Punctuation marks

Punctuation marks

1. Comma (,)

   • It is used to separate words, ideas, or phrases within a sentence.
     • Rules
       • Use it to separate items in series of three or more.
         • I like to eat cake, candies, pie, chocolate and cookies.
       • Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined by FANBOYS.
         • I would like to study for the test, but I just got a headache.
       • Separates a dependent clause from an independent one.
         • Because you didn't stay, mom asked for you.
       • Separates any word or phrase frome the rest of the sentence that is not essential.
         • My friend, William, is a nice guy.
       • Use it to separate a quotation from the rest of the sentence.
         • "I won't let you go," Mabel said.
       • Separates an introductory element from the rest of the sentence.
         • Hi, I'm the new guy, nice to meet you.
       • It is used to separate the name of a city from a country or state.
         • He is from Tokyo, Japan.
       • Use it to separate the day of the week, day of the month, and the year.
         • Today is Sunday, August the 22nd, 2021.
   • It indicates pause.

2. Period (.)

   • It clarifies to readers where one sentence ends and the other begins.
     • Rules
       • Use it to end a declarative sentence or statement.
         • You should be aware of the danger over here.
       • Use a period at the end of a sentence that intends to instruct or command.
         • Get in the car, please.
       • Use it with indirect questions.
         • I wonder why she is crying.
       • Use period after abbreviations.
         • Mr. Jones is an excellent teacher.
       • The period is placed inside the closing quotation mark.
         • She said, "I don't need your help."
       • When the sentence ends with a parenthetical that is part of a larger sentence, the period goes outside the parentheses.
         • I can't believe you didn't remember my birthday, (even though I never told you when it was).
       • When a whole sentence is inside the parentheses, the period goes inside.
         • We went to a soccer match. (That is my favorite sport.)

3. Parentheses ()

   • Parentheses are used to contain text that is important, but not part of the main sentence.
     • Rules
       • You use them to include extra information.
         • Nick finally told Emily (with a trembling voice) that he loved her.
       • To introduce abbreviations.
         • United Nations Organization (UNO) is trying to help women in Afghanistan.
       • To cite authors
         • "Never love anybody who treats you like you're ordinary (Oscar Wilde)."
       • To give examples.
         • She told me to do more exercise (swimming, running, boxing) in order to recover my physical condition.
       • To define or restate a word
         • Japanese gangsters (yakuzas) are feared all over the world.
       • To introduce terms
         • Anne told me she suffered an eating desorder (bulimia), when she was younger.

4. Colon (:)

   • It precedes an explanation, a list, or introduces a quoted sentence.
     • Rules
       • Use it to introduce an item or a series. Do not capitalize the first item.
         • She surely does something: annoy.
       • Do not use it before a list if it follows a verb or preposiotion.
         • I want: cake and soda. (Wrong).
         • I want the following: cake and soda. (Correct).
       • Use it to join independent clauses when the second one explains, illustrates or paraphrases the first one.
         • Sebas got what he wanted: that new book he bought is ineteresting.
       • Capitalize the first word of a complete sentence quotation that follows a colon.
         • Isabel yelled: " You don't know who you are dealing with."

5. Apostrophe (')

   • It indicates that one or more letters have been left out of a word. It also shows possessivenes when thay are added to nouns
     • Rules
       • To show ownership, add an apostrophe and "s" at the end of a noun.
         • The computer's keyboard is not working.
       • To show ownership with a plural noun ending in "s" just add the apostrophe.
         • My friends' dreams are very different.
       • To show ownership in a plural noun not ending in "S", add the apostrophe and the "s".
         • People's souls are mysterious.
       • Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns, because these already show possession.
         • This notebook is her's. (Wrong).
         • This notebook is hers. (Correct).

6. Dash (—)

   • It is a mark of separation.
     • Types
       • Em-dash
         • It replaces parentheses, colons, and commas.
           • Lucas always thought that seafood—lobster, carp, and char—is not delicious.
         • They can be used to join independent clauses.
           • Lidia never knew if John liked her—even though he gave her flowers!
       • En-dash
         • It is more formal than the em-dash.
         • It can only be used between times, dates, and in forms of indexing.
           • Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), was a french author.
           • I work in the office from 7:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
           • You can find the teacher in classroom A-1.

