EL 102: CHAPTER 2

PUNCTUATION

Punctuation refers to the tools used in writing to separate sentences, phrases, and clauses so that their intended
meaning is clear.

Punctuation conveys meaning, clarity, and tone in writing.

“In writing, punctuation plays the role of body language. It helps readers hear the way you want to be heard.” – Russel
Baker

14 KINDS OF PUNCTUATIONS

1. PERIOD [.]
 Referred to as full stop
 Denotes the end of a sentence.
i. The dog ran under the fence.
 Also used in abbreviations, such as in names or titles.
i. Mr. H. Styles opened his front door.
2. QUESTION MARK [?]
 Ends a sentence that is a direct question
 Typically begins with what, how, when, where, why, or who.
i. How do you like your eggs?
ii. Why didn’t you like the movie last night?
 Denotes a shift in tone in a sentence if it’s being read out loud
3. EXCLAMATION POINT [!]
 Used to express an intense emotion (excitement, disgust, anger, joy, etc.)
 Meant to add emphasis to a sentence
i. “Look out behind you!” she yelled.
ii. I’m so excited to go to the park tomorrow!
4. COMMA [,]
 Used to insert a pause into a sentence
i. Reasons: separate ideas, phrases, or alter the structure of a sentence
 USES OF COMMA
i. DIRECT ADDRESS
1. Joe, it was nice to see you again.
ii. SEPARATE TWO COMPLETE SENTENCES
1. He went to the library, and then he went out for lunch.
iii. USED TO LIST ITEMS
1. She went shopping and bought shoes, a dress, two shirts, and a pair of pants.
iv. One of the most misused punctuation points.
1. Comma splice = joins two independent clauses with a comma instead of a conjunction
a. It’s almost time for dinner, I’m not hungry.
v. Oxford comma is placed on the last item of a list.
1. He likes to eat fruits, cake, vegetables, and pasta
5. COLON [:]
 Has three primary uses.
i. Introducing a list
1. The grocery list includes: apples, bananas, milk, and eggs.
ii. Introducing an explanation
1. The meeting was cancelled due to one reason: inclement weather.
iii. Separating parts of a reference
1. Check out the details in chapter 3: verse 12.
iv. Can be used to link two independent clauses if the second clauses clarify or completes the first
one.
1. They didn’t have time to waste: it was already late.
v. Can also emphasize a subject in a sentence
1. I only hate one fruit: strawberry.

6. SEMICOLON [;]
  Also links two independent clauses; clauses are more closely related than when colon is used
i. I have a meeting tomorrow morning; I can’t go out tonight.
7. DASH [-]
 There are three types of dashes that vary in size and in use

i. Em dash
1. Used to add extra information, emphasize a thought, or signal a break
2. Can replace parentheses, colons, and commas
3. Can be used to introduce a concept, express dialogue, or signify an abrupt shift
4. Created by typing two hyphens in a row without spaces
a. Some small businesses will make it through this hard time—but most will not.
ii. En dash
1. Used to show ranges, connect places, or join compound adjectives
2. Can be used between dates, times, or forms of indexing
3. Helps establish connections without interrupting the flow of the sentence
a. World war II (1939-1945) resulted in the weakness of Germany.
b. I have to work from 2:30-7:00pm on Friday.
iii. 3-em dash
1. Generally used to omit a name that should not be disclosed or to signal that word (s)
have been left out.
2. Normally used in legal documents to protect the innocent
a. The case between ------ and ------ will start tomorrow around 2pm.
8. HYPHEN [-]
 Not to be confused with a dash, a hyphen is used in compound words when two or more words are
connected.
i. Step-by-step
ii. Mother-in-law
iii. Ex-boyfriend
9. BRACKETS []
 used to clarify something or for technical terms or explanations.
 used to clarify a subject when quoting another person or text
i. She [Mrs. Smith] agrees that cats are better than dogs.
ii. Adam said that “[summer] is my favorite time of year.”
10. BRACES [{}]
 Often used in writing a mathematical or technical text
 Usually used in operations
i. [6{3x+[28+2]}=xy
11. PARENTHESES [()]
 Used to supply further details or information or as an aside.
 Can often be replaced with commas and the sentence would retain its same meaning.
i. Kate (who is Matt’s wife) likes to go for walks.
12. APOSTROPHE [‘]
 Meant to show that a letter or letters have been omitted
 indicate the possessive or contraction
 used to pluralize lowercase letters
i. I’ve been working from home for 6 months and it’s great.
ii. Rebecca’s dog had surgery yesterday.
iii. All that’s left to do is dot the i’s and cross the t’s.
13. QUOTATION MARK [“]
 Used to denote text, speech, or words spoken by someone else.
 Used to indicate dialogue.
i. “I don’t like this,” said Mark.
ii. She told him that she “prefers not to think about that.”
 Single quotation marks (‘ ’), not to be confused with apostrophes, are often used for a quote within a
quote
i. Jill told her mother “Jack ran up the hill and he said he was going to ‘fetch a pail of water’ before
he fell.”
14. ELLIPSIS […]
 Three periods used together to represent an omission of words or letters.
  Used to jump from one sentence or phrase to another while omitting unnecessary or obvious words.
 Used when quoting someone and unnecessary words are left out.
i. At midnight, she began to count down: “ten, nine, eight…” and then the ball dropped.
ii. When Martin Luther King said “I have a dream…” he was talking about civil rights and an end to
racism.

COMMON MISTAKES IN PUNCTUATION USE

1. Misplacement of Commas: Incorrect comma placement can alter the meaning of a sentence. For example, “Let’s
eat, Grandma!” vs. “Let’s eat Grandma!”.

2. Overuse of Exclamation Points: Using too many exclamation points can make writing seem overly emotional or
unprofessional. It’s best to use them sparingly.

3. Confusion Between Hyphens and Dashes: Hyphens (-) connect words (e.g., well-known), while dashes (– or —)
separate phrases or clauses (e.g., He was late – as usual).

4. Inconsistent Use of Apostrophes: Apostrophes show possession or form contractions. Misusing them, such as in
“its” vs. “it’s,” can change the sentence’s meaning.

5. Incorrect Placement of Quotation Marks: Punctuation often goes inside quotation marks in American English
(e.g., “She said, ‘Hello.'”). Misplacing them can confuse readers.

6. Unnecessary Semicolons: Semicolons link closely related independent clauses. Overusing them can make
sentences complex and hard to follow.