WRITING CENTER "INFORMATION PICK-UP" (S.S.C.C.)
OVERVIEW OF COMMON PUNCTUATION MARKS AND THEIR USES:
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• WHAT ARE THE PUNCTUATION MARKS?
• WHAT DO THEY DO?
• HOW ARE THEY USED?
• WHAT ARE THE PUNCTUATION MARKS?
Punctuation refers to "the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary).
The punctuation marks regularly used in English include the following:
APOSTROPHE '
BRACKETS []
COLON :
COMMA ,
DASH --
ELLIPSES ...
EXCLAMATION POINT !
HYPHEN -
PARENTHESIS ()
PERIOD .
QUESTION MARK ?
QUOTATION MARK "
SEMI-COLON ;
• WHAT DO THEY DO?
• HOW ARE THEY USED?
APOSTROPHE '
An apostrophe may serve several purposes. It may show that an abbreviation has been made. In this case, the apostrophe stands in for the missing letters or numbers.
For example:
can not can't
1996 '96
never-do-well ne'er do well
must not mustn't
the 1980s '80s
An apostrophe may also show possession
or ownership:
POSSESSIVE USING A POSSESSIVE USING AN
PREPOSITIONAL APOSTROPHE
PHRASE
the cup of Danny Danny's cup
the coat of Mary Mary's coat
the rabbit of Connor Connor's rabbit
the crayons of Isabelle Isabelle's crayon
the anger of the students the students' anger
the rule of the people the people's rules
the game of the team the team's game
the furniture of the store the store's furniture
BRACKETS []
Brackets are used to contain information [within which parentheses (which are used to mark off an "interjected explanatory or qualifying remark") are used.]
COLON :
A colon is used to indicate that something important--a list or a phrase or a sentence--follows. There are always two spaces following a colon before the other information follows.
For example:
Joellyn is taking three classes at the University of Washington: Business 210, Sociology 110, and MAT 240.
His supervisor's answer came back loud and clear: No transfer.
The Curb Waste Times newsletter quoted a letter from L. Dean about how to keep crows from bothering recyclable materials left out: "If you put the 'cans and bottles' recycling bin on top (of the stackable recycling containers) the crows will take cans out and drop them in the alley and make a mess. My collector says to put the 'mixed paper' bin on top with a rock (ton top) or with the paper in a paper bag."
COMMA ,
Commas are used for various reasons to indicate a pause. They may not be sprinkled everywhere but must follow basic rules of use.
1) Commas may be used to
separate out a dependent clause or introductory matter before the subject of a
sentence. Usually, a comma is used if
there are 3 words or more before the subject.
Before the couple attended Les Miserables, they went to a fancy dinner at Ocean City.
In spite of the fact that the actor was very ill, he still made an appearance at the Oscars.
Being a sore loser, Bruce refused to rejoin the game after he'd been "benched" for one inning.
2) Commas separate items in
a list--names, ideas, phrases, items, or other things.
The new employee was required to keep the books, manage the office staff, order office supplies, and cover the telephones during the lunch period.
The specialty shop sold "natural rock formation" croissants, tree breads, leaf pastries, wind chime cookies, and cinnamon rolls--all along the theme of environmentalism.
3) Commas are used around inserted material.
Demi Moore, one of the most famous actresses of our time, manages a family stable life with a thriving career.
The police, frantic to catch the bank robber, set up a sting operation.
The major stores are selling garden supplies at big discounts, up to 40% off.
4) Commas are used before a
quotation.
I said, "Please return my book right away!"
The vice principal said to the instructor, "I really like the way you handled that student's question."
"How can Marise dedicate her free time to the Puget Sound Blood Center like that?" asked Hiroshi.
Commas may come after a quotation as well.
"Please pass the ketchup," said Morris.
"My most challenging type of
swimming is the butterfly stroke," said the junior state champion swimmer.
5) Commas are used between
dependent and independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction (and,
or, but, for, nor, so, yet). In the
latter case when independent clauses are joined by a coordinate conjunction
with a comma before it, you have a compound sentence.
The defendant showed no emotion when he heard the jury's verdict, so the press pegged her as a cold-blooded criminal.
I will bake the cookies for the bake sale, and I'll help with the clean up afterwards!
The race car driver had driven around a similar track many times during practice, but he'd never raced it before in a competitive situation.
6. Commas come before a person's name when that person is being addressed.
"Colin, I want you to come to the front of the room," the trainer said.
