PUNCTUATION MATTERS

WHY PUNCTUATION IS IMPORTANTTO USE WHEN WE WRITE?

Punctuation is used in writing to show the reader when we would normally pause or emphasize a portion of what we are saying by changing the tone of our voice when we speak.

Not using punctuation in your writing would be like speaking too fast and running all your words together; no one would understand what you are saying.

Pictures from

VeryD

emotivational.com

and W

eKnow

Mem

es.comPUNCTUATION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN A SENTENCE.

Donner Party or Dinner Party

Party Animals or Animal Rights

THE NO-EXCUSE 12: COMMON PUNCTUATION ERRORS

1) Comma Splices (commas between independent or main clauses)

2) Missing commas after set-off words or phrases3) Missing non restrictive commas (commas setting off

nonessential elements)4) Unnecessary commas between compound elements that are

not independent clauses5) Unnecessary commas between subjects and verbs (often after

restrictive elements)6) Unnecessary commas after although, and, but, and such as7) Unnecessary colons between verbs and their complements and

between prepositions and their objects8) It's or its' for its9) Missing apostrophes in possessives (especially in possessives

referring to time, as in a good day's work and two weeks'10) Unnecessary apostrophes in plural words11) Semicolons between subordinate clauses and independent

clauses12) Semicolons for colons

COMMAS Are used to separate the structural elements of a

sentence. Use commas to separate independent clauses

when joined by a conjunction. Use commas to separate two or more adjectives

that describe the same noun. Use commas to show pauses in a sentence to

prevent confusion. Use commas to separate the main part of a

sentence from an inserted quotation. Use a comma after an introductory clause or

phrase.

PERIODS

Periods are used to conclude any sentence that makes a statement. They should be followed by a space before beginning a new sentence.•Periods are used at the end of command sentences.

•Ex. Exit the building in an organized fashion if the fire alarm sounds.

•Periods should also be used at the end of indirect questions.

•Ex. I sometimes wonder why the sky is blue.

•Periods should be used in abbreviations.•Some acronyms use periods (U.S.A.) while others do not (ATM). If one is unsure if periods should be used in an acronym, a dictionary should be consulted.

Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/period.htm

EXCLAMATION MARKS The exclamation mark is rarely used in academic writing but

can be effective if used properly. The exclamation mark should follow…

extreme commands. Ex. Stop! interjections. Ex. Wow! emphasized words (but be contained by parentheses). Ex.

I had a really(!) good day today. mimetically produced sounds. Ex. My cat says meow! all

day long. When a sentence ends with a title that includes an

exclamation mark, the exclamation mark should be italicized and no period should be used. Ex. Yesterday I saw Oklahoma!

If a sentence concludes with a title and exclamation mark but the exclamation mark is not part of the title then the mark should not be italicized. Ex. Obviously, the best musical ever is Les Miserables!

! !

Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/exclamation.htm

QUESTION MARKS

Question marks are used at the end of direct questions. Ex. What time does the movie start?

These marks should also be used with tag questions, or statements that employ phrases to become questions. Ex. That was a great movie, wasn’t it?

Rhetorical questions should conclude with question marks

When a sentence ends with a title that includes a question mark, the question mark should be italicized and no period should be used. Ex. I love the movie What about Bob?

If a question concludes with a title that does not contain a question mark then the mark should not be italicized. Ex. Do you like the movie Seven?

? ?

Source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/question.htm

ELLIPSES

An ellipsis is a series of three points with spaces between them

(. . .) Ellipsis are used to

indicate that something has been left out. They’re a great way to trim quotes so you only have to deal with the salient points.

Ex: Cat juggling is wrong. You really shouldn’t juggle cats. That being said, I’m OK with hamster juggling.

The way to use Ellipses in this situation:

Cat juggling is wrong. . . . I’m OK with hamster juggling.

DASH:

A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.

Do not use dashes to set apart material when commas would work best.

What does a dash look like? (—)

Example : The only thing Tony

could do—if he could do anything at all— was to sit and wait for the test results to come in the mail.

