ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

WRITING MECHANICS: PUNCTUATION

INTRODUCTION
What is writing? Why do we
Writing is one of write?
the four language According to
skills. It is the act of Chappell (2011),
expressing ideas and thoughts in a as cited by Klimova (2013), writing is an
clear, easily understandable essential skill to learn as it offers the
manner using symbols such as following:
letters, punctuation marks, and
spaces. It is a form of communication  express one’s personality;
that enables people to communicate  foster communication;
with others and express themselves. It  develop thinking skills;
is also an ability that may be applied to  make logical and persuasive
a variety of tasks, such as composing arguments;
stories, articles, and essays as well as  give a person a chance to later
communicating through letters, emails, reflect on his/her ideas and re-
and other written forms of evaluate them;
communication.  provide and receive feedback; and
 prepare for school and employment

Writing Mechanics
The set of rules and conventions utilized when writing in a particular
language are referred to as writing mechanics. This covers
capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. Using symbols like commas,
periods, and quote marks to demarcate concepts and make text simpler
to read is known as punctuation. The ability to appropriately use words
and spell them is referred to as spelling. Capitalization involves the use
of uppercase and lowercase letters at the start of sentences and proper
nouns. These conventions are all used to make writing clear, concise,
and understandable.
Good writing mechanics are vital in order to effectively
communicate ideas through written language. This is because written
language does not have the same tools that spoken language has to
convey meaning. Tone of voice, hand gestures, and facial expressions
are all used in spoken language to convey the feelings and intentions
behind a message. Without these tools to cue the reader into the
intended meaning, it is important to write in a clear and concise manner
in order to ensure that the intended message is understood.

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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

Assessing Your Knowledge: A Pretest

Direction: Identify what is described in each statement. Blacken the circle that
correspond to your answer.
1. Punctuation is a system of symbols that we use 6. You must put a space ______ every comma in a
when _______ a language. sentence.
o speaking o before
o writing o around
o hearing o after
2. What are the symbols used in this system 7. What's the punctuation mark indicating a
called? question called?
o punctuals o a question tag
o punctuations o a question mark
o punctuation marks o a question sign
3. Which are examples of punctuation marks? 8. Which can be used to express strong feelings in
o commas and full stops written English?
o dollar and pound signs o an exclamation mark
o plus and minus signs o a quotation mark
4. "Full stops" are also called o a backslash
o periods 9. Quotation marks are put _______ the words
o endings being quoted.
o points o before
5. Which CANNOT come at the end of a sentence? o after
o a period o before and after
o a colon 10. In British English, ( ) are called "round
o an exclamation mark brackets", but in American English they're
often called ___________.
o round braces
o square brackets
o parentheses

Source:
Errey, M. (n.d.). Punctuation quiz 1: Writing:
Englishclub. EnglishClub.com. Retrieved
April 1, 2023, from
https://www.englishclub.com/writing/p
unctuation-quiz-1.php

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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

Period PUNCTUATION
CommaMARKS Colon

. , :
Semicolon Question Mark Ellipsis

; ? …
Bracket
Exclamation Point Parenthesis

! [] ()
Hyphen
En-dash
Em-dash

— – -
Quotation Marks Apostrophe Slash

“” ‘ /
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

What is punctuation?
Punctuation is the use of symbols, including periods, commas, and question marks,
to help the reader understand and read written text correctly. While reading aloud or
silently, punctuation makes words and sentences flow more naturally.

PUNCTUATION RULES

4. Use a semicolon to
Spacing Semicolons ; separate units of a series
1. Use just one space 1. If the writer when one or more of the units
after periods, commas, wants to fill the gap contain commas.
semicolons, colons, between two closely related
exclamation points, sentences, he or she can Example:
question marks, and quote use a semicolon instead of a Mr. Juan dela Cruz, the
marks while using a period. school principal; Mrs. Miriam
computer. The space Rodero, the SSG adviser; and
Example: I love spending
required following these Rose Garcia, the student
time with my family; it always
punctuation marks is leader, attended the
makes me feel happy.
automatically proportioned. leadership conference in Cebu
2. When a dependent City.
2. There should be no
clause comes before an
spaces on either side of a 5. A semicolon may be
independent clause, do not
hyphen. used between independent
use a semicolon.
Example: They
✖️ If you win the game; I will
clauses joined by a connector,
prepared twenty-five such as and, but, or, nor, etc.,
copies of their research when one or more commas
paper. buy you a new pair of shoes.
appear in the first clause.
✅ If you win the game, I will
Periods Example:
1. A period When I finish here, and I
should be used to buy you a new pair of shoes. will soon, I'll be glad to help
end a complete
you; and that is a promise I
sentence that is a statement. 3. Use a semicolon will keep.
2. If the last item in the before such words and
sentence is an abbreviation terms as namely, however, 6. Do not capitalize ordinary
that ends in a period, do not therefore, that is, i.e., for words after a semicolon.
follow it with another period. example, e.g., for instance,
✖️This is Alice Smith, M.D..
Example:

✅I
etc., when they introduce a
complete sentence. It is also am an elementary
✅ This is Alice Smith, M.D.
preferable to use a comma teacher; you are a medical
after these words and
✅ Please shop, cook, etc. We
officer.

