Punctuation-A guide on when to punctuation marks with examples
written by Adeel AbbasWhat is Punctuation?
It is a set of characters used to separate different types of sentences. It is mostly written in capital letters but it can be written in lower case too.
Definition of Punctuation
The word ‘punctuation’ is the key to understanding the English language.
Punctuation plays an important role in sentence structure and helps in understanding the meaning of the sentence. It is used to show the beginning of the sentence, the end of the sentence, and the pause in the middle of the sentence. It is also used to express the emotion and feelings of the writer.
What is the purpose of using punctuation marks?
The purpose of punctuation is to aid the reader in assimilating the thought expressed through the written word.
Although very little conscious thought is given to punctuation in the actual reading of printed or written matter —- the mind automatically stopping at periods, pausing for commas, and preparing for a change of thought at dashes — a thorough knowledge of the fundamental rules governing the correct use of punctuation marks is indispensable to the writer who wishes to express his thoughts, ideas, and feelings clearly, accurately, and logically.
The following rules will be found to embrace all cases arising in the course of ordinary formal and informal writing:
- When reading, notice all punctuation closely and try to reason out why the marks encountered are used.
- When writing, first organize in your mind what you want to say and then use only sufficient punctuation to insure the accurate conveyance of your thoughts.
- Never use any mark of punctuation without a definite reason for so doing.
- Give particular attention to the use of the comma, as ignorance of the rules governing this mark is the major cause of punctuation trouble.
Types of Punctuation marks
There are several types of punctuation that are used to make the language more understandable, including commas, periods, exclamation points, question marks, semi-colons, dashes, colons, and so on.
Let us discuss these punctuation marks one by one in detail.
1. Comma
A comma is placed between two or more independent clauses in a sentence and it is often used to introduce a parenthetical remark. It is also used to emphasize the main idea of a sentence and can be used to provide an additional idea.
When to use comma (,)?
The function of the comma is to break up the sentence into separate thoughts in the interest of clarity and ease of reading.
1: Use a comma between each element of pairs and series unless the pairs are connected by coordination conjunction.
The ride was long, exhausting.
The ride was long, hot, exhausting.
The ride was long and exhausting.
2: Use a comma before the and in a series having the form of a, b and c.
We brought ham, pickles, and eggs.
3: Use a comma before any one of the conjunctions (and, but, for, or, neither, nor) when it joins a pair of main clauses.
He said he would be there, and I do not doubt his word.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
He read the book quickly, for he was late.
She will be there, or I am mistaken.
4: Use a comma to introduce a short, direct quotation in the form of a complete sentence and also at the end of a quotation if it is followed by explanatory, unquoted remarks.
(Introducing a direct quotation with a colon is permissible if the quoted sentence is long.)
The cynic replied, “Diplomacy is the art of lying.”
“Diplomacy is the art of lying,” replied the cynic.
“Diplomacy,” replied the cynic, “is the art of lying.”
5: Use a comma before and after such elements as for example, to be sure, in fact, however, nevertheless, and therefore, when they are used parenthetically.
She does not, for example, favor a moratorium.
He was, in fact, unequal to the work.
She will go, therefore, at six o’clock.
6: Use commas to enclose a geographical name explaining a preceding geographical name.
They lived in Hyderabad, Sindh, for many tears.
7: Use commas to enclose a date explaining a preceding date.
In April, 1918, his regiment moved to the front.
On April 24, 1918, his regiment moved to the front.
Early in the morning of Monday, April 24, his regiment moved to the front.
8: Use commas to enclose any element taken from its natural position and placed elsewhere.
Their new car, when running at top speed, will go faster than 90 miles an hour.
9: Use a comma between the parts of a name or phrase when they are written in reverse order,
Buchanan, James B.
Psychology, History of
Nouns, Use of
Chemistry, organic
10: Enclosed appositives with commas.
U.S. Grant, the great Civil War general, was short in stature.
11: Enclosed absolute phrases with commas.
It is my belief, conditions being what they are, that war is inevitable.