PARENTHESIS

A parenthesis is used to clarify meaning or to insert supplement al information.

They normally explain something such as in the example, the explanation was the “features”.

The new photo copier has many features (including scanning options and faxing capabilities) that will be most beneficial to us in this office.

BRACKETS

A bracket is used to clarify a point or to insert additional information inside a quote.

Sometimes they are used to enclose ellipses in a quotation.

Example: “These two nations [Russia and America] seem to sway the destinies of half the globe.” 

In the example it clarifies which two nations it is referring to.

COLONS ARE USED…

to emphasize the second clause when joining two independent clauses

ex: Road construction in Dallas has hindered travel around town: parts of Main, Fifth, and West Street are closed during the construction.

COLONS ARE USED…

To separate an independent clause from a list, quotation, appositive, or an idea directly related to the clause

ex: Julie went to the store for some groceries: milk, bread, coffee, and cheese.

ex: I know the perfect job for her: a politician.

ex: In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln urges Americans to rededicate themselves to the unfinished work of the deceased soldiers: "It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

COLONS ARE USED…

at the end of a business letter greeting

ex: To Whom It May Concern:

to separate the hours and minutes in a time notation

ex: 11:30 a.m.

COLONS ARE USED…

to separate titles and subtitles

ex: Richard Nixon: The Tarnished President

to separate the chapter and verse in a Biblical reference

ex: Matthew 1:6

to reference a lawex: According to Minnesota statute 1:49:002, it is unlawful to feed licorice or peanut butter to goats.

SEMICOLONS ARE USED…

to link two independent clauses without connecting words

ex: I am going home; I intend to stay there.

ex: It rained heavily during the afternoon; we managed to have our picnic anyway.

ex: They couldn't make it to the summit and back before dark; they decided to camp for the night.

SEMICOLONS ARE USED…

to join two independent clauses together with a conjunctive adverb

ex: I am going home; moreover, I intend to stay there.

ex: It rained heavily during the afternoon; however, we managed to have our picnic anyway.

Other conjuctive adverbs: therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus

The more complex the clauses, the better it is to use a semicolon.

SEMICOLONS ARE USED…

to separate elements in a list when the elements already contain commas

ex: Recent sites of the Olympic Games include Athens, Greece; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sydney, Australia; Nagano, Japan.

TIPS ON COLONS AND SEMICOLONS

Try not to overuse them; too many will make a writer seem less capable, even if they are all used correctly.

They are especially useful when the independent clauses are closely related, as they can help emphasize the relationship.

Use the colon, rather than the semicolon, when you want more emphasis on the second independent clause. Clauses separated by a semicolon do not have different levels of importance.

WORKS CITED Brizee, Allen and Dana Driscoll. “Commas vs. Semicolons in

Compound Sentences.” Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

Driscoll, Dana Lynn and Morgan Sousa. “Brief Overview of Punctuation.” Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

Westphal, Donella. “Colon Rules.” LEO: Literacy Education Online. The Write Place, 23 Aug. 2000. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

Periods. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/period.htm

Exclamation Point. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/exclamation.htm

Question Marks. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/question.htm

Common Punctuation Errors. http://www.wilbers.com/punct12.htm

WORK CITED: CONTINUED Punctuation. Purdue Online Writing Lab. April 18, 2011. February

29, 2012. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/6/

Commas. Purdue Online Writing Lab. April 17, 2010. February 27, 2012. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/1/

Pictures found on Google and located on TrashLands.com, VeryDemotivational.com, and WeKnowMemes.com

Todd, Heather R. "How to Use Parentheses." Ezine Articles. 25 9 2011: n. page. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Use-Parentheses&id=6584215>.

Grace, Fleming. "Using Brackets in Writing." About.com. n.d. n. page. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingrules/qt/brackets.htm>.

Maeve, Maddox. "When and How to Use Brackets."DailyWritingTips. 23 6 2009: n. page. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-and-how-to-use-brackets/>.