatory words.

““Wow,” exclaimed Coleton, “that is a big hunk of cheese!”Wow,” exclaimed Coleton, “that is a big hunk of cheese!”

SemicolonSemicolon

Use a semicolon to connect two sentences that Use a semicolon to connect two sentences that are closely related. (The semicolon replaces a are closely related. (The semicolon replaces a comma and conjunction to create a compound comma and conjunction to create a compound sentence.)sentence.)– Ex. Making Power Points is time-consuming; I hope Ex. Making Power Points is time-consuming; I hope

you appreciate all of my hard work.you appreciate all of my hard work.

Use a semicolon when there are commas within Use a semicolon when there are commas within parts of a series.parts of a series.– Ex. The solar system consists of nine planets, like Ex. The solar system consists of nine planets, like

Earth, Mars, and Jupiter; many comets, like Haley’s Earth, Mars, and Jupiter; many comets, like Haley’s Comet; and countless stars.Comet; and countless stars.

ColonColonUse a colon to introduce a list of items.Use a colon to introduce a list of items.– Ex. The St. Martha uniform is lovely: plaid Ex. The St. Martha uniform is lovely: plaid

skirts, blue pants, white shirts, green shirts, skirts, blue pants, white shirts, green shirts, and green sweat suits.and green sweat suits.

Use a colon in the formal greeting of a Use a colon in the formal greeting of a business letter.business letter.– Ex. To Whom It May Concern:Ex. To Whom It May Concern:– Ex. Dear Mrs. Dutton:Ex. Dear Mrs. Dutton:

Use a colon in between the hours and Use a colon in between the hours and minutes in expressions of time.minutes in expressions of time.– Ex. 8:45 A.M. 12:09 P.M.Ex. 8:45 A.M. 12:09 P.M.

HyphenHyphen1. Use a hyphen at a line break1. Use a hyphen at a line break– You must separate a word between syllablesYou must separate a word between syllables– The word must be at least two syllables.The word must be at least two syllables.– You must have at least two letters on each You must have at least two letters on each

line. Ex. dum-founded or dumfound-edline. Ex. dum-founded or dumfound-ed

2. Use a hyphen in certain compound words 2. Use a hyphen in certain compound words

Ex. mother-in-law self-confident jack-o-lanternEx. mother-in-law self-confident jack-o-lantern

3. Use hyphens to spell-out numbers twenty-one 3. Use hyphens to spell-out numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine. Ex. fifty-three seventy-twothrough ninety-nine. Ex. fifty-three seventy-two

4. Use hyphen to spell-out fractions 4. Use hyphen to spell-out fractions

Ex.Ex. one-fifth three-eighths one-fifth three-eighths

DashesDashes

Use a dash to show an abrupt break in Use a dash to show an abrupt break in thought.thought.

Use the “Oh, by the way!” testUse the “Oh, by the way!” test

Ex. Muhammad Ali – whose birth name was Ex. Muhammad Ali – whose birth name was Cassius Clay – is a world famous boxer.Cassius Clay – is a world famous boxer.

ParenthesesParentheses

Use parentheses to set off ideas loosely Use parentheses to set off ideas loosely related to the sentence.related to the sentence.

Ex. Jesus was born in a stable (the exact Ex. Jesus was born in a stable (the exact date is unknown).date is unknown).

* Warning using too many parentheses will * Warning using too many parentheses will weaken your writing.weaken your writing.

ApostrophesApostrophesUse an apostrophe to form the possessive of Use an apostrophe to form the possessive of nouns.nouns.– Ex. Bob’s house is big.Ex. Bob’s house is big.– Ex. The car’s exhaust needs to be replaced.Ex. The car’s exhaust needs to be replaced.

Use apostrophes to form contractions.Use apostrophes to form contractions.– Ex. It’s = it is you’re = you are wasn’t = was notEx. It’s = it is you’re = you are wasn’t = was not

Use apostrophes to form the plurals of a letter, Use apostrophes to form the plurals of a letter, number, or a word referred to as a word.number, or a word referred to as a word.– Ex. I received six A’s on my report card.Ex. I received six A’s on my report card.– Ex. I earned seven 5’s on my Traits of Writing.Ex. I earned seven 5’s on my Traits of Writing.– Ex. You have five got’s in your paper.Ex. You have five got’s in your paper.

Punctuating TitlesPunctuating TitlesQuotation MarksQuotation Marks– Book ChapterBook Chapter– StoryStory– EssayEssay– ArticleArticle– TV EpisodeTV Episode– SongSong– PoemPoem

Italics or UnderliningItalics or Underlining– BookBook– PlayPlay– MagazineMagazine– MovieMovie– TV SeriesTV Series– Long Musical WorkLong Musical Work– Epic PoemEpic Poem– PaintingPainting– ShipShip– TrainTrain– SpacecraftSpacecraft– AirplaneAirplane