STUDY GUIDE: Punctuation

01
What are
punctuation ,
marks?
The apostrophe has 2 uses:

Apostrophe

Punctua
tion ma
symbols
used rks are
you stru in writin 1. To form 2. To show the
cture yo g to help
so that ur sente possessives of nouns omission of letters
the me nces E.g. the boy’s hat E.g. don’t
When y aning is
ou read clear.
marks t punctua
ell you w tion
the rhy hen to c
thm or h a nge
your sp the stre
eaking. ss of Forming possessives of nouns
A ‘possessive Noun’ is adding an (‘) or (‘s) to the noun
to show its ownership. It is a kind of shorthand.

For Example
Instead of saying the tail of the dog we say dog’s tail.
Common units of punctuation in English and many
other languages include the comma, period or full To see if you need to make a possessive, turn the
stop, apostrophe, quotation mark, question mark, phrase around and make it an “of the” phrase.
exclamation mark, bracket, dash, hyphen, ellipsis,
colon, and semicolon. Each of these units indicates a
Converted into ‘of
different thing, and some may have multiple meanings Phrase
the’ phrase
depending on context.

The boy’s hat the hat of the boy

In English, punctuation is vital to clarify the meaning
of sentences.
Three days’ journey journey of three days
For Example
“Woman, without her man, is nothing.” and
“Woman: without her, man is nothing.” have
If the noun after “of” is a building, an object, or a piece
greatly different meanings, as do “Eats shoots
of furniture, then no apostrophe is needed!
and leaves” and “Eats, shoots and leaves” (Truss,
2003).
Room of the hotel = hotel room
Leg of the table = table leg

Punctuation 1 of 8
 3. Our neighbors car is an old Chrysler, and its just
Uses of an Apostrophe Converted into
about to fall apart.
in forming possessives ‘of the’ phrase
4. In three weeks time well have to begin school
Add (‘s) to the plural The children’s game again.
forms that do not end The geese’s honking
with the letter (s) 5. Didnt you hear that theyre leaving tomorrow?

Add (‘) to the end of Houses’ roofs

plural nouns that end Three friends’ letters
with the letter (s) Answers to Activity 1

Add (‘s) to the end of My brother-in-law’s

compound words money
5. Didn’t you hear that they’re leaving tomorrow?

Add (‘s) to the last Mere and Tito’s again

noun to show joint apartment 4. In three weeks time we’ll have to begin school
possession of an
object
about to fall.
3. Our neighbor’s car is an old Chrysler, and it’s just

Add (‘) after the (s) in The scissors’ handle

the Trap’s jaws.
places where the noun was broken. 2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in
ends with the letter (s) this year?
1. Who’s the party’s’ candidate for vice president

Misuses

Using
who’s
to show
possessive
02

3 Common
Misuses of an
Apostrophe
“”
Writing Using It’s To mark ironical
Plural Direct Quotation
to show words
e.g. Pizza’s possessive.
CD’s

Activity 1: Using the Uses of Quotation Marks

Apostrophe (‘s)

Punctuate the following sentences correctly. Titles for minor works

Dialogue/ or parts of whole.
1. Whos the partys candidate for vice president Conversation E.g. Poems
this year? short story, short poem
2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in
the traps jaws.

Punctuation 2 of 8
 Uses of Quotation
For Example Uses of Commas Examples
Marks

Direct Quotation Mr. and Mrs. Peter, Complex sentence When the door bell
owners of a 300-acre rang, Sera rushed to
farm, said, “We refuse When a sentence begins open the door.
to sell this land to the with a dependent Sera rushed to the
Film Industry.” (Note clause, place a comma door when the door
Indirect quotes do not after the dependent bell rang.
use quotation marks) clause to differentiate
between the dependent
and independent
Ironical words The great march of clause. But when a
(Ironical words are “progress” has left sentence begins with
words that actually millions impoverished an independent clause,
mean the opposite of and hungry. then there is no need to
the literal meaning.) place a comma.

Dialogues “Can I come in?” she Comma with essential The person checking
asked. clause or phrase tickets at the counter
asked for a form of
Quotation Marks for “Still to Neat” a poem An essential clause identification.
Titles of Minor Works by Ben Jonson modifies the noun
and Parts of Wholes (provides important Essential phrase
information without
which the sentence
would not be complete).
There is no need for a
comma in an essential
clause.

03
Non Essential Clause My uncle, who is eighty

,
or phrase years old, walks three
miles every day.
Non essential clause
is embedded in the
sentence that interrupts Non Essential clause
it without changing the
essential meaning.

A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a

pause, and is needed in a sentence to separate items
in a list. Comma with The coaches reviewed
Introductory Words the game strategy.
Meanwhile, the athletes
Uses of Commas Examples Introductory words trained on the Nautilus
like however, still, equipment.
furthermore, and
Compound sentence It rained heavily during meanwhile create
the afternoon, but we continuity from one
When joining two managed to have our sentence to the next.
independent clauses, rugby match anyway.
use the comma after the
first independent clause Comma with After studying, I
with anyone of the introduction to the decided to go for a
following conjunctions main idea. walk.
for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so (FANBOYS).

