PUNCTUATION IN WRITING
Punctuation, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is defined as, “the act or
practice of inserting standardized marks or signs in written matter to clarify the meaning and
separate structural units.”
Using punctuation is vital to make your writing look professional, logical and well-founded.
In English Grammar, there are multiple punctuation marks that are used in order to make
your writing look sensible and easy to understand.
Common Punctuation Marks and Their Uses:
Period (.): Marks the end of a complete sentence, indicating a stop.
Comma (,): Separates items in a list, joins two independent clauses with a
coordinating conjunction, and sets off introductory phrases.
Question Mark (?): Marks a question.
Exclamation Mark (!): Expresses strong emotion or emphasis.
Colon (:): Introduces a list, a quote, or an explanation, or connects two related
sentences.
Semicolon (;): Connects two closely related independent clauses, acting as a bridge
between them.
Apostrophe ('): Indicates possession or contractions.
Quotation Marks (" "): Enclose direct quotes, titles of shorter works, or words used
in a specific or unusual way.
Hyphen (-): Joins words to create compound words or to separate parts of a number.
Parentheses ( ): Enclose extra information or explanations.
Dash (—): Creates a pause or break in a sentence, often to introduce an explanation.
Each punctuation mark has a specific use and purpose in a sentence's structure:
1. Period ( . )
When it appears at the end of a declarative sentence, it ends the sentence.
The period can also indicate that a word is an abbreviation.
Examples:
As a sentence ender - Jane and Jack went to the market.
After an abbreviation - John Jones Jr. was born on Dec. 6, 2008.
2. Question Mark ( ? )
They are used at the end of a interrogative sentence.
They can also express confusion.
Examples:
Interrogative sentence - When did Jane leave for the market?
Expressing confusion - Why do we have so much homework?
3. Comma ( , )
They separate ideas or elements within the structure of a sentence.
Examples:
Separating two complete sentences - We went to the movies, and then we went out
to lunch.
4. Exclamation Mark
They show a sudden outcry in writing. They also emphasize a point more strongly
than a period.
Example:
Sudden outcry - "Holy cow!" screamed Jane.
To emphasize a point - My mother-in-law's rants make me furious!
5. Colon ( : )
They introduce a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series. They can also
clarify information or emphasize an important word or phrase.
Example:
Introducing a series - He was planning to study four subjects: politics, philosophy,
sociology, and economics.
Clarifying information - I didn't have time to get changed: I was already late.
Emphasizing an important phrase - There was one thing she loved more than any
other: her dog.
6. Semicolon ( ; )
They connect independent clauses to show a closer relationship between the clauses
than a period would.
They can also separate items in a list that already include commas.
Examples:
Connecting independent clauses - John was hurt; he knew she only said it to
upset him.
Items in a list - I’ve visited Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles, California; and St.
Louis, Missouri.
7. Apostrophe ( ‘ )
They show the possessive case. It also indicates the omission of a letter or letters from
a word.
Examples:
Possessive case - Sara’s dog bit the neighbour.
Contractions - I've seen that movie several times.
8. Quotation Marks
They indicate the beginning and end of a quoted passage.
They can also show dialogue in fiction.
Examples:
Quoted passage - Nathan Hale’s last words were, “I regret that I have but one life to
live for my country.”
Dialogue - "Don't go outside," Katie said.
The ' ' are called single quotation marks. They show quotes within a quotation.
Example:
Quotes within quotations - Marie told the teacher, "Marc said to me 'Bill started the fight,'
and I believed him."
9. Hyphen ( - )
They are even shorter than dashes. They join two or more words together to make
compound words.
Example:
My sister-in-law works as a pastry chef.
The well-known author signed autographs for his fans.
Cory can count all the way to ninety-nine.
10. Dash (–)
They indicate a range or connection between numbers or words.
Examples:
Indicating range - The Civil War (1861–1865) made a lasting impact in the United
States.
Indicating connection - When does the Denver–Dallas flight arrive?
11. Parentheses ( )
They add further thoughts or qualifying remarks to a sentence. They separate these
phrases from the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
Further thought - John and Jane (who are brother and sister) both have red hair.
Qualifying remarks - Add any special skills (typing, organization, training, and so
on) to your resume.
12. Ellipsis (...)
It indicates an omission of words or sentences.
Students writing research papers or newspapers quoting parts of speeches will often
employ ellipsis to avoid copying lengthy text that is not needed.
Examples:
Omission of words - She began to count, "One, two, three, four…" until she got to
10, then went to find him.
Within a quotation - When Newton stated, "An object at rest stays at rest and an
object in motion stays in motion..." he developed the law of motion.
