Punctuation
From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.
Punctuation is the name for marks used in writing. There are many kinds of punctuation. Each of them can do many things.
. is a period (British English : full stop).
, is a comma.
? is a question mark.
! is an exclamation mark.
' is an apostrophe.
" is a quotation mark.
: is a colon.
; is a semicolon.
... is an ellipsis.
- is a hyphen.
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[edit] Period
A period is used to end a sentence. It shows when an idea is finished.
A period looks like this : .
A period is used to show numbers that are smaller than 1. With money, a period is used to show the amount of money less than one dollar.
- For example: "Elizabeth bought a soda for $1.25" means that Elizabeth paid one dollar and twenty-five cents for a drink.
A period is used to show that a word has been made smaller. A word that is made smaller with a period is called an abbreviation.
- For example: The words "doctor, mister, or missus" can be made smaller when used with a name. "Dr. Smith" is the name of a doctor whose last name is Smith, or Mr. Smith, or Mrs. Smith.
[edit] Apostrophe
An apostrophe has two main uses.
An apostrophe looks like this : '
[edit] Ownership
An apostrophe can be used to show that something belongs to something else.
If there is only one thing, the letter "s" is used after an apostrophe to show ownership.
- For example: It was the boy's dog.
- Also: We will go in Mimi's car.
Sometimes the letter "s" is not used after an apostrophe to show ownership. A word will end with just an apostrophe if there is more than one thing and the word ends with an "s".
- For example: "The father put away the girls' clothes" means that a father has to clean for several children. "The father put away the girl's clothes" means that a father has to clean for only one child.
[edit] Contractions
An apostrophe can be used to put two small words together. Two small words that are put together with an apostrophe to make one word are called contractions.
- For example: "Can not" can be made into the word "cannot".
- Also: "It is" can be made into the word "it's".
[edit] Mistakes
There are certain words called pronouns that do not use an apostrophe to show that something belongs to something else.
- For example: The bird flapped its wings. (it's means it is; for example: It's a nice day today.)
- Also: It is his bike.
An apostrophe followed by the letter "s" is not used to show that there is more than one of something.
For example: A sign that said "The apple's are on sale" is making a mistake. The sign "The apple's are on sale" could mean that something belonged to the apple, but the apple does not own anything. The sign could also mean "The apple is are on sale", but that is a mistake as well.
[edit] Comma
A comma has many uses :
- to list
- to separate two sentences and use a conjunction
- to separate clauses/phrases
[edit] To List
For Example, this could be a grocery list.
apples, bananas, yogurt, rotisserie chicken, asparagus, and Ben and Jerry's Turtle Soup Ice-Cream.
[edit] To separate sentences and use a conjunction
For Example : The bluebird has separate toes, but the duck's feet are webbed.
You can take two choppy sentences with something in common and combine them, but you MUST use a comma and conjunction.
[edit] To separate clauses/phrases
For Example :
Hallie ate watermelon, Mimi ate pineapple and Elizabeth ate strawberries
[edit] The Oxford Comma
The Oxford Comma is, well, let me give an example : red, white, and blue
The second comma is the Oxford Comma. It is not necessary! Red, white and blue is perfectly acceptable! You may see that the Oxford Comma has been left out in the sentence in the above section. It is perfectly fine! The Oxford Comma is not necessary and it is your decision whether you agree with the Oxford Comma or not. My personal opinion is that sometimes a sentence can be improved by the Oxford Comma, and sometimes it doesn't make a difference.
[edit] Question Mark
Question marks look like this : ? Question marks are used to make an inquiry, or to ask something.
For Example: Hallie, did you remember to feed the cat?
Incorrect use: Elizabeth said "Hello" to Hallie?
Instead of a question mark, a full stop should be present.
Another example of incorrect use: How are you today.
In this example, there should be a question mark instead of a full stop. Question marks are always used in interrogative sentences. Interrogative sentences are those that ask a question.
