PUNCTUATION

comma | semicolon | colon | apostrophe | parentheses | dash | italics | quotation marks

Use a SEMICOLON

1. Between independent clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions

(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

   

Example

              

 

   

   

2. Between independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb  

 

           Example 

   

   

 

   

   

3. Between items in a series containing internal punctuation

   

Example

  

 

 

4. Between independent clauses containing internal punctuation -even when the clauses are

joined by coordinating conjunctions.

   

Example

          

    

     

Use a COLON

       

1. Before formally introducing a list (*An independent clause must precede the colon.)

   

Examples

   

Incorrect

               

 

2. Between two independent clauses when the second explains or expands the first

Examples

              

        

3. Before a formal appositive (*An independent clause must precede the colon)

Example

               

 

    

Incorrect

                

 

                    

4. Between hour and minute / chapter and verse (Bible)

Examples

                 

     

Use an APOSTROPHE

1. To show ownership (to form the possessive case of nouns)

        

Examples

               

   

 

 

 

          

           

 

 

 

            

 

 

2. To show joint ownership with nouns

Example

 

 

   

 

3. To show individual ownership with nouns

   

            Example

                

    

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. To show ownership with indefinite pronouns   

    

Examples

 

 

NOTE:  

 

Do not use an apostrophe to form the possessive case of the personal possessive pronoun its.

   

       Example    

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do use an apostrophe with its to mean it is or it has.

  

        Correct

             

 

  5.  To form the plural of letters, numbers, and signs, and of words referred to as words. 

 

Examples

   

   

   

Use PARENTHESES

   

1. To enclose interrupting elements that add information or identification

   

   

Examples

 
             

 

 
   

       

2. To enclose figures or letters when used for enumeration within a sentence

       

Example

                  

   

   

 

   

Use a DASH

   

To set off parenthetical matter

   

Example
               

NOTE:  UNLIKE PARENTHESES, WHICH MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE.

PARENTHETICAL MATERIAL, DASHES EMPHASIZE PARENTHETICAL

MATERIAL.

   

   

Notice the different emphasis in each sentence.   

                                                    

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use ITALICS (underlining)

    

1. For words, letters, and figures referred to as such

    

Examples

         

   

   

   

2. For foreign, technical (including mathematical expressions), or unusual words and phrases.   


          Examples

        

     

3. For titles of books, newspapers, magazines, journals, plays, movies,  radio programs, TV programs, long musical works, long poems, works of art, names of ships and airplanes.

   

Examples

  

   

   

   

Use QUOTATION MARKS

   

1. To enclose titles of minor works:  articles, essays, poems, songs, chapters of 

books, short stories, episodes of radio/TV programs.

    

Examples

               

   

   

   

2. To enclose  words used ironically or where the term so-called could be inserted.

 

Examples

       

   

   

   

3. To enclose a direct quotation:  a person's exact words

   

             Example

     

   

NOTE:  Do not use quotation marks to enclose indirect quotations.   

           Incorrect 

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Correct

            

 

    

      

   

NOTES FOR DIRECT QUOTATIONS:

    

1. Start the quotation with a capital letter.

2. Place commas and periods INSIDE the quotation marks.

3. Place semicolons and colons OUTSIDE the quotation marks.

4. Place question marks and exclamation marks INSIDE the quotation marks if the quotation itself is a question or an exclamation.
5.  Place question marks and exclamation marks OUTSIDE the quotation marks if the quotation itself is NOT a question or exclamation.

 

 

 

USE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS to enclose a quotation inside another quotation.

     

   

Examples

               

 

 

If the quotation within another quotation is a question or an exclamation, place appropriate punctuation next to the item concerned.

 

            Examples

 

Question quotation inside statement quotation 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement quotation inside question quotation

 

 

 

 

 

  

          

Question quotation inside question quotation 

 

 

Exclamation quotation inside question quotation

                                                 or

Question quotation inside exclamation quotation