Punctuation and
Apostrophes
Part I
End Punctuation -
Periods, Question
Marks, and Exclamation
Marks
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Periods
Use a period after most abbreviations, unless
they are easily recognized.
• Mr. Smith was getting old.
Use a period after a statement, an indirect
question or a command.
• Statement: That man likes trucks.
• Command: Give me your money.
• Indirect Question: Tell me what you think.
Question Marks
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Use a question mark after a direct question.
• What do you think?
• Who’s there?
• How do you do?
Exclamation Marks
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Use exclamation marks to express emphasis
(use sparingly).
• I’ve had it with your lies!
• Those aren’t my pants!
• I don’t care what other people say, I think
you’re cool!
Interrobang‽
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• How can this be‽
• He said what‽
Punctuation that Joins
Sentences
Commas
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Comma + Coordinating
Conjunction
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to connect two
independent clauses.
Comma + Coordinating
Conjunction
Join these two sentences:
• The first smartphone, made by IBM, was
known as a Simon.
• It was demonstrated at a computer
industry trade show in 1992.
• The first smartphone, made by IBM, was
known as a Simon, and it was demonstrated
at a computer industry trade show in 1992.
Join these two sentences:
• I love the beach
• I went last week.
• I love the beach, so I went last week.
Semicolon
Use a semi-colon to separate closely related
independent clauses.
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Semicolon
• The first smartphone, made by IBM, was
known as a Simon; it was demonstrated at
a computer industry trade show in 1992.
• Smartphones were originally created to
benefit modern businesses; the main use of
smartphones today is social interaction.
• I like the beach; I went last week.
Semicolon + Adverbial
Conjunction
Use a semi-colon to link independent clauses
connected by adverbial conjunctions. A
comma must always follow the adverbial
conjunction.
Adverbial conjunction: a conjunction made up
of an adverb that modifies two independent
clauses to they can be connected together
into a single sentence.
Semicolon + Adverbial
Conjunction
• Smartphone apps can be created for almost
anything; for example, one man created an
app that triggered a mini-fridge to shoot a
beverage can at the operator.
• My car payments are high; on the other
hand, I really enjoy driving such a nice
vehicle.
Colon
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Colon
Use a colon to introduce a series of items. In
this situation, the colon must be preceded by
a complete sentence.
Colon
• This house has everything I need: two
bedrooms, a backyard, and a garage.
Colon
A colon instead of a semicolon may be used
between independent clauses when the
second sentence explains, illustrates,
paraphrases, or expands on the first sentence.
A colon signifies a stronger relationship
between the clauses than a semi-colon does.
Colon
• There appears to be one disadvantage of
smartphones: they can create a
dependency, or even an addiction, in some
users.
• You can come pick me up now: I am feeling
much better.
Punctuation within
Sentences
(Internal Punctuation)
Commas
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Items in a series
Use a comma to separate the elements in a
series (three or more things).
Items in a series
• Studies show that bullying is a learned
behaviour in primary, middle, and
secondary schools.
• I like hot dogs, fries, and burgers.
• Contrary to popular belief, the victim of
cyberbullying is often competent, popular
and even admired, and high-functioning.
Oxford (Serial) Comma
To make sure your writing is clear, it is a good
idea to use an Oxford, or serial, comma. An
Oxford comma goes before the “and” that
appears before the last item on a list.
Oxford (Serial) Comma
• No Oxford comma: I love my parents, Jesus
and Santa Claus.
The author seems to be saying that their
parents are Jesus and Santa Claus.
Oxford (Serial) Comma
• Oxford comma: I love my parents, Jesus,
and Santa Claus.
With an Oxford comma, this is now a list of
people the author loves.
Parallel Lists
To ensure your list is clear, write it using
parallel structures. This means that you
cannot have a list of two verbs and a noun,
but you must rather have a list of three verbs
or three nouns.
• Incorrect: Cyberbullying is relentless,
public, and it is usually anonymous.
Relentless = adjective
Public = adjective
It is usually anonymous = independent clause
This list is not parallel.
• Correct: Cyberbullying is relentless, public,
and, usually, anonymous.
Relentless = adjective
Public = adjective
Anonymous = adjective
This list is parallel.
Sentence Introductions
Use a comma to set off sentence introductions.
Sentence introductions are dependent clauses
that are not grammatically necessary to
understand the sentence, but introduce the
sentence and add context and information to
the sentence.
Sentence Introductions
• Ultimately, students will not reach their full
learning potential if the education system
fails to emphasize creