PUNCTUATION MARKS

PUNCTUATION MARKS

1. COMMA

   • Is a punctuation mark that separates words, ideas, or phrases within a sentence. It also used to indi6a pause, in a sentence.
     • Rules
       • Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more things
         • Item = Noun, verb, adjective or oxford comma
           • I bought juice, milk, and water.
       • Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined by the following conjunctions:FANBOYS
         • For, and, not, but, or, yet, so
           • would like to go out with them, but I need to stay at home this weekend.
       • Use a comma to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause
         • Incomplete thought and complete thought
           • When I become a teacher, I Will be better than now.
       • Use a comma to separate any word or phrase from the rest of the sentence that is not essential to the sentence's meaning
         • Red wine, my favorite drink, is good for heart health.
       • Use a comma to separate a quotation from the rest of a sentence
         • "I'm so happy, " she said.
       • Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of a sentence
         • Hey, hi, excuse me, hello, good morning, etc.
           • Hey, what's going on?
       • Use a comma to separate the name of a city from a country or state
         • I live in Santa Ana, El Salvador for nearly a decade.
       • Use a comma to separate the day of the week, day of the month, and the year
         • The graduation ceremony will be March 14, 2021.

2. PERIOD

   • It's primary grammatical use, is to clarify the readers where one sentence ends and another begins.
     • Rules
       • Use a full stop to end and declarative sentence or statement
         • Can you find my umbrella?
       • Use periods at the end of sentences that are intended to instruct or command.
         • Write again soon.
       • An indirect question ends with a period, not a question mark.
         • She asked me why I did not go to school yesterday.
       • Period after abbreviations.
         • U.S.A

3. COLON

   • Colon is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots placed one above the other on the same vertical line. A colon often precedes an explanation, a list, or to introduce a quoted sentence.
     • Rules
       • use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon
         • You have to bring some things: sleeping bags, pillows, and warm clothes.
       • Avoid using a colon before a list if it directly follows a verb or preposition that would ordinarily need no punctuation in that sentence
         • Not recommended: I want: butter, sugar, and flour.
       • A colon instead of a semi colon may be used between independent clauses when the second sentence explains, illustrates, paraphrases the first sentence
         • The research is conclusive: climate change is reality.
       • hen listing items one by one, one per line, following a colon, capitalization and ending punctuation are optional
         • These are the pool rules: 1. Do not run. 2. If you see unsafe behavior, report it to the lifeguard. 3. Have fun!
       • Capitalize the first word of a complete or full-sentence quotation that follows a colon
         • The host made an announcement: “You are all staying for dinner.”
       • Capitalize the first word after a colon if the information following the colon requires two or more complete sentences.
         • Dad gave us these rules to live by: Work hard. Be honest. Always show up on time.
       • If a quotations contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma
         • Dad often said to me: “Work hard. Be honest. Always show up on time”.
       • Use a colon rather than a comma to follow the salutation in a business letter, even when addressing someone by his or her first name.
         • Formal: Dear Ms. Rodriguez: Informal: Dear Dave,

4. PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS

   • Parentheses are a punctuation mark used to contain text that is not part of the main sentence, but that is too important to either leave out entirely or to put in a footnote or an endnote.
     • FUNCTIONS
       • To include extra information
         • He finally answer (after taking 5 minutes to think) that he did not know about the topic.
       • To cite authors
         • “The proportional carbon content of this component, 20%, is very similar to that found in pine trees (Winston et al. 2010),”
       • To introduce abbreviations
         • “Interest rates at First Regional Bank (FRB) have risen steadily over the past 20 years".
       • To translate words or short phrases
         • “Germans wish each other a ‘Guten Rutsch’ (happy new year).”
       • To give examples
         • “While my doctor was glad to hear that I regularly engage in plenty of strength-building physical activities (e.g., yoga, Pilates, and rock climbing), she was concerned that I don’t do anything very aerobic.”
       • To define or restate a word
         • “Sports gamblers can spend hours debating the spread (i.e., the number of points between the winner and the loser) of a big upcoming game.
       • To introduce terms
         • Patients were asked to give examples of bad experiences (trauma) they had experienced as children.
   • Brackets are tall punctuation marks that are used in pairs to separate texts within a sentence while parentheses are types of brackets.
     • “We went [to the new dinosaur exhibit] and had a great time.”

5. APOSTROPHE

   • An apostrophe is the mark ' when it is written to indicate that one or more letters have been left out of a word, as in 'isn't' and 'we'll'.
     • FUNCTIONS
       • It marks possession.
         • Maria and Rocio’s brother is older than me.
           • My mother in law’s house is too far.
       • It is used in contractions to indicate the place where the letters have been omitted.
         • don’t (“do not”)
           • o’clock (“of the clock”)
             • let’s (“let us”)

6. QUESTION MARK AND EXCLAMATION MARK

   • A question mark is a punctuation mark that is used following a question in a sentence.
     • Rules
       • Use a question mark only after a direct question.
         • Will you go with me?
       • A question mark replace a period at the end of a sentence.
         • Will you go to the party?
       • Avoid the common trap of using question marks with indirect questions.
         • I wonder if he would go with me.
       • Some sentences are statements—or demands—in the form of a question. They are called rhetorical questions because they don't require or expect an answer. Many should be written without question marks.
         • Why don't you take a break.
       • Use a question mark when a sentence is half statement and half question.
         • Snow is not green, is it?
       • The placement of question marks with quotation marks follows logic. If a question is within the quoted material, a question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.
         • Alberta asked, "Will you still be my friend"?
   • The exclamation mark (!), which is also known as the exclamation point, looks like a period with a vertical bar above it.
     • Rules
       • The exclamation point should be mainly used to demonstrate shock, surprise, anger or a raised voice.
         • Oh my God! What a fantastic birthday gift!
       • The exclamation mark is used at the end of a strong command.
         • Shut Up!
       • The exclamation mark is used at the end of an interjection.
         • Ouch! That hurts!

7. SEMI-COLON

   • A semicolon is a punctuation mark that shows you there's a pause in a sentence; semicolons separate two complete clauses.
     • Rules
       • Semicolons Connect Related Independent Clauses
         • Money is the root of all evil; I don’t believe the reverse is necessarily true.
       • Delete the Conjunction When You Use a Semicolon
         • I saw a magnificent mouse; it was eating some cheese.
       • Use Semicolons in a Serial List
         • he conference has people who have come from Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, California; Alamo, Tennessee; and other places as well.
       • Use semicolons with Conjuctive Adverbs
         • I needed to go for a walk and get some fresh air; also, I needed to buy milk.

8. QUOTATIONS MARKS

   • The main function of quotation marks is to highlight and represent the exact language (spoken or written) that comes from another person.
     • Rules
       • The first rule to use appointments is that once opened, they must be closed.
         • John said, "I really hate when it's hot outside."
       • After opening quotation marks to cite words or sentences said by a person, it should be started with a capital letter only and when the sentence is complete.
         • Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes.”
       • Do not start with capital letters after opening quotation marks when only quoting a phrase or part of a sentence.
         • He (Nacarando) called them (young boys) "loud, smelly and absolutely annoying" and closed the door.
       • If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the quotation.
         • "I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had."
       • When we want to take an appointment where it is already has quotes, we should only use single quotes.
         • "‘ The Dementor’s Kiss ’is my favorite chapter in the whole series," Tom said.