[edit] Exclamation mark
An exclamation mark looks like this : ! An exclamation mark is used to express an emotion, or to exclaim. For Example : What a cat Mimi has! This expresses a feeling for Mimi's cat, that whoever exclaimed this thinks that Mimi's cat is an extraordinary cat.
An exclamation mark can also be used to call someone to you. Hallie, comehere!
It can also be used to emphasize a statement.
Elizabeth performed wonderfully at the gymnastics tournament!
When an exclamation mark is combined with a question mark, it results in an emphasized or very dramatic inquiry. It can also express anger.
Why did you colour all over my portrait?!
[edit] Quotation Marks
Quotation marks look like this : "..." (Not the ellipsis, but the surrounding marks).
Quotation marks are used to enclose dialogue or quotes.
For example :
Hallie said, "Mimi, please wash the dishes".
This is showing dialogue.
Now, an example showing a quote :
"To the People of Texas, and all Americans in the World..." was the opening of Colonel William Barrett Travis' call for reinforcements at the Alamo.
To conclude, quotation marks are for dialogue or quotes.
[edit] Colons
Colons look like this : well, actually, they are that! Colons are those wonderful "dot, dot" things. They have many uses. First of all, I will start with one rule of colons : whenever you use a colon, you first must enter a space between the word and the colon. Then, the colon of course. and then, TWO spaces before the next word. Now, for the uses of colons :
Colons can be used in lists. For Example :
Elizabeth's grocery list read : apples, bananas, yogurt, rotisserie chicken, asparagus, and Ben and Jerry's Turtle Soup Ice-Cream.
Colons can be used to replace a semicolon :
Colons must always have the proper spacing : they look rather elegant when done correctly.
Sometimes you may think that it is fine to begin a letter like this :
Dear Hallie : (letter)
This is not correct! You must ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS start a letter like this :
Dear Hallie, (letter)
You MUST use a comma!
[edit] Semicolon
A semicolon is half colon, half comma.
A semicolon is used to connect two related sentences, but WITHOUT a comma! For Example :
I could tell that now it was getting late; it was growing darker by the second.
So, you see, a semicolon is an easy replacement for a comma and conjunction.
[edit] Ellipsis
An ellipsis is that "dot, dot, dot" thing.
It is used to :
- indicate words missing from a quoted passage
- trail off in an intriguing manner
For Example :
"...one day all Americans will live peacefully throughout the world...they will be at peace with all other world inhabitants..." (showing words missing from a quoted passage)
For Example :
Mimi followed the buzzing noise down the street, until it came to a corner. Mimi turned... (trailing off in an intriguing manner)
[edit] Hyphen
Hyphens have many uses:
1. Many words require hyphens to change their meaning. For example, a re-formed band is quite different from a reformed one.
2. It is necessary to use a hyphen when you spell out numbers (thirty-two, forty-nine, eighty-six).
3. Wen you link a noun with a noun, such as "Merriam-Webster."
4. When a noun phrase such as "stainless steel" is applied to qualify another noun, it MUST become hyphenated, as stainless-steel kitchen.
5. Some prefixes require hyphens : un-American, anti-pollution
6. When you are spelling out a word: H-Y-P-H-E-N
7. In some cases, you may need to describe something being like a shell. To avoid writing it as "shelllike", it is correct to use "shell-like."
8. A hyphen is also used when a word is too long too fit in one row of writing, so you write: intent- ional
9. Hesitation or stammering : I reached for the w-w-w-watering can.
10. If a hyphenated phrase is coming up and you are qualifying it beforehand, you must write : He was a two- or three-year-old.
11. When a couple marries, sometimes the woman keeps her maiden name as her last name. This sometimes results in hyphenated children's last names. If the mother's last name is Patterson and the father's last name is Johnson, then why not name their kids _____ Patterson-Johnson?
[edit] Bibliography
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves By Lynne Truss. Published By Profile Books, Ltd. in 2003
