Correct and Effective Punctuation & Mechanics
The "rules" of punctuation are, in fact, only broad guidelines. They vary across national boundaries and even from one writer to the next. Still, understanding the principles behind the common marks of punctuation will strengthen our understanding of grammar and help us to follow the conventions consistently in our own writing.
Basic Rules of Punctuation
Here we'll review the conventional uses of punctuation in American English.
Here we'll review the conventional uses of punctuation in American English.
Punctuation Matters: A "Dear John" Letter and a $2.13 Million Comma
So, instant messengers, do you still think that punctuation is unimportant--that commas, colons, and similar squiggles are just pesky reminders of a bygone era? If so, here are two short stories that may change your mind.
So, instant messengers, do you still think that punctuation is unimportant--that commas, colons, and similar squiggles are just pesky reminders of a bygone era? If so, here are two short stories that may change your mind.
End Punctuation: Periods, Question Marks, Exclamation Points
Hitting the brakes is one of the first things we practice when learning how to drive. Knowing how and when to stop a sentence is also important.
Hitting the brakes is one of the first things we practice when learning how to drive. Knowing how and when to stop a sentence is also important.
Punctuation Practice: Using End Marks of Punctuation
After you have reviewed "End Punctuation: Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points," try this short exercise.
After you have reviewed "End Punctuation: Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points," try this short exercise.
Guidelines for Using Commas Effectively
In his essay "In Praise of the Humble Comma," Pico Iyer compares the comma to "a flashing yellow light that asks us only to slow down." Here we'll consider four main guidelines for using commas effectively.
In his essay "In Praise of the Humble Comma," Pico Iyer compares the comma to "a flashing yellow light that asks us only to slow down." Here we'll consider four main guidelines for using commas effectively.
Creating Sentences With Commas
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in applying our Top Four Guidelines for Using Commas Effectively.
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in applying our Top Four Guidelines for Using Commas Effectively.
Review Exercise: Adding Commas to a Paragraph
This exercise offers practice in applying the rules for using commas effectively. Insert commas wherever you think they belong in the paragraph "The Least Successful Car." Try reading the paragraph aloud: at least in some cases, you should be able to hear where commas are needed.
This exercise offers practice in applying the rules for using commas effectively. Insert commas wherever you think they belong in the paragraph "The Least Successful Car." Try reading the paragraph aloud: at least in some cases, you should be able to hear where commas are needed.
Review Exercise: Adding Commas to a Paragraph II
Insert commas wherever you think they belong in the paragraph "Frederick Douglass." Try reading the paragraph aloud: at least in some cases, you should be able to hear where commas are needed.
Insert commas wherever you think they belong in the paragraph "Frederick Douglass." Try reading the paragraph aloud: at least in some cases, you should be able to hear where commas are needed.
What Is the Oxford (or Serial) Comma?
The Oxford (or serial) comma is the comma that precedes the conjunction before the final item in a list of three or more items:
The Oxford (or serial) comma is the comma that precedes the conjunction before the final item in a list of three or more items:
How to Use the Semicolon
Stronger than a comma, less forceful than a period (or full stop): put simply, that's the nature of the semicolon. It's a mark, Lewis Thomas says, that offers "a pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come." Here we'll consider the main uses of the semicolon.
Stronger than a comma, less forceful than a period (or full stop): put simply, that's the nature of the semicolon. It's a mark, Lewis Thomas says, that offers "a pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come." Here we'll consider the main uses of the semicolon.
Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes
No intestinal jokes here, please. We're talking about three much-abused marks of punctuation.
No intestinal jokes here, please. We're talking about three much-abused marks of punctuation.
Creating Sentences With Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in applying our guidelines for using semicolons, colons, and dashes.
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in applying our guidelines for using semicolons, colons, and dashes.
Review Exercise: Using Commas and Semicolons Correctly
This exercise offers practice in using commas and semicolons correctly.
This exercise offers practice in using commas and semicolons correctly.
Guidelines for Using Apostrophes Correctly
The apostrophe may be the simplest and yet most frequently misused mark of punctuation in English. Here we'll review six guidelines for using the mark correctly.
The apostrophe may be the simplest and yet most frequently misused mark of punctuation in English. Here we'll review six guidelines for using the mark correctly.
Apostrophe Exercise: Combining Sentences with Possessive Nouns
This exercise will give you practice in applying some of the principles introduced in "Using Apostrophes Correctly."
This exercise will give you practice in applying some of the principles introduced in "Using Apostrophes Correctly."
Guidelines for Using Quotation Marks Effectively
Quotation marks, sometimes referred to as quotes or inverted commas, are punctuation marks used in pairs to set off a quotation or a piece of dialogue. At least that's how they're supposed to be used. Here are five guidelines for using quotation marks effectively.
Quotation marks, sometimes referred to as quotes or inverted commas, are punctuation marks used in pairs to set off a quotation or a piece of dialogue. At least that's how they're supposed to be used. Here are five guidelines for using quotation marks effectively.
Please, Don't "Quote" Me
A look at the proliferation of quotation marks in some unexpected places.
A look at the proliferation of quotation marks in some unexpected places.
Review Exercise: Punctuating Sentences Correctly
It's time to find out how well you can apply the guidelines for using punctuation marks correctly and effectively.
It's time to find out how well you can apply the guidelines for using punctuation marks correctly and effectively.
Poe on Punctuation
"That punctuation is important all agree," Edgar Allan Poe wrote in 1848, "but how few comprehend the extent of its importance!"
"That punctuation is important all agree," Edgar Allan Poe wrote in 1848, "but how few comprehend the extent of its importance!"
The Punctuation Poem: "The Dictaphone Bard"
By demonstrating how a 19th-century poem might look after being played back through a Dictaphone (an early voice-recording device), Franklin P. Adams highlights (to the point of distraction) the usually unobtrusive marks of punctuation.
By demonstrating how a 19th-century poem might look after being played back through a Dictaphone (an early voice-recording device), Franklin P. Adams highlights (to the point of distraction) the usually unobtrusive marks of punctuation.
State Abbreviations
A table of the postal (or ZIP code) abbreviations for all 50 states along with their older (or traditional) abbreviations.
A table of the postal (or ZIP code) abbreviations for all 50 states along with their older (or traditional) abbreviations.