✖️ I am an elementary
terms.

will do the laundry. Example:

You may draw anything you teacher; You are a medical
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

officer.
3. Periods are replaced by like; however, you must
question marks and observe the theme.
exclamation points at the end
of sentences.

Question Marks

?
1. Use a question 3a. Avoid the common trap of 4. Use a question mark when a
mark only after a using question marks with sentence is half statement and
direct question. indirect questions, which are half question.

✅: Will you go with me?

statements that contain questions.
Use a period after an indirect Example: You do care, don't
question. you?

✖️: I'm asking if you will go with

✖️I wonder if he would go with me?
5. The placement of question
me? marks with quotation marks

✅I wonder if he would go with me.

follows logic. If a question is
2a. A question mark replaces a within the quoted material, a

✅I wonder: Would he go with me?

period at the end of a sentence. question mark should be placed
inside the quotation marks.

✖️: Will you go with me?. 3b. Some sentences are

Examples:
o She asked, "Will you create
statements—or demands—in the
form of a question. They are called an infographic for our
2b. Because of Rule 2a, school’s existing projects?"
rhetorical questions because
capitalize the word that The question is part of the
they don't require or expect an
follows a question mark. quotation.
answer. Many should be written
without question marks.
Some writers choose to overlook o Do you agree with the
this rule in special cases. Examples: saying, "All's fair in love and
o Would you kids knock war"?
Example: Will you it off. The question “Do you agree with
choose me? or Sarah? or o What wouldn't I do for the saying?” is outside the
Kimberly? you! quotation.

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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

Ellipsis Exclamation Points

… 1. Many writers use an ellipsis whether

the omission occurs at the beginning
1. Use an exclamation point
emotion, emphasis, or surprise.
to show

of a sentence, in the middle of a

sentence, or between sentences. Examples:
A common way to delete the beginning of a sentence What a beautiful day it is!
is to follow the opening quotation mark with an
ellipsis, plus a bracketed capital letter: 2. An exclamation point replaces a period at the end of a
sentence. It also replaces a midsentence comma.
Example: "… [A]fter hours of careful thought, we
vetoed the bill." 3. Avoid using an exclamation point in formal business
Other writers omit the ellipsis in such cases, feeling writing.
the bracketed capital letter gets the point across.
4. Overuse of exclamation points is a sign of undisciplined
2. Ellipses can express hesitation, changes of mood,
writing. The writer F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "An
suspense, or thoughts trailing off. Writers also use
ellipses to indicate a pause or wavering in an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke." Do not
otherwise straightforward sentence. use even one of these marks unless you're convinced it is
justified.
Examples:
I don't know … I'm not sure.
Pride is one thing, but what happens if she …?
He said, "I … really don't … understand this."

Commas

, 1. Use commas to 8. If something or someone is 14. Use a comma to separate a

separate words and sufficiently identified, the description city from its state, and remember to
word groups in a that follows is considered put one after the state, also.
simple series of three or nonessential and should be Example: I am from Naujan,
more items. surrounded by commas. Oriental Mindoro, area.
Example: Life is full of Example: Mr. Salazar, the
surprises, joy, sorrow and school principal, gave an 15. Traditionally, if a person's
uncertainty. opening remark. name is followed by Sr. or Jr., a
comma follows the last name: Martin
2. Use a comma to separate 9. Use a comma after certain Luther King, Jr. This comma is no
two adjectives when the order of the words that introduce a sentence, longer considered mandatory.
adjectives is interchangeable. such as well, yes, why, hello, However, if a comma does precede
Example: Her son is a hey, etc. Sr. or Jr., another comma must
strong, healthy boy. Examples: No, you can’t follow the entire name when it
have another slice of cake. appears midsentence.

✅Al Mooney Sr. is here.

3. In sentences where two Well, there are numerous
factors to be considered in
independent clauses are joined by
preparing differentiated teaching
✅Al
connectors such as and, or, strategies.
but, etc., put a comma at the end of Mooney, Sr., is here.

