Peter Horton - Educator

Unit 17: Punctuation Guidelines

This guide will help you review punctuation marks. Use it during proofreading, and keep a copy on the wall to check while writing.

Period (.)

First, a period is used in three main ways:

At the end of a statement. Example: Birds fly.

At the end of a command. Example: Go home.

After abbreviations. Example: Mr. Co. Ave.

Question Mark (?)

Next, a question mark shows:

The end of a question. Example: Who is he?

Doubt or uncertainty. Example: He ate 14 doughnuts?

Exclamation Point (!)

Also, an exclamation point shows strong emotion:

With a single word. Example: Great!

With a full sentence. Example: You’re the best!

Quotation Marks (“ ”)

In addition, quotation marks are used to:

Show a direct quote. Example: She said, “May I help you?”

Set off titles of short works. Example: He read “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”

Suggest sarcasm or unusual terms. Example: The “hero” was not at home.

Apostrophe (’)

Furthermore, an apostrophe is used to:

Show possession. Example: Bill’s bike.

Replace missing letters in contractions. Example: Don’t, wasn’t.

Form plurals of symbols. Example: Two A’s.

Comma (,)

Then, commas are used in many ways:

To separate items in a list. Example: One, two, three.

To separate dates. Example: February 22, 2000.

After greetings and closings in letters. Example: Dear Susan, / Sincerely,

To separate city and state. Example: Kingston, Michigan.

To set off names, phrases, or extra details. Example: Tina, the announcer, read her lines.

Between clauses. Example: After the game, we went home.

Parentheses ( )

Also, parentheses show extra information:

Supplementary material. Example: The map (see below) is new.

Stronger separation than commas. Example: Joe (the first actor) was ready.

Numbering or lettering. Example: (1) Open the door. (2) Step in.

Colon (:)

Next, a colon is used to:

Introduce a list. Example: He has three things: a pen, a book, and a backpack.

Show a subtitle. Example: The book: How to Read It.

Separate clauses. Example: The rule is this: Keep it simple.

After a greeting in business letters. Example: Dear Ms. Turner:

To separate time or ratios. Example: 10:15 A.M. / 3:1 ratio.

Semicolon (;)

Moreover, a semicolon shows:

A stronger break than a comma. Example: November was cold; January was freezing.

Separation when commas are already in use. Example: He was tired; therefore, he took a nap.

En Dash (-)

Then, an en dash shows range or distance:
Examples: 2000–2005 / Chicago–Boston / Questions 1–8.

Em Dash (—)

Also, an em dash sets off extra information.
Example: Clara—the tallest student—held the flag.

Ellipsis (…)

Meanwhile, an ellipsis shows:

Words left out. Example: The boy … was not at home.

A pause or suspense. Example: The winner is … Chris!

Bullet (•)

Finally, bullets help show lists clearly:
Things to do on Saturday:

Go swimming

Visit Uncle Chuck

Clean my room