Punctuation

End Notes

• Periods• Question Marks• Exclamation Point

Semicolons

• Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses not joined by a conjunction. Clauses must directly relate to each other.– My mother works in a school; she does not teach.

• Can also be used to separate clauses that are joined by a conjunctive adverb or transitional expression– A cloudless blue sky dawned that morning;

nevertheless, rain was expected.– We needed to fit the whole family around the dinner

table; as a result, Dad pulled out the extra leaf.

Colon

• Used mainly as an introductory device before a list– I bought my father several gifts: a shirt, a tie, and a pair of

shorts.• Use to introduce a sentence that summarizes or

explains the sentence before it.– His tuna casserole lacked one vital ingredient: He forgot the

tuna!• Use to introduce a formal appositive that follows an

independent clause.– I missed one important paragraph lesson: writing a topic

sentence.

Quotation Marks

• Use to show a direct quotation– Joey said, “I love ham and cheese sandwiches in

the morning!”• Use around titles of short works of literature

(short stories, poems, etc.)– “Ambush”

Underlining

• Underline long written works, such as books, plays, periodicals, newspapers, and long poems– The Stranger– The New York Times

• Underline movies, t.v. shows, radio shows, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art

• Underline the names of individual sea, space, and land craft– USS Alabama

Dashes

• Used to indicate an abrupt change in thought– I cannot believe I missed that test- oh, I don’t even

want to think about it.• Used to set off interrupting ideas dramatically– The slam dunk-the most spectacular shot in

basketball- makes a great addition to any highlight film.

• To set off a summary statement– To see his jersey hanging from the rafters- this is his

greatest dream.

Parentheses

• Used to set off asides and explanations when the information is not necessary.– Nancy perfected her passing (only after years of

practice) and will now begin the year as the starting point guard.

• Used to set off numerical expressions– John Smith (1875-1950) was a great teacher.

Hyphens

• Used to divide certain numbers and words– Ninety-nine– One-half– All-star– Senator-elect

• Used in compound words– Well-prepared– Jet-propelled

Apostrophe

• Used to show possession– Add an ‘s to the end of singular nouns- dog’s;

Sarah’s; James’s– Add an ‘ to show possession at the end of plural

nouns that end in s or es- moths’; cats’• Used in contraction– Used to show a missing letter or letters

• Are not- aren’t• I am- I’m• ‘03