12: Use a comma to separate two words or figures that might otherwise be confusing.
To Henry, Scott was a hero.
In 1939, 40 ships were lost.
January 24, 1939.
Instead of 10, 25 men answered the call for volunteers.
13: Use a comma to indicate the omission of a word.
He is tall; she, short.
The former illustrates the use of a semicolon; the latter, a comma.
14: Use a comma after a phrase or subordinate clause that precedes the main clause.
Caught on a reef, the vessel foundered and was lost. Although a severe winter had been anticipated, we were pleasantly surprised by its mildness.
Do not use a comma after a main clause if the following adverbial clause is its logical completion.
Its logical completion,
This testimony is inadmissible because it is prejudicial,
The project can be completed only if all cooperate.
15: Use a comma between two of the same or similar words to avoid confusion.
That which is, is neither good nor bad.
That which was is no more.
What will be, will be.
16: Use a comma before the abbreviations or degrees Jr., M.A M.D., Ph.D., etc.
John Kennedy, Jr.
Shahid Mahmood, M.D.
Fatima Choudhary, Ph.D
17: Use a comma to separate thousands, millions, billions, etc. in numbers of four or more digits.
| 3,197 | 3,384,962 |
| 52,012 | 653,039,253 |
18: Do not use a comma in figures of four or more digits in telephone numbers scrial numbers, dates, and radio wavelengths.
Murray Hill 9912
A.D. 1925.
No. f87831084 A
1170 Kilocycles; 820 meters
19: Use a comma after a title or phrase in direct address.
Sir, the end is not yet.
Mr. President, the gentleman is out of order.
Gentleman, we shall now proceed to the order of the day.
20: Use a comma between title and name of the organization where of or of the has been omitted.
Commander, Fourth Army Corps
President, University of Delhi
Superintendent, Board of Health
Where to use dash (—-) in a sentence
The dash may often be substituted for the comma, semicolon, colon, or parenthesis mark. It is used to enclose or introduce short elements and has great force. It should be used only in extreme cases, when other forms of punctuation are inadequate— and only then.
1: Substitute a dash for a semicolon when more effective grouping is desired.
The shouting ceased— all was quite; evidently the mob had dispersed.
2: The dash may be used to call attention to a word or group of words following it.
He works hard —– too hard, in fact.
The American character may be described in one word— courage.
3: The dash is useful at the end of a long series to introduce material concerning that series.
With careful study, with diligent practice, with the desire for improvement
With all these, one should be able to succeed.
4: Use dashes to enclose parenthetical elements where commas would be weak or parentheses undesirable.
Shahid —- the best hitter in the league— has powerful shoulders.
He thinks —- and —- rightly— that the disease can be eradicated.
5: Use the dash to indicate an interruption or an unfinished sentence.
He goes on to say that —– but never mind, it’s of no importance.
“ This thing has be—–.”
- Use a dash to link letters, figures, or letters and figures.
Do —– X 1938—- 40
RZ —– I January —– march
Rs.5-Rs. 10 Monday – Thursday
6: Use a dash when there is repetition for additional or special emphasis.
We are now faced with a new problem the problem —– of isolation the germ.
7: Use a dash for summarizing.
Shahd, Adeel, Asad, —- all had the same idea.
When to use a semicolon
The semicolon (;) is a short line used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence. It is the longest and most powerful of all the punctuation marks.
This mark us used to co-ordinate main clauses.
1: Use the semi-colon between pairs of main clauses not connected by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, neither, nor).
You may help him; I will not.
2: Use the semicolon between pairs of main clauses not connected by coordination conjunction especially when a conjunctive adverb (therefore, nevertheless, however, otherwise, etc.) is present.
You may help him; I will not.
3: Use the semicolon between pairs of main clauses where coordinating conjunction is present if such clauses are long, contain commas or if the emphasis is desired.
It is most unusual; and it should not be tolerated.
It is not just to the people, the state; or the country; although difficult, a proper decision must be made.