Ladies and gentlemen, look at the fine display in front of you!
I've made a great improvement in health, doctor.
7. Commas separate the city and the state both in writing and in addresses.
We live in Yelm, Washington.
Send it to us via P.O. Box 33654, Seattle, Washington 98133.
8. Commas are used after the day in a date.
My friend's mother was born on January 1, 1933.
Our taxes are due by April 15, 1996!
June 14, 1996 will be the last day of this Spring Quarter 1996.
9. Commas are used after a closing in a letter.
Sincerely yours,
Wishing you the best,
Sincerely,
In health,
DASH --
A dash is used to indicate a break, pause or hesitation
For example:
She said she would hold his place in line--for a while anyway.
A dash may also be used to separate a parenthetical phrase within a sentence--in which case it is used as a pair.
For example:
The major--who was well known for his fits of rage--stormed through the barracks in his search for the prankster who'd dyed his socks.
A dash may also substitute for a colon at times, to indicate that something is to follow.
For example:
The teacher asked students to bring various ingredients for the school cake--frosting, cake mix, candles, and M&Ms.
ELLIPSES ...
Ellipses are used to mean "as follows" or "etc."
For example:
The Girl's Scout troupe got ready for camping by preparing the food, packing the clothing, stowing the tents, planning out their activities...
EXCLAMATION POINT !
An exclamation point serves as punctuation for the end of a sentence and shows excitement or surprise.
For example:
"Boo!" said the woman dressed in a witch's costume.
"The airline lost your luggage!" exclaimed Mrs. Martin to her sister.
Wow! You have won the lottery!
HYPHEN -
Hyphens are used to show that a multi-syllabic word has been divided, for example, at the end of a line which is not able to accommodate the entire word.
For example:
As part of the Independence Day celebrations, the school sym-
phony performed for the community.
Hyphens are also used to separate digits in a telephone number.
For example:
Call 1-800-555-5555 for more information.
Hyphens may connect compound words.
For example:
Jim Carrey gave an over-the-top performance in his latest film.
The demonstration turned into a free-for-all, so police had to be called in.
We will visit the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame someday!
He feels self-conscious about his weight gain.
PARENTHESIS ()
Parentheses are used in pairs () to surround interjected or side information in a sentence.
For example:
The school
auction fund-raiser (which has been organized annually since 1974) is expected
to raise $25,000 for the school projects.
PERIOD .
A period indicates the end of a sentence. It indicates a full stop. Two spaces always follow a period before a new sentence may begin.
A period may be used to indicate a shortened form.
For example:
Mr. Frank B. Crenshaw does not believe in shopping by catalog.
The former
U.S.S.R. was a formidable enemy of the U.S. for a number of years.
QUESTION MARK ?
A question mark serves to indicate the interrogative form of a sentence to show that something is being asked.
For example:
Where do you keep your perishables?
What have you done with my car?
Who were you speaking with on the telephone just now?
When will you visit your masseur?
How old are you?
QUOTATION MARK "
A quotation mark identifies direct quoted speech. It is placed around what a person has said, with the end sentence punctuation mark inside the quotation marks.
For example:
Mr. Lloyd said, "Let's bring a cheesecake to the church potluck this Sunday afternoon."
"A hurricane swept through the Midwest yesterday killing two children," said the NBC newscaster.
The auctioneer proclaimed triumphantly, "Sold!"
A quotation mark also is used to surround words or phrases which are used colloquially or in a not traditional way.
For example:
The teenager said that he felt a lot of adults merely "fronted" and did not honestly care about his well-being.
Annette "bagged" the job on her first try with an impressive interview and polite manners.
SEMI-COLON ;
A semi-colon is the only punctuation mark which can connect two independent clauses (complete sentences) into one compound sentence. In other words, a semi-colon can work as a "conjunction" of sorts. When a semi-colon is used in this way, the sentences which are connected must be parallel in construction:
S + V; S + V.
V + S; V + S.
For example:
Vince bought a house recently; he also invested in new furniture.
I cannot go to the movie tonight; I have to clean the house.
A semi-colon also separates items in a list when you have commas within the items being separated (e.g. phrases).
For example:
The school secretary ordered many office supplies: construction paper, of myriad colors, for the various student projects; reams of white and colored paper for flyers and assignments; rolls of plastic for laminating; crayons; computer disks; glue, the kind with sparkles as well as plain glue-all; and others.
(Revised 1998)