Punctuation

PunctuationKadi Kangur

12A

APOSTROPHES Possession

Letters, numbers, or words have been omitted or shortened to form a contraction

Examples

the girl's homework for goodness' sake, Frankie Muniz' career girls' restroom, dinners' plates womens' restroom, mens' clothes you are - you're (not your)

COMMAS

set off a dependent phrase or clause

separate words of direct address

after introductory words

Examples

After John filled his glass, he moved over to join Jack and Jane.

"Jane, did you do your homework?" "Jack, will you pass me the bacon?"

"Indeed, Joe, your parents can be harsh." "The unicorn, you see, is a noble beast."

COLONS

set off a list of things punctuate time

Examples

The swimmers compete at three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

8:15 NB! for example, namely, for instance,

and that is.

DATES

5th of October, 2008

NB! 5/10/04 usually means 5 October 2008 in British English and May 10, 2008 in American English.

HYPHENS

to separate a word at the end of the line in running text

to join compound numbers to write a fraction as a word to join compound nouns and

adjectives to avoid confusion in awkward

words

Examples

presi-dent or pres-ident (not presid-ent) thirty-two (not thirtytwo or thirty two) three-fifths (not three fifths or three/fifths) fat-necked, thin-lipped anti-icing formula (instead of antiicing)

PERIODS

End a sentence

Examples

Incorrect: John threw the ball Jack caught the ball Jane rolled her eyes at them

John threw the ball and Jack caught it. Jane rolled her eyes at them.

John threw the ball. Jack caught it. Jane rolled her eyes at them.

SEMICOLONS

join two independent clauses

Examples

Incorrect: I have been writing for a long time; football is a sport played on a field.

I have been writing for a long time; it is one of my favorite pastimes. I have been writing for a long time. It is one of my favorite pastimes.

Sources:

http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/viewpage.php?page=tips_punctuation#times

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/date/written

http://neoco.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/hyphens.jpg

http://www.primaryclassroomresources.co.uk/acatalog/extra_punctuation.jpg

Thank you for your patience!