4: Use the semicolon to separate statements so closely related that a comma would be too weak and a period too strong.
It was so in the past; it is so in the present; and if the past and the present may be taken as a valid indication of the future, it will always remain so.
When to use colon (:)
A colon is a punctuation mark that is used to set off a list.
The colon is a mark of punctuation used to introduce a clause or phrase that amplifies or is in explanation of a preceding clause.
1: Use the colon to introduce a clause that supplements or explains the preceding clause in a sentence.
Nawabzada’s speech was soon forgotten: he was too much occupied with form rather than substance.
We live on a planet, not on a star: a star is a sun.
2: Use the colon to introduce formally a direct, lengthy quotation, or any other formal matter.
These are his principal qualification: attention to detail; many years of experience; and an instinctive ability to sell merchandise.
He said: “I do not accept as valid the proposition that time goes. “ it would not be difficult to demonstrate that time is ageless, and it would also be easy to demonstrate that human beings are not ageless. Not, it is we who go, not time.”
3: Use the colon to express time.
8:30 A.M.
12:25 P.M.
4: Use the colon in biblical and other citations.
Luke 4:7
N.Y. Times, Nov. 20, 21:7
5: Use the colon in proportions.
1:3::3:9 The ratio was 16:1.
When to use Parentheses ( )
A parenthesis is used to enclose a word or a phrase.
1: Use parentheses to enclose that part of a sentence intended to be read as a side remark provided the removal of such part would not destroy the sense of the context. Also, use parentheses to enclose complete sentences intended as side remarks.
Henry was playing great football (for the thrill of it, not merely to win) and several times staved off defeat.
We hurried home the next day. (it was only too true that the river had risen. We were ruined.) but with characteristic vigor, we began building anew.
2: Use parentheses to enclose an independent clause inserted in a sentence.
The work (he was pre-eminently fitted for it) absorbed his attention for weeks.
3: Enclose with parentheses references to tables, diagrams, etc.
The cost of living (See Chart II) has risen slowly but surely.
4: Use parentheses to enclose figures or letters used in enumerations.
The immediate results were these: (1) a cornering of the market, (2) a decrease in available material, (3) an advance in prices
When to use Brackets [ ]
Brackets are used to enclose an explanatory remark in a quoted passage. They are rarely if ever, used in a business letter. For all practical purposes, you can attain the same ends with parentheses.
“The rise of absolutism [fascism, Hitlerism, etc.] has its roots in post-war conditions,” the speaker said.
When to use Quotation Marks (“ “)
A quotation mark is a punctuation mark that is used to quote something that is said.
1: Use quotation marks to enclose all direct quotations,
The prisoner said, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
2: Use single quotation marks to mark a quotation within a quotation.
The coach said: “I heard one of our men say, “ it was the hardest game of the season.”
3: When a quotation consists of more than one paragraph, use quotation marks before each paragraph, but at the end of only the last one.
“___________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________.”
4: When quoting poetry consisting of more than one stanza, use quotation marks before ecach stanza, but at the end of only the last stanza.
“Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me die.
Glad did I live gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
“This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
“And the hunter home, from the hill.”
5: Enclose slang expressions, colloquialisms, technical words, or a word used in a humorous or ironic way, in quotation marks when such expressions are not in keeping with the style of writing in which they occur.
His wife is undoubtedly “Lord High Chancellor of the Exchequer” in their Household.
He got himself “all balled up.”
6: The comma and period are always placed inside the quotation marks.
“I shall come,” she said, “if it does not rain.”
The semicolon, exclamation mark, colon, question mark, and dash are all placed outside the quotation marks except when they form part of the quoted passage or when the quotation is not accompanied by such expressions as he said, she replied, etc.
Did she say, “ I have lost my book”?
May I come in now?” he asked.
“they’re off!”
“where?”
“ At Karachi.”
7: Dialogue should be written in separate paragraphs.
“Come in, “ she said, “ and get warm.”
“Thank you, “ he replied, “it is very cold tonight.”
8: Enclose definitions requiring explanation with single quotation marks for translation use double quotation marks.
