Punctuation rules can confuse the best of us.
When do we use semicolons? What are the rules for commas? When do we use
apostrophes and quotation marks? Use this guide to help you!
Comma Rules
Commas show your reader that there is a pause in
the sentence they are reading. It seems as if commas have more punctuation
rules than any other form of punctuation. I've narrowed it down to eight rules
for you.
1. After Introductory Words and Clauses
- Quietly,
she ran past the sleeping man.
- Wow,
my sister came home from college.
- If
I see your sister, I'll call you.
2. Lists
When you list three or more things, use commas between the words.
- I
would like grapes, apples, and cookies.
- Are
we having fish, chicken, or beef for dinner?
3. Between Multiple Modifiers (Adjectives & Adverbs)
- My
new car ran quietly, quickly, and smoothly.
- I
love this warm, fuzzy, pink sweater!
- It
was a bright, sunny day.
Commas with Paired Adjectives: http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000072.htm
4. Numbers
When a number is over 999, use commas to separate the numbers.
4. Numbers
When a number is over 999, use commas to separate the numbers.
- I
paid $3,500 for my new boat.
- The
house is $600,000.
5. With Dates and Addresses
- November
1, 2015
- I
live in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
- Send
the package to 5154 Smith Street, Los Angeles, California 92674.
6. Quotations
When you are quoting someone's exact speech, you must use quotation marks and a comma.
- My
sister exclaimed, "You came home!"
- "I
missed you," I said.
7. Joining Independent Clauses
When you join two independent clauses, use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/what-is-a-conjunction.html When you have two independent clauses joined only by a comma, it's called a comma splice. You should avoid comma splices. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/comma-splice.html
- I
love cats, but I also love dogs.
- Can
you come, or should I go?
- My
sister had a ballet performance, and my brother had an orchestra concert.
8. Setting Off Nonrestrictive (Nonessential)
Elements
Nonrestrictive elements add information to the sentence, but they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. We could remove them from the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense. You can read more about this on the appositives page. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/appositive.html
Nonrestrictive elements add information to the sentence, but they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. We could remove them from the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense. You can read more about this on the appositives page. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/appositive.html
- My
sister, a French teacher, lived in France for two years.
- Mike
and Bri graduated from UWEC, my alma mater.
Periods
1. Ending Sentences
Use these to end declarative sentences and imperative sentences.
http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/declarative-sentence.html
Use these to end declarative sentences and imperative sentences.
http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/declarative-sentence.html
- The
sun is shining today.
- Open
the door.
2. Abbreviations (shortened forms of words).
- I
spoke with Sgt. Johnson about the troops.
Question Marks
The punctuation rules for question marks are very
simple. In fact, there is really only one rule!
1. Ending Sentences
These end interrogative sentences. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/interrogative-sentence.html This kind of sentence asks a question. Any time you ask a question, end the sentence with a question mark.
1. Ending Sentences
These end interrogative sentences. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/interrogative-sentence.html This kind of sentence asks a question. Any time you ask a question, end the sentence with a question mark.
- Should
I use a question mark on this sentence? (Yes!)
1. Ending Sentences
Use these at the end of exclamatory sentences (sentences that show emotion). http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/exclamatory-sentence.html
Use these at the end of exclamatory sentences (sentences that show emotion). http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/exclamatory-sentence.html
- We
won the game!
2. Interjections
You can use either an exclamation mark or a comma after an interjection. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/what-is-an-interjection.html
You can use either an exclamation mark or a comma after an interjection. http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/what-is-an-interjection.html
- Yes!
We won the game!
Semicolons
Use these to separate two complete sentences that
are closely related.
- I
went to the play; my cousin was the main actor.
1. Introducing Lists
- There
are three ways that I love to relax: reading magazines, practicing yoga,
and taking baths.
2. Introducing Single Items
You can use a colon to introduce a single thing when you want to emphasize it.
You can use a colon to introduce a single thing when you want to emphasize it.
- After
shopping for eight hours, I finally found them: the perfect pair of jeans.
3. Between Two Complete Sentences
This is only a legit move if the second sentence states a logical consequence of whatever is stated in the first sentence.
This is only a legit move if the second sentence states a logical consequence of whatever is stated in the first sentence.
- Jim
ate brownies constantly: He gained seven pounds.
The punctuation rules for apostrophes are some of
the most commonly misused punctuation rules ever. The rules are pretty simple.
There are only three times when you should use apostrophes.
1. To Show Possession
When you want to make something possessive (to show ownership), use an apostrophe.
When you want to make something possessive (to show ownership), use an apostrophe.
- This
is Mark's cat. (The cat belongs to Mark.)
- That
is the television's remote control. (The
remote control belongs to the television.)
- Don't
ever go into the teachers' lounge. (The
lounge belongs to the teachers.)
* Tip: Don't use apostrophes in pronouns that already show possession. (whose, his, hers…)
2. To Show Omission
Contractions use apostrophes to stand in the place of missing letters.
Contractions use apostrophes to stand in the place of missing letters.
- I can't stand
the smell of bananas! (can't = cannot)
- It's
already five o'clock! (o'clock = of the
clock)
- The
students shouldn't use cell phones in class. (shouldn't =
should not)
3. To Form Strange Plurals
Use apostrophes to make lowercase letters plural.
Use apostrophes to make lowercase letters plural.
- Dot
the i's and cross the t's.
Quotation Marks
If you're up for a laugh, the "Blog"
of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks has
many funny misuses of quotation marks. Here are two times you should use
quotation marks. http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/
1. Quoting Exact Speech
Whenever you quote someone's exact speech, you must use quotation marks.
1. Quoting Exact Speech
Whenever you quote someone's exact speech, you must use quotation marks.
- The
police officer said, "Where are you going?"
- "I'm
going to work," I replied.
2. Titles
Use quotation marks to show the titles of magazine articles, chapters, short stories, essays, poems, and songs.
- "Columbus" is a great
poem.
- Our
homework tonight is to read Chapter 6, "The Lovely Rose Garden."
- Sydney
sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at the football game.
Punctuation Chart below: https://www.daydreameducation.com/poster-punctuation-dd-en317r
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