PUNCTUATION MARKS

PUNCTUATION MARKS

1. Comma

   • This joins or separates elements in a sentences.
     • The pet store has cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and turtles. (Listing things).
     • I really wanted cereal this morning, but I didn’t have any milk. (Connecting clauses)
     • Well, if you really want pancakes, I guess I can make them. (Creating pauses)

2. Semicolon

   • This joins two main clauses or separates items in a list.
     • Martha has gone to the library; Andrew has gone to play soccer. (Connect related independent clauses)
     • I saw a magnificent albatross; it was eating a mouse. (With conjunction)
     • I need the weather statistics for the following cities: London, England; London, Ontario; Paris, France; Paris, Ontario; Perth, Scotland; Perth, Ontario. (Dividing items)

3. Period

   • This marks the end of a sentence.
     • Gloria wants to be a nurse after she finishes high school. (Making statements)
     • The coach asked Jared why he was late for practice. (At the end of a indirect question)
     • Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to get a seat for the concert in Washington, D.C. (With abbreviations)

4. Colon

   • This introduces text in a sentence.
     • You have to bring some things: sleeping bags, pillows, and warm clothes. (Making items)
     • He got what he worked for: he really earned that promotion. (Between independent clauses)
     • Dad often said to me: “Work hard. Be honest. Always show up on time”. (With quotations)

5. Parentheses

   • This surround additional information that is not part of the main sentece.
     • He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question. (Enclose information)
     • Joe (accompanied by his trusty mutt) was always welcome. (Are not part of the subject)
     • Please read the analysis (you'll be amazed). (With an entire sentence)

6. Apostrophe

   • This marks the possessive or omitted text.
     • The school’s gym was filled with people for the basketball game. (With singular possessive)
     • All of the different tests’ questions were difficult. (With plural possessive)
     • I can’t go to the mall tonight because I doesn’t do my homework. (With contraction)

7. Question mark

   • This marks the end of a direct question.
     • She passed her motorbike test? (To show inflection)
     • I'll see you at 6 o'clock, okay? (With inflected words)
     • You didn't win the lottery, did you? (Questions tags)

8. Brackets

   • This also surround additional information. Brackets is used to refer to all types of brackets which include the square, angle, curly and parentheses.
     • "Four score and seven [today we'd say eighty-seven] years ago..." (Being interruption)
     • "Bill shook hands with [his son] Jackson." (Being interruption)
     • "Books used [in classes] show methods of finding information but not in preparation of the review." (Being interruption)

9. Dash

   • This signals extra information in a sentence.
     • You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me. (Emphasis)
     • Joe—and his trusty mutt—was always welcome. (Are not part of the subject)
     • The Ames Sentinel—dated May 1, 2020—arrived in June. (Replace mandatory punctuation)

10. Exclamation

    • This marks the end of a exclamation.
      • “Oh! You already bought a new car!”. (Surprise)
      • “No! We don’t want to go to the party!”. (Emphasizing a point)
      • “That news story made me so angry!”. (With another strong emotion)