7. Exclamation mark (!)

   • It is used to express strong feelings or emotions.
     • Rules
       • It demonstrates shock, surprise, anger or a raised voice.
         • Next time, don't put yourself in danger!
       • It goes at the end of a strong command.
         • Stop! I will give you some other things for your trip.
       • It is used at the end of an interjection.
         • Wow! That truck is gigantic.
       • Do not use it with comma, colon, or semicolon.
         • Maria said: "Don't look at me!" (Wrong).
         • "Don't look at me!" Maria said. (Correct).
       • If it is part of a title, or a proper noun, the comma is retained.
         • This movie, "Watch out!", is very cool.

8. Question mark (?)

   • It is used to express doubt and it goes at the end of a question.
     • Rules
       • Use it only after a direct question.
         • Do you want me to help you?
       • It replaces a period at the end of a sentence.
         • Is she your friend?. (Wrong).
           • Is she your friend? (Correct).
       • Don't use it with an indirect question.
         • I wonder where my cat is? (Wrong).
           • I wonder where my cat is. (Correct).
       • Rhetorical questions usually don't need a question mark, because they don't expect an answer.
         • What wouldn't I tell him!
       • Use it with tag questions.
         • You are Marnie, aren't you?
       • If a question is within a quoted material, the question mark must be inside of it.
         • She asked, "Will we be friends forever?"

9. Ellipsis (...)

   • It shows omission, or that a word or words are left out of a quote.
     • Rules
       • Use it to creat a pause or suspense.
         • She did not know what to say...or do.
         • He walked...fell...and then he saw...a monster!
       • If the ellipsis is followed by a period, you won't omit it.
         • Marcos never knew who killed his wife... .
       • If it is a question, you will add the question mark.
         • Aren't you my brother...?
       • You can use it with an exclamation mark.
         • I cannot trust her...!

10. Quotation marks ("")

    • Its main function is to highlight and represent the exact same language that comes from another person.
      • Rules
        • Once opened, they must be closed.
          • Michael said, "I don't know what to do."
        • To cite words or sentences, it should be started with a capital letter only and when the sentence is complete.
          • Mr. Geller, who was walking in the park today, said, "Today, it is a beautiful day to walk."
        • Do not start with capital letters after opening quotation marks when only quoting a phrase or part of a sentence.
          • She called me "a dumb little liar" and went away.
        • If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the secon part of the quotation.
          • "I don't know what to do in this situation," my friend said, "but I will try to do my best."
        • When we want to take an appointment where it already has quotes, we should only use single quotes.
          • "'Brave new world' is the best book I read this year," said Mary.

11. Slash (/)

    • It has several uses, most of which should be avoided in formal writing.
      • Rules
        • It can mean "per."
          • I earn $800/week salary.
        • It also means "and."
          • I like cake/candies.
        • "Or" is another way to interpret it.
          • I did not know you had a cousin. What is his/her name?
        • You use it with abbreviations.
          • I want to c/o (care of) of my baby.

12. Brackets

    • Types
      • Square brackets [ ]
        • They can be used to indicate a word in the original language of a translated work.
          • I would never eat an alive octopus with sesame sauce [sannakji].
        • You only use them when it is absolutely necessary to help the reader understand the text.
      • Angle brackets ⟨ ⟩
        • They are now obsolete in writing. They only appear in URLs.
      • Curly brackets { }
        • They are mostly used in math, music an computer language.
    • They are punctuation marks that are used to separate texts within a sentence.
      • Brackets enclose parenthetical material within the parentheses.

13. Semicolon (;)

    • A semicolon is a punctuation mark that shows you there's a pause in a sentence; semicolons separate two complete clauses.
      • Rules
        • They connect related independent clauses.
          • I bought a new book today; I can't wait to meet this new world.
        • Delete conjunctions when using semicolon.
          • I ate a burger; and it was so delicious. (Wrong).
          • I ate a burger; it was so delicious. (Correct).
        • Use semicolons in a serial list.
          • I have gone to Tokyo, Japan; L.A, United States; London, England; and other places.
        • Use them with conjunctive adverbs.
          • I will not go to your house today; however, I will call you later.

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