Punctuation Overview
Apostrophe
We use the apostrophe in two ways:
- To show possession; for example: This is Miguel’s car.
- To show missing letters when words are shortened: He’s got a really fast car.
Tip:
The position of the apostrophe is determined by singular or plural:
Example:
- Can you carry the girl’s bags?
- Can you carry the girls’ bags?
Capitals
We capitalize:
- Proper nouns
- The first word in a sentence
- A person’s title, when it comes before their name
- Every word in a title, except for a, an, the, and, etc.
- The first word in a quoted sentence: Johan said, “Make sure you see the show.”
Colon
Correct use of the colon can enrich your writing. Its function is to introduce something that follows:
For example
A list
We need some groceries: sugar, milk and bread.
A quotation
The professor stated: “This course is the best.”
A question
The question is: Do you think it will rain?
A conclusion
The conclusion was: “It’s all over.”
An example
There is one word you cannot overuse: please.
We also use a colon:
- For formal salutations: Prime Minister: Dear Mrs Smith: Honourable Members:
- To separate the hour and minute/s in a time notation; for example - 10:30 p.m.
- To separate the chapter and verse in a Biblical reference; for example - Matthew 1:6
Comma
Mastering the comma will improve your writing. Use it to:
- Itemize; for example: Make sure you order some pens, binders, rulers and paper.
- Separate persons and names: Nazia, what did you say?
- Add an additional thought; for example: His advice was, generally speaking, encouraging.
- Emphasize; for example: I was scared, really scared.
- Balance comparisons; for example: The more I looked, the more I saw.
Dash and hyphen
A dash is used in the construction of sentences. A hyphen is used in the construction of words. The dash can be used to:
Link
The colours of the flag are very vibrant – orange, black and green.
Pause
She apologized with a smile – as usual.
Interrupt
“I have to tell you – and I apologize in advance – that she will not see you.”
Extend a sentence
He walked in the room, looked around – and quietly left.
Separate a list
She threw the lot at me – plates, cups, sausages – and stormed out.
Exclamation mark
Wise use of the exclamation mark can improve your writing. Overuse can kill it! We use it to:
- Command; for example: “Get out!”
- Convey irony or emphasize insults; for example: “That’ll be right!” or “You idiot!”
- Convey great surprise, anger or disgust; for example: “I won!” or “It’s filthy!”
Quotation marks
Double or single? The choice is yours, but having made your choice, stick with it: be consistent.
- Quotation marks indicate direct speech: they show the exact words someone has spoken.
- Example: The professor said, “If your paper is late, it will be ungraded.”
- Do not use quotation marks if you are paraphrasing what someone has said.
- Example: The professor said that if our papers are late, they will not get a grade.
- Capitalize the first letter of the word that begins a quotation.
Semicolon
Some of the main uses of the semicolon include to:
- Join independent clauses that are closely related; for example: “I am not going to help him; he never offers to help me.”
- Separate word groups that already contain commas; for example: The Student Council was composed of Abbas Mohammed, President; Sri Hartini, Vice President; James Taylor, Treasurer and Carolyn Johnson, Secretary.
- Emphasize opposite statements and contrast; for example: I loved the car; pity about the colour.”
Semicolons are often founds in phrases that use transitional words, such as: after all, as a result of, for example, however, in addition, in fact, therefore, and thus.
The first sentence above could be improved to read:
I am not going to help him; after all, he never offers to help me.
To summarize the basics on punctuation, see the Basic Punctuation Tip Sheet
For additional support with punctuation, view this video by Lund University:
