Punctuation

Punctuation12 Simple Rules for Punctuating Sentences

12 Punctuation Rules• These rules do not cover EVERY point

on punctuation; however, if you master these simple rules, you will be well on your way to using punctuation correctly.

1. Use a period at the end of a sentence and after abbreviations and initials.

*Note: Two-letter state abbreviations are used without periods and are written as two capital letters with no space between the letters.

Ex: Dr. My dog ran away. Co. NJ, CO, DE H. L. Jones

2. If a sentence is asking a question, use a question mark (?) at the end of the sentence. Exclamation marks (!) are used to show great surprise, urgency, or strong feeling. Ex: Where is the bell-work for today? The bell-work ismissing!

3. Use a comma to separate words or phrases in a series.

Ex: He bought eggs, milk, bread, and a paper. Ex: The gas entered the house through an open window, through the crack under the door, and down the open chimney.

4. Use a comma to separate an appositive. (An appositive is a word or phrase that repeats the noun directly before it.

Ex: George Washington, our first president, is a hero for all of us.

5. Use a comma in dates where you have three or more items together.

Ex: The allies invaded Europe on June 5, 1944.With two items no comma is required.

Ex: June 5 was the day to remember.

6. Use a comma to separate three items in an address, and/or to separate a city from a state.

Ex: He lived at 21 Main St., Denver, Colorado.Ex: He lives in Denver, Colorado, but he is moving to Bradford, Florida, next month.

7. Use a comma to set off an introductory clause. (The sentence will usually begin with the word since, because, although, as, if, when, or similar words.)

Ex: Because he was going to be late, he took a key with him.Ex: Since it stopped raining, she no longer needed an umbrella.

8. Use a comma to separate the main clauses connected by “and” or “but.” (A main clause is a clause that could stand alone as a simple sentence.)

Ex: It was raining. We continued to play in the rain. It was raining, but we continued to play in the rain.Ex: She cashed her paycheck. They bought a ticket for Tucson. She cashed her paycheck, and they bought a ticket for Tucson.

9. Use a comma to set off interrupting words and phrases like “however,” “of course,” “for example,” “more-over.”

Ex: He, however, would not ask her out. What, for example, is the square root of nine?

10.In a direct quotation use a comma to set off expressions such as—“he said,” or “she stated.” The direct quotation is enclosed with quotation marks. Periods and commas go inside quotes.

Ex: He said, “What a lot of rot that is.”Ex: “Tomorrow,” she stated, “I will begin to think about that.”**Remember, the first word in a direct quote is capitalized.

11.“No,” “yes,” “well,” and “however” will generally be set off with commas when they are the first words in a sentence.

Ex: No, I will not go. Well, I may think about it.

12.When a person is directly addressed the name is set off with a comma.

Ex: Susie, pay attention. Ex: Susie never pays attention.Ex: Put your hand down, Frank.

NOTE: Underline each word in the title of a book, movie, or television show.Ex: I had read Gone With the Wind before I saw it in the movies.Ex: The Ed Sullivan Show was the last of athe variety type shows.Ex: He gave me the book The Complete Poems of Robert Browning.

NOTE: For the title of individual poems, short stories, or episodes in a television series, put the title in quotation marks.Ex: My favorite poem is “Invictus.”Ex: In the Collected Short Words of Poe, I liked the short story “The Gold Bug” the best.Ex: Of all the Star Trek shows I liked “The Last Warrior” the best.

Practice• I’d like you to meet my aunt the writer

of One Hundred and One Recipes• Please sit next to Dr and Mrs J L

Heathcliff• Oh so you’ve been here before have you• It was impossible not to be rude to that

proud overbearing man

Practice• Yes he said he likes chocolate on the

top vanilla in the middle and strawberry on the bottom

• She thought it would be fun to go skiing but he wanted to hang-glide

• Since he was the first he should be served first

Practice• “How do you do” he said “I’m glad to

finally meet you”• The ending however was far from

satisfactory• He would not mind going to Portland

Oregon or anywhere else you asked him to go

• Pete Meyer the french fry king has finally announced his retirement

Practice• The mayor a good neighbor of mine

has gone into a private law firm• “Did he” I asked “drop the ball on the

third strike”• In my life I’ve seen New York New York

Akron Ohio Baltimore Maryland Washington D C and Hoboken New Jersey

Practice• Let’s meet here again at 915 on

Tuesday July 18• The father of the child said “I was

afraid but I had to do it”• When Neil Armstrong first stepped on

the moon he made the following statement “That’s one small step for man and a giant leap for mankind”

Practice• Because it was late we said goodnight

and turned out the lights• If it rains remember to bring your

umbrella otherwise we’ll ruin our clothes

• Simon did you say you were dating the redhead who works the cash register or are you seeing the redhead who cuts hair at “La Hair Boutique”