✖️Al Mooney, Sr. is here.

the first clause. 10. Use commas to set off
Example: Teaching is a expressions that interrupt the
rewarding profession, but it can sentence flow (nevertheless, after
also be quite challenging. all, by the way, on the other hand, 16. Similarly, use commas to
however, etc.). enclose degrees or titles used with
4. If the subject does not Example: I am, by the way, names.
appear in front of the second verb, a nervous about this.
Example: Al Mooney, M.D.,
comma is generally unnecessary. is here.
11. In general, use commas to
Example: John prepared for
set off the word too midsentence. 17. Use commas to introduce or
the exam but still did not answer
However, it is usually not necessary interrupt direct quotations of
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

the questions correctly. to precede too with a comma at the dialogue or text.
end of a sentence. Example: Walt Disney
5. When starting a sentence Example: The learners, too, once said, "When you're
have needs to be addressed. curious, you find lots of
with a dependent clause, use a
The learners have needs to interesting things to do."
comma after it.
be addressed too.
Example: If you are not sure 18. If the quotation comes
about this, let me know now. 12. Use commas to set off the before he said, she wrote, they
name, nickname, term of reported, Dana insisted, or a similar
6. A comma is often endearment, or title of a person attribution, end the quoted material
unnecessary when the sentence directly addressed. with a comma, even if it is only one
starts with an independent clause Examples: Will you, Janna,
word.
followed by a dependent clause. send me a copy of your report?
Good day, Engr. Garcia. Example: “The most
Example: Let me know if you important thing is to enjoy
are not sure about this. 13. Use a comma to separate your life – to be happy – it’s
all that matters,” said Audrey
the day of the month from the year,
7. Use commas to set off Hepburn.
and—what most people forget!—
nonessential words, clauses, and
always put one after the year, also. 19. If a quotation functions as a
phrases.
Example: It was in the Sun's subject or object in a sentence, it
Example: Angelique, who is might not need a comma.
June 5, 2019, edition.
a teacher, also conducts social Example: Saying “I will be
works. a good teacher” is Kyla’s way
of motivating herself.

Brackets Parentheses  However, if the enclosed

[]
1. Use parentheses sentence forms a
1. Use to enclose complete question or
brackets to additional or exclamation, then you
insert comments or clarifying supplemental information that may punctuate it as a
information within a direct clarifies or illustrates a point. complete sentence,
quotation. The brackets In a business letter, the beginning with a capital
indicate the parenthetical salutation and body of the letter letter and ending with a
information is not included in are flush left (against the left question mark or
the original text of the margin). exclamation point.
quotation itself. I am certain we saw a ghost
2. Use parentheses to offer a (Have you ever seen one?) on
Example: digression or afterthought. the stairs that night.
"The 7.8-magnitude Your use of citations in the last We were all frightened (My
earthquake [the earthquake in paper (which was beautifully husband was terrified!) by the
Turkiye and Syria] killed tens written, by the way) offered a image we saw.
of thousands of people.” good example of how to avoid
plagiarism.  Punctuation which applies
2. Use brackets to highlight to the surrounding
errors in the original text of 3. Use parentheses to enclose sentence is placed
quoted material by numbers or letters introducing outside the parentheses.
immediately following the error items in a list or outline. Should I invite him by telephone
with the Latin word sic ("thus") There are five steps to cleaning (very politely, of course)?
enclosed in brackets. This an aquarium: (a) Put the fish When Frances sat down next to
addition acknowledges the somewhere else; (b) drain the Ducky (her cat), she was very
original error and lets it stand water out; (c) scrub the inside of careful not to sit on her tail.
as written. the glass; (d) add dechlorinated
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

fresh water; and (e) return the  If a parenthetical

Example: fish. enclosure contains a
"Words of great complete sentence and it
excitement should be followed 4. Punctuate parenthetical stands alone (not within
by an explanation [sic] point." material according to the another surrounding
following guidelines: sentence, but between
3. Use brackets to enclose  A statement (as opposed to sentences), then
parenthetical information within a question or exclamation) that punctuation appropriate
material that is already is contained within to that sentence is placed
enclosed in parentheses, in parentheses inside another inside the parentheses.
order to avoid confusion. sentence does not begin with a For years, his brother
capital letter or end with a desperately wanted that car. (He
Example: period, even if it can stand finally gave it to him!) It was a
Elizabeth served in the alone as its own complete 1948 Buick in mint condition.
role of president (an sentence.
"honorary" [unpaid] position) His family's arrival (they had
because she was sincerely never called us) was a surprise.
concerned about changing the
direction of the organization.

