Grammar guide. Apostrophes, commas and periods

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    Quick and simple guide topunctuation- part one.

    Apostrophes, commas and periods.

    APOSTROPHES)Used in nouns to show possession.) If the singular or plural version of the noun does notnd in s, or an s sound, then an s should be placedfter the apostrophe.

    Singular = dog, singular possessive = dogs.* That is my dogs ball.

    Plural = students, plural possessive= students.* The students grades were low.

    )If the singular ends in s already, an additional s isot always needed. This is open to personal preference

    ut, if you wish to include an additional s sound, thenou may wish to include it.

    Singular = Chris, singular possessive= Chris orhriss.

    * Chris grades were low.) If the plural ends in s already, an additional should not be used.

    Plural = athletes, plural possessive= athletes.* The athletes racing time is yet to be

    nnounced.) Some expressions relating to time, distance, andalue also use an apostrophe.

    * Three months wages.* In a moments time.* Seven miles run.

    Single and plural possessive compound nouns (a

    oun of two or more parts) are created by adding anpostrophe at the end of the compound word. Singular = father-in-law, singular possessive =

    ather-in-laws.* I really like my father-in-laws car.

    Plural = brother-in-law, plural possessive=rother-in-laws.

    * My brother-in-laws singing voices are faricer than mine. Making the last word in the series possessive can

    epict joint ownership of something. Making both partsossessive shows individual ownership.

    Joint ownership= I really like Sarah and Heathspartment.

    Single ownership= Sarahs and Heaths level oftness is far superior to mine.

    ) Used in indefinite pronouns to show possession.he possessive case of indefinite pronouns is formed in

    he same way as the possessive case of nouns. Forxample, Looking after the environment is everyonesesponsibility. Somebodys car is blocking thentrance to the hospital. NB: The exception to this ruleoncerns the word it. When showing the possessive of theersonal pronoun it, no apostrophe is used. The dog losts ball.

    ) Use the apostrophe with s to form the plural ofumbers, letters, signs, and symbols.

    The dancer scored straight 9s. 10s of thousands of people were evacuated. I cant tell if those of Os or 0s.

    There are two exceptions to this:

    ) If the plural is clear, then the apostrophe afterpper case letters is not needed. I got 3 as and 2 Bs.

    ) It is not necessary to use an apostrophe to createhe plurals of years, decades, or abbreviations.

    All sense of fashion disappeared in the 1990s. UFOs are always shaped like saucers. How many MBAs does it take to change a light

    ulb?

    1) To separate words or phrases that expresscontrast.

    You should respect your mother, not shout ather.

    I wanted a promotion, not more responsibility.2) To separate month and days from the year.

    I was born on July 1st, 1978.3) To separate different elements of a location fromone another.

    I live in Hong Kong, Asia. My mother lives at 3 Stanley Road,

    Richmond, London.4) To set off a quotation.

    He was reported in the newspaper as saying,Sorry for any problems I caused.

    He shouted angrily, Get out of my garden!5) Instead of an exclamation mark.

    Hi, how are you? Gees, this wasnt what I had intended.

    6) To separate an interrogative clause thatimmediately follows a declarative clause.

    Youre going to be late again, arent you? Shes stunning, isnt she?

    PERIODS1) Periods should always be used at the end of a

    sentence.2) Periods should be used after initials,abbreviations and contracted words. E.g.Mins.Yrs.A.M.However, if the sentence ends in an abbreviationonly one period should be used.

    This guide is provided free of charge by GlobalArt Ltd.3) Periods should be used instead of a questionmark after an indirect question or a courteousrequest.

    He asked you where you have been.(indirectquestion). an you please turn the music down. (courteous

    response)4) It is generally accepted practice in US Englishto place periods inside speech and quotation marks.The rule applies if the last word is a singlequotation, but does not apply if the last itemenclosed in quotation marks is just a letter or anumber:

    He said my driving was terrible. The treasure is marked on the spot with an X.

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    COMMAS1) After an adverbial clause if the dependent clausebegins the sentence. If the dependent clause is not at thebeginning of a sentence then a comma is not needed.

    Before you start the maneuver, make sure youcheck your mirrors.

    Make sure you check your mirrors before you startthe maneuver.2) After a participle phrase or an absolute phrase at thebeginning of a sentence.

    Soaring through the air, the eagle scanned theground for prey.

    Having missed the bus, Gary decided to walk.3) After an introductory infinitive phrase, unless theinfinitive is the subject of the sentence.

    In order to learn English, you should practicewhenever possible.

    To learn English is a top priority for me.4) To separate expressions, transitional words, phrases,clauses and introductory phrases from the rest of thesentence.

    However, we shall wait and see. Regardless, I am not prepared to wait. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why they

    fired him. Yes, I did lock the door.

    5) To distinguish a nonrestrictive clause from the restof the sentence, providing that it is not critical to the

    meaning of the sentence. In December, my favorite time of the year, it is

    very cold here. My favorite time of the year is December.

    6) To distinguish an appositive (a word or phrase thatdefines another word or phrase).

    My Mother, Kath, used to work here. Hong Kong, a vibrant city, is very humid during

    the summer.If the appositive is closely related to the word or phrase itis defining then the comma is unnecessary.

    She is visiting her friend Charlotte. My aunty Mary is 90 next week.

    7) To separate words that are intended as a directaddress to an individual.

    The truth, Watson, is often hard to find. Sarah, where have you been?

    8) To separate a series of three or more words, phrases, orclauses.

    My favorite foods are sandwiches, peanut butter,and chocolate.

    I looked in the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom butcouldnt find my keys.

    9) To separate coordinate adjectives (the word and canbe used between them) which modify the same noun.

    The dog is strong, fast and fit. The food arrived cold, undercooked and late.

    10) Before a coordinate conjunction which joinsindependent clauses of a compound sentence.

    Jim wanted to go to bed, but his wife was on thetelephone.

    Make sure you are on time, or do not come at all. He wanted to live in the city, while his girlfriend

    preferred the countryside.Commas should not be used between two independentclauses unless a coordinate conjunction (but, while,and, or, nor, yet etc) is included in the sentence,otherwise you will form a comma splice, which isincorrect.

    Karen is a mother, she works long hours.

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