Punctuation:

1
Punctuation

• An Essential Part of Writing

2
The Semicolon

• Use between closely related independent clauses
  not joined with a coordinating conjunction
• Use between items in a series containing internal
  punctuation
• Use between independent clauses linked with a
  transitional expression
• accordingly, furthermore, moreover, similarly,
  also, hence, namely, still, anyway, however,
  nevertheless, then, besides, incidentally, next,
  thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless,
  therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus,
  finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly,
  further, meanwhile

3
The Colon

• Use after an independent clause to direct
  attention to a list, an appositive, or a
  quotation
• Use between independent clauses if the second
  summarizes or explains the first
• Use with time, letter salutations, a ratio, and
  between a title and subtitle

4
The Apostrophe

• Use to indicate that a noun is possessive
• Use to indicate that an indefinite pronoun is
  possessive
• Use to mark omissions in contractions and numbers
• Do not use to form plurals of numbers, letters,
  and abbreviations

5
Quotation Marks

• Use to enclose direct quotations
• Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation
  within a quotation
• Titles short stories, songs, articles, poems,
  episodes of TV and radio programs, chapters

6
End Marks

• Perioduse to end sentences and with
  abbreviations
• Question mark a direct question should be
  followed by a question mark
• Exclamation pointuse with a word group or
  sentence to express exceptional feeling or
  provide emphasis

7
The Dash

• To set off parenthetical material that deserves
  emphasis
• To set off apposition that contains commas
• To prepare a list, a restatement, an
  amplification, or a dramatic shift in tone or
  thoughtMary took a few steps back, came running
  full speed, kicked a mighty kickand missed the
  ball.

8
Parentheses

• Use to enclose supplemental material or
  afterthoughtsAfter taking her vital signs
  (temperature, pulse, and blood), the nurse made
  Becky feel as comfortable as possible.
• Use to enclose letters or numbers labeling items
  in a series

9
Brackets

• Use to enclose nay words or phrases that you have
  inserted into an otherwise word for word
  quotation
• Audubon reports that if there are not enough
  young to balance deaths, the end of the species
  California candor is inevitable.

10
The Ellipsis Mark

• Use to indicate that words have been deleted from
  an otherwise word for word quotation

11
The Slash

• Use to separate two or three lines of poetry that
  have been run into your text
• Use t o separate paired termspass/failhis/her

12
Italics (underlining)

• Use for titles of worksbooks, magazines,
  newspapers, pamphlets, long poems, plays, films,
  television programs, radio programs, musical
  compositions, choreographic works, works of art,
  comic strips, electronic databases, web sites,
  electronic games, names of ships
• Use for foreign words used in an English sentence