Colons
1. Use a colon 2. Use a colon between 3. Use a colon to separate
: after
independent clause
an independent clauses if the
second clause summarizes,
certain elements, such as after
the salutation in a formal letter,
to introduce or direct attention to explains, or gives an example for between hours and minutes to
a list, an appositive, or a the first clause. indicate time, between numbers
quotation. After the service, the women to show proportions, between a
List: The winning numbers are as performed a graceful task: they title and subtitle, and between
follows: four, five, nine, and lit the tiny candles one by one. the city and the publisher and
eleven. Our committee received the date in bibliographic entries.
Appositive: Every day my mother board's recommendation:
packed my lunch: a peanut Finalize the budget tonight! Dear Sir:
butter sandwich, two cookies,  Note: When an 6:30 A.M.
and an apple. independent clause The ratio of students to teachers
Quotation: Consider carefully the follows a colon, the was 22:1.
words of a Zen proverb: "When second clause may begin Grammar and Style: A Handbook
the mind is ready, a teacher with either a lowercase or on College Writing
appears." a capital letter. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988
 Note: A colon is like a
stop in function and Avoid common errors using the colon.
therefore can be used A colon must be preceded by a full independent clause. Therefore, avoid
only at the end of an using it between a verb and its object or complement, between a
independent clause (a preposition and its object, and after such as, including, or for example.
complete statement).

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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

Dashes The en dash is shorter Hyphens

The em dash primarily than an em dash but In formal writing, a hyphen’s
longer than a hyphen. It main function is to join two
replaces commas, or more separate words,
semicolons, colons, has two main functions.
as in a compound noun, a
One is to connect
ellipses, and compound modifier, or
continuing, inclusive numbers. certain terms with a prefix.
parentheses to indicate
added emphasis, an interruption, Examples
Hyphen in a compound noun: well-being,
or an abrupt change of thought. pages 11–23 dry-cleaning, hocus-pocus, merry-go-
1969–1981 round
Examples fiscal year 2020–21 Hyphen in a compound modifier: blue-
You are the friend—the only green sky, much-heralded activist, true-
to-form performance
friend—who offered to help me. The other function is to punctuate
Hyphen with a prefix: self-help, self-
(The em dash replaces compound modifiers that include an
motivated, ex-Marine, mid-Atlantic
commas.) open compound or two or more
hyphenated compounds. Other uses of hyphens include:
I pay the bills—they have the fun.
(The em dash replaces a
Examples clarifying words that are otherwise
semicolon.) ice cream–flavored chewing gum identical: re-cover (as opposed to
Throughout the game, he was (not ice-cream-flavored) recover), re-form (as opposed to reform).
able to rely on his three core Canada–New Zealand flight (not separating vowels that might complicate
pitches—fastball, slider, change- Canada-New-Zealand) reading if left together: pre-empt, anti-
inflation, pro-ownership.
up. (The em dash replaces a pseudo-scientific–pseudo-psychiatric
spelling out numbers and fractions:
colon.) self-help theory (not pseudo- twenty-five, seventy-eight, one-third.
scientific-pseudo-psychiatric) separating non-inclusive numbers: 888-
555-2374, edict 74-54-293.

Quotation Marks Slash

1.
“” Quotation marks always come in pairs. Do not
open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of
1. Use a slash to indicate that a choice
can be made between paired or multiple
the quoted material.
terms. Do not use a space before or
after the slash.
2. Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted
material is a complete sentence.
Example: Example:
An old Chinese proverb states that, “The journey of a Since our school has only three
thousand miles begins with the first step.” teachers, I serve as the finance
coodinator/ICT coodinator/feeding
3. Do not use a capital letter when the quoted material is a focal person/multigrade teacher.
fragment or only a piece of the original material's complete
sentence. 2. Use a slash to indicate the division
Example:
between lines of poetry quoted within a
Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the
sentence. Add a space before and after
farm, he stated that the spaceship "certainly takes the cake"
when it comes to unexplainable activity. the slash.

4. If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not Example:

capitalize the second part of the quotation. Browning’s lines, “I love thee to
Example: the depth and breadth and height /
"I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I My soul can reach, when feeling out
sure wish I had." of sight / For the ends of being and
ideal grace,” are my favorite.
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

5. Quotations are most effective if you use them sparingly and

keep them relatively short. Too many quotations in a research
paper will get you accused of not producing original thought or
material (they may also bore a reader who wants to know
primarily what YOU have to say on the subject).