Punctuation 3 of 8
 Uses of other
Uses of Commas Examples Examples
Punctuation Marks

Comma with an I felt a sense of relief,

afterthought knowing that the
6 Parentheses ()
cyclone was over.

Parentheses are Before arriving at the

Comma with phrase Be sure to include occasionally and station, the old train
‘such as’ fruits such as banana sparingly used for (someone said it was
and pawpaw in your extra, nonessential a relic of frontier days)
If the ‘such as’ appears diet. material included in caught fire.
directly between a term a sentence.
and the example, then Be sure to include
there is no need to use vegetables in your diet, Note: Usually not
a comma. However, if such as banana and used academic
it is otherwise, then pawpaw writing
there is a need to use a
comma.

7 Dash --
Uses of other
Examples
Punctuation Marks
A dash is used to The truth is – and you
indicate an abrupt probably know it –we
4 Semicolon ; break in thought. can’t do without you.

Use a semicolon It rained heavily

when you use a during the afternoon;
conjunctive adverb however, we managed
like ‘however’,
to have our rugby
8 Virgule /
‘moreover’,
match anyway.
‘therefore’,
‘consequently’, The virgule is also The 1998/99 soccer
‘otherwise’, It rained heavily during called the ‘slant season
‘nevertheless’, the afternoon; we bar’. It is used in
‘thus’, etc. managed to have our dates. 60km/hour =60
A semicolon is used rugby match anyway.
kilometers per hour
for connecting It is also used
two independent to represent
clauses without the word per in ‘’You can wear either
the use of a measurements. the red/blue dress”.
conjunction.
It also stands for
the word ‘and/or.

5 Colon :
A colon is used Healthy living usually
when a complete includes the following:
sentence precedes a well balanced diet,
the list. regular exercise and
rest.

Punctuation 4 of 8
 Uses of other Uses of other
Examples Examples
Punctuation Marks Punctuation Marks

9 Ellipsis ... 12 Full stop/

Period
.
An ‘Ellipsis’ is three One of Churchill’s
periods or full stops most famous speeches The period marks I live in Suva.
in a row to indicate declaimed: “We shall the end of a
that several words fight them on the sentence.
have been left out, beaches ... We shall
or four periods or never surrender”.
full stops in a row
to show that a
sentence or more
has been left out. Activity 2:
It is used either at
the beginning of Punctuation Exercise
a quotation, in the
middle or at the
end. Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks,
Italics (use an underline), and parentheses wherever
they are needed in the following sentences.

1. The men in question Long John, Semisi, and

10 Exclamation
Mark
! Hari deserve awards.

2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy,

Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

Exclamation marks Look out! 3. Only one course was open to us surrender, said
express a sense of the ex-major, and we did.
urgency or shock. No! 4. Judge Rosa later to be nominated for the
Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
However, they
are rare in formal 5. In last week’s Marama, one of my favorite
writing magazines, I enjoyed reading Pauline’s article
How Not to Go Camping.

6. Yes, Jim said, I’ll be home by ten.

7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.
11 Question
Mark
? 8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man
never loses anything, if he has himself.

9. The following are the primary colors red, blue,

Question marks are Who are you? and yellow.
used at the end of
direct questions. 10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my
old roommate her husband and Tim, their son.
However question The teacher asked why
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling
marks are not used the students were late.
was poor, Lynn replied All the members of my
in reported speech.
family are poor spellers. Why not me?

12. He used the phrase you know so often that I

finally said No, I don’t know.

13. The automobile dealer handled three makes

of cars Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes
Benz.

Punctuation 5 of 8
 Punctuation 6 of 8
1. The men in question (Long John, Semisi, and
Hari) deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift: Italy,
the punch line. Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
he sometimes forgets sentence
When he tells a joke, The first words of a
3. “Only one course was open to us: surrender,”
said the ex-major, “and we did.”
4. Judge Rosa--later to be nominated for the
Supreme Court--had ruled against civil rights.
Examples Uses of Capitalization
5. In last week’s Marama, one of my favorite
Use capital letters in the following ways: magazines, I enjoyed reading Pauline’s article
“How Not to Go Camping.”
6. “Yes”, Jim said, “I’ll be home by ten.”
7. There was only one thing to do--study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following: “A wise man
never loses anything, if he has himself.”
9. The following are the primary colors: red, blue,
13 and yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8:10 plane were Liz Brooks, my
old roommate; her husband; and Tim, their son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling
was poor, Lynn replied, “All the members of my
family are poor spellers. Why not me?”
12. He used the phrase “you know” so often that I added in the following sentences.
finally said, “No, I don’t know.” underline), and parentheses are
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes
quotation marks, Italics (use an
of cars: Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes
Semicolons, colons, dashes,
Benz. Answers to Activity 2
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9:19
flight, he came instead on the 10:36 flight.
15. “Whoever thought,” said Helen, “that Jack
would be elected class president?” a great controversy when it appeared.
20. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species 1859 caused
16. In baseball a “show boat” is a man who shows
off. previous secretary.
to do a great deal of work, said Jumita, the
17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5:21 in last Sunday’s Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared
sermon. 19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club
18. There was a very interesting article entitled York Times newspaper.
“The New Rage for Folk Singing” in last New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday’s New
Sunday’s New York Times. 18. There was a very interesting article entitled The
19. “Whoever is elected secretary of the club-- sermon.
Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha--must be prepared 17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday’s
to do a great deal of work,” said Jumita, the
previous secretary. 16. In baseball a show boat is a man who shows off.
20. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) be elected class president?
caused a great controversy when it appeared. 15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would
Adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.
handouts/grammar/g_overvwA1.html
14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19
Uses of Capitalization Examples Uses of Capitalization Examples

The pronoun “I” The last time I visited Titles preceding names, She worked as the
Taveuni was several but not titles that assistant to Mayor
years ago. follow names Simpson

I was able to interview

Mary Moss, mayor of
Proper nouns (the Ranjit Garments
Suva.
names of specific
people, places, Rewa Bridge
organizations, and
sometimes things) Supreme Court Directions that are The Johnsons
names (North, South, have moved to the
Vatuwaqa, Suva East, and West when Southwest.
used as sections of
Pacific Ocean the country, but not as Jim’s house is two
compass directions) miles north of Vanua
Mothers Against Drunk Levu
Driving

The days of the week, Halloween

Family relationships I sent a thank-you note
the months of the
(when used as proper to Aunt Crystal, but
year, and holidays (but October
names) not to my other aunts
not the seasons used
.
generally) Friday
Here is a present I
bought for Father.
winter
Did you buy a present
spring
for your father?

fall

The names of God, God the Father Exception: Seasons are The Fall 1999 semester
specific deities, capitalized when used
religious figures, and the Virgin Mary in a title.
holy books
the Bible

the Greek gods

The names of countries, Vanuatu
nationalities, and
Allah
specific languages Spanish
Shiva
French
Buddha
English
Dakuwaqa

Jesus
The first word in a Emerson once said, “A
sentence that is a foolish consistency is
direct quote the hobgoblin of little
Exception: Do not The word
minds.”
capitalize the non- “polytheistic” means
specific use of the the worship of more
word “god.” than one god.

Punctuation 7 of 8
 2. We went to Maui for vacation last year.
Uses of Capitalization Examples
3. I don’t drink Coke, but I’d love a Diet Soda.
4. I hear you’re learning to speak french. I would
The major words in the One of Jerry’s favorite
love to go to France.
titles of books, articles, books is The Catcher in
and songs (but not the Rye. 5. Jamie and Jonathon went to their high school
short prepositions or dance together last May.
the articles “the,” “a,”
or “an,” if they are not 6. My Father-in-Law took me to a Chicago Cubs
the first word of the game; He doesn’t know I’m a White Sox fan.
title) 7. Jessica’s dad, Dr. Johnson, wants her to be a
Doctor as well.
Members of national, African-Americans 8. Jeremy went to Alexander community college
political, racial, social, for two years.
civic, and athletic Anti-Semitic
groups
9. My sister’s new boyfriend is italian.
Democrats 10. We traveled South on vacation because my dad
wanted to study Civil War history.
Friends of the
Wilderness

Chinese
Answers to Activity 3
The corrected sentences are
Trademarks Coco Cola
below. The corrected words are
underlined.
Honda

IBM wanted to study Civil War history.

10. We traveled south on vacation because my dad
Microsoft Word
9. My sister’s new boyfriend is Italian.
for two years.
Periods and events (but Victorian Era 8. Jeremy went to Alexander Community College
not century numbers)
Great Depression doctor as well.
7. Jessica’s dad, Dr. Johnson, wants her to be a
Constitutional game; he doesn’t know I’m a White Sox fan.
Convention 6. My father-in-law took me to a Chicago Cubs

sixteenth century dance together last May.

5. Jamie and Jonathon went to their high school

Adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

love to go to France.
resource/592/01/
4. I hear you’re learning to speak French. I would
3. I don’t drink Coke, but I’d love a diet soda.

2. We went to Maui for vacation last year.

Activity 3: school.

Capitalization exercise 1. I read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was in high

Some of the following sentences contain

Adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
capitalization errors. Identify and correct the errors.
engagement/index.php?category_id=2&sub_
Note: not all sentences contain errors.
category_id=1&article_id=42
1. I read To Kill A Mockingbird when I was in High
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-punctuation.htm
School.

Punctuation 8 of 8