Facetious means ‘ humorous’ or ‘ jocular.’
Verboten means “ forbidden.”
9: Since there are no italics on a typewriter, quote the names of ships, of musical compositions, of art works, and the titles of books and pictures, or indicate italics by underlining.
The P.N.S. “Babar”
Karl Marx’s Das Kapital
Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy Milton’s Paradise Lost
Where to use Period (.)
1: Use the period at the end of a declarative sentence.
The soft rays of the morning sun illuminated the gold in the ripening wheat. As the sun began to slip away, the mountain underwent a slow progression in color, from warmer to cooler, from green through blue to purple, until a mere outline was left against a dusky sky which finally melted into the darkness of night.
2: Use the period at the end of an imperative sentence.
- Hang up your coat.
- Come to the fair.
- Be there on time.
3: Use the period at the end of an indirect question.
- Tell me what he said.
- I should like to know how you do it.
- A asked him what time it was.
4: Use period after an abbreviation.
| Viz. | D.C. |
| N.Y. | q.v. |
| Etc. | SW. |
a). Do not use a period after the symbols for chemical elements.
| Ag (silver) | K (potassium) |
| Au (gold) | O (oxygen) |
| Fe (iron) | S (sulfur) |
B). Do not mistake a contraction for an abbreviation: a contraction Is not followed by a period.
Ass’n assn
sup’t supt
M’g’r mgr
Penn’a Penn
5: Do not use a period after Roman numerals except in enumeration used in an outline.
George vi
Henry vii
Gustavus v
6: Do not use a period after percent, MS, MSS. The Cotton MS (manuscript)
25 percent
7: Always put the period within quotation marks.
I have read “ Leaves of Grass.”
He did not see the performance of “ Mourning Becomes Electra.”
When to use exclamation Point (!)
This mark is used at the end of a declarative sentence or after an exclamation within the sentence to convey the idea of strong feeling, surprise, or irony.
How, get down from there!
What! The only one we have! And I’m not to use it! Voting in a totalitarian state is an expression of popular sentiment? Popular sentiment, indeed!
When to use Question Marks (?)
1: Use the question mark at th end of every sentence that asks a question.
How fast are we going?
“how fast are we going? “ he asked.
Can there not be such a thing as an absolute event quite independent of cause?
2: Use the question mark within the sentence when it is desirable to emphasize each element separately.
Where now is his love of country? his political integrity? His unblemished record?
3: Use the question mark within parentheses to indicate doubt or uncertainty as to the correctness of the word or fact preceding it.
Charles I, born in 1660 (?), was king of Sicily.
When to use Apostrophe (ʼ)
The apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word or to form the possessive of certain nouns as indicates the rules following.
1: Use the apostrophe to indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word or figures from a number
I can’t do it now,
He wouldn’t do it then.
The class of ‘ 98 met in Chicago.
2: Use the apostrophe and s to form the possessive of singular nouns of not more than one syllable including those which end in s.
Fred’s, james’s, Mr. jones’s
Some writers still use only the apostrophe for the possessive of singular nouns ending in s, or nouns ending in s. and consisting of more than one syllable; s with the apostrophe in the case of plural nouns which do not end in s.
The Shahid’s house.
Girl’s, soldier’s, children’s, men’s.
The New testament! contains Jesus’ parables.
3: Use the apostrophe and s to indicate joint possession.
Shahid and Sadia’s book.
Chase and Sanvorm’s coffee.
4: Use the apostrophe and s to form possessive of indefinite pronouns.
One’s other’s, another’s, either’s.
Somebody else’s coat.
The above rule does not apply to its, hers, his, ours, yours, theirs, whose.
5: Use the apostrophe and s to form the plural of a letter, a, figure, or of a word used as a noun.
There are two f’s in effect.
Your 8’s are not legible. He uses too many if’s and but ‘s.
Hope you understand when to use punctuation marks in English sentences. if you have any questions let us know in the comment section. Our English experts will answer your questions.
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