Apostrophes
 Plural nouns not ending in s, add 's:  Compound words, add an apostrophe or 's to the
the children’s playground word closest to the object possessed:
the living room’s ambiance
 Plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe:
learners’ needs and abilities  With compound nouns, placement of apostrophes for
possession depends on whether the nouns are acting
 Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning, add only an collectively or separately.
apostrophe:
mathematics' rules Jim’s and Mary's weddings were both in
Kalamazoo.
 Singular nouns not ending in s, add 's: They are not married to each other (two separate
the school’s fund weddings).

 Singular common nouns ending in s, add 's unless the Jim and Mary's weddings were both in Kalamazoo.
next word begins with s: Jim and Mary have been married twice to each
the hostess's invitation, the hostess' seat. other.

 Singular proper nouns ending in s, add only an  An apostrophe following the last name in a series
apostrophe: indicates collective possession.
New Issues' first publication.

Testing Your Knowledge: Take the Post Test

A. Direction: Choose the correct punctuation. Write the letter of your answer on the space before each
number.

______ 1. Poorly named animals include: the flying fox, which is really a bat ___ the electric eel, which is
really a knifefish ___ and the honey badger, which is the only member of its genus and species!
a. comma b. hyphen c. semicolon d. em-dash
______ 2. Deforestation ___ oil burning, chemical fertilizers, pollution, and the emission of industrial waste
into the atmosphere are the primary contributors to climate change.
a. comma b. semicolon c. colon d. hyphen
______ 3. "This is the best program ___ that I have ever seen," one delighted client wrote.
a. exclamation point b. hyphen c. ellipsis d. comma
______ 4. Mahatma Gandhi once said___ “If we live by ‘an eye for eye’ kind of justice, the world would be
blind today.”
a. apostrophe b. hyphen c. quotation marks d. colon
______ 5. “Get off my back___” shouted the turtle.
a. period b. exclamation point c. question mark d. comma
_____________________________________________________________________________________
B. Direction: Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

1.
o However elusive happiness may be, it is attainable.
o However, elusive happiness may be, it is attainable.

2.
o Toothed whales—such as the sperm whale, killer whale, narwhal, and dolphin—use their teeth to
catch food.
o Toothed whales such as: sperm whale, killer whale, narwhal, and dolphin, use their teeth to catch
food.

3.
o The preservation of all forest-dwelling animals is one of DENRs duties.
o The preservation of all forest-dwelling animals is one of DENR’s duties.

4.
o Fallowing, resting the soil for a particular period is one method of regaining the soils’ fertility.
o Fallowing (resting the soil for a particular period) is one method of regaining the soil’s fertility.

5.
o “How long have you been there?” Sheryl asked.
o “How long have you been there?”, Sheryl asked.

6.
o Education is essential, it should be accessible to all people.
o Education is essential; it should be accessible to all people.

7.
o The teacher wants to know where her students stay during weekends.
o The teacher wants to know where her students stay during weekends?

8.
o All biographical references provide crucial information—date of birth, educational background, and
occupation—and an explanation of the persons popularity.
o All biographical references provide crucial information—date of birth, educational background, and
occupation—and an explanation of the person’s popularity.

9.
o Raw cabbage, citrus fruits, strawberries, and green leafy vegetables are all sources of Vitamin C.
o Raw cabbage; citrus fruits; strawberries; and green leafy vegetables are all sources of Vitamin C.

10.
o The newly built house in our neighborhood has state of the art features.
oThe newly built house in our neighborhood has state-of-the-art features.

References:

What is writing? EnglishClub.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from

https://www.englishclub.com/writing/what.php
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 ELT 207 – Advanced Creative Writing

Klimova, B. F. (2012). The importance of writing. Paripex - Indian Journal Of Research, 2(1), 9–11.
https://doi.org/10.15373/22501991/jan2013/4

Grammar and mechanics . (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from

https://lethbridgecollege.net/elearningcafe/index.php/writing/grammar-and-mechanics

Grammar and style/mechanics and punctuation. Grammar and Style/Mechanics and Punctuation - UBC
Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
https://wiki.ubc.ca/Grammar_and_Style/Mechanics_and_Punctuation

James, T. (2022, November 24). Why are writing mechanics important? (8 key reasons explained). ESL
Freeway. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://eslfreeway.com/why-are-writing-mechanics-
important-8-key-reasons-explained/

Punctuation. ESL Grammar. (2020, December 23). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
https://eslgrammar.org/category/punctuation/

Punctuation rules. GrammarBook.com | Your #1 Source for Grammar and Punctuation. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 1, 2023, from https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation_rules.asp

Parentheses - tip sheet. Butte College. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
https://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/punctuation/parentheses.html

Prepared by:

JENNY ANN S. ROCO

MAEd – English Language Teaching

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