PUNCTUATION UNIT 31

PUNCTUATION
SEMICOLON (;)
SEMICOLON (;)
1. Join two complete thoughts that
are not already connected by a
joining word.
E.g. The chemistry lab blew up;
professor Thomas was fired.
SEMICOLON (;)
2. Join two complete thoughts
that include a transitional word.
E.g. Sally finished typing the
paper; however, she forgot to
bring it to the class.
SEMICOLON (;)
3. Separate items in a series when
the items contain commas.
E.g. This fall I wont have to work
on Independence Day, August 17;
Veterans Day, November 11; or
Christmas Day, December 25.
PERIOD/ FULL STOP (.)
PERIOD/ FULL STOP
(.)

1. Place it at the end of every

sentence or statement.
E.g. It is Tuesday.
PERIOD/ FULL STOP
(.)

2. Place it at the end of every

imperative sentence (commands).
E.g. Close the door, please.
PERIOD/ FULL STOP
(.)

3. Place it after every abbreviation

of personal titles and some
abbreviations.
E.g. Mr. a.m.
PERIOD/ FULL STOP
(.)

4. Place it after initials in names.

E.g. J. K. Rowling
PERIOD/ FULL STOP
(.)

5. Place it as a decimal point in

numbers.
E.g. 3.500,00
PUNCTUATION UNIT 32
At the appropriate spot (or spots), insert the
punctuation mark shown in the margin.
1. The cooking at this restaurant, said the
dissatisfied customer, lacks just one thing good
taste.
- 2. Petes over the shoulder catch brought the
crowd to its feet.
3. Annabelle gave Harold back his engagement
ring without the diamond.
4. Some teenage boys there they go around the
corner just stole that mans wallet.
- ? 8. Are you waiting for the day when someone
invents low calorie junk food.
 Survey Project: Top Twenty
This is an out-of-class activity. Take a survey among
your classmates. First, brainstorm a list of books and
short stories with the class. Be sure that you correctly
use quotation marks in your list. Then, ask each class
member to choose the best book or story from the
list. Arrange the results of your survey in order from
the most popular book or story to the least popular.
Then, post your list where everyone can see your
classs top twenty books and stories.
 DASH ( )

1. Use a dash to indicate a sudden

interruption in thought.

Example:
He confessed to the crime but why?
 DASH ( )

2. Use a dash to set off abrupt

parenthetical elements (particularly
ones containing commas).

Example:
He took the letter angrily or was he
really happy? when the letter carrier
arrived.
 DASH ( )

3. Use a dash to set off an appositive or a

brief summary.

Example:
There is one poem I love more than any
other The Wasteland.
 DASH ( )

4. To indicate a sudden break in thought

or sentence structure.

Example:
How many times have I said that before
but whats the use!
 DASH ( )

5. To set off words for dramatic effect.

Example:
I suggest no, I insist that you stay
for dinner.
HYPHEN (-)
 HYPHEN (-)

1. Hyphenate a compound of two or

more words when it is used as a
modifier before a noun.

Example:
He is a well-liked politician.
 HYPHEN (-)

Do not use the hyphen when the first

word of the group is an adverb ending
in ly.

Example:
a half-eaten apple but a partly eaten
apple
 HYPHEN (-)

Certain words are permanent

compounds. They always use a hyphen.
Consult your dictionary to determine
which words are permanent
compounds.

Example:
She is old-fashioned
 HYPHEN (-)

2. Hyphenate spelled-out compound

numbers from twenty-one through
ninety-nine.
Examples:
sixty-four eighty-three
 HYPHEN (-)

3. Hyphenate words of more than one

syllable when they occur at the end of a
type-written line, when necessary.

Example:
Correct :
satis-faction water-melon

Incorrect:
bou-ght prett-y
 HYPHEN (-)

4. Some compound words are written

with hyphen.

Example:
He is a vice-consul.
 HYPHEN (-)

5. When two or more words form a single

adjective before a noun.

Example:
The well-kept campus attracted our
attention.
 HYPHEN (-)

6. To divide syllable

Examples:
di-vide hy-phen
QUESTION MARK (?)
 QUESTION MARK (?)

1. After a direct question.

Examples:
When is your paper due?
Tom asked, When are you leaving?
 QUESTION MARK (?)

2. Do not use a question mark after an

indirect question (a question not in the
speakers exact word).

Example:
She asked when the paper was due.
 QUESTION MARK (?)

3. Use a question mark after a question

tag.

Example:
You arent sick, are you?
EXCLAMATION MARK (!)
 EXCLAMATION MARK (!)

1. show strong feeling. They are almost

never used in formal academic and
business writing.
 EXCLAMATION MARK (!)

2. in certain kinds of writing, such as

stories. However, dont use exclamation
mark too often, for they lose their
effectiveness.
 EXCLAMATION MARK (!)

3. after a word or sentence that expresses

strong feeling.
(Note: Be careful not to overuse
exclamation points).
Come here!
QUOTATION MARK ()
 QUOTATION MARK ()

1. Quotation Marks with Direct

Quotations
Use quotation marks, other
punctuation marks, and capital
letters correctly to set off direct
quotations.
Example:
Janine said,I like movies with
surprise endings.
 QUOTATION MARK ()

2. Quotation Marks in Dialogue

When you write dialogue
(conversation), begin a new
paragraph every time the speaker
changes.

Example: How many laps did you

swim in the pool this morning?
Tony asked his older sister, Millicent.
 QUOTATION MARK ()

3. Use single quotation marks to enclose

a quotation within a quotation.

Example:
Im sure Jason said,Meet me at the
theater,said Elena.
 QUOTATION MARK ()

4. Quotation Marks with Titles

Use quotation marks to enclose the titles of short
works such as short stories, poems, newspaper
or magazine articles, songs, episodes of television
series, and chapters and other parts of books.

SHORT STORIES Petronella

SONGS God Bless America
POEMS The Sneetches
EPISODES OF TV SERIES Moon Landings
ARTICLES Improve Your Soccer Game
PARTS OF BOOKS Spelling
 Titles that appear in quotation marks
are set in single quotation marks when
they appear
within a quotation.
Example:
Jerry said,I enjoyed reading the short
story The Tell-Tale Heart.
 QUOTATION MARK ()

5. Quotation Marks
Use quotation marks to enclose direct
quotations as well as the titles of short works
such as
short stories and poems.

Example: Gary exclaimed,I hope thats

not my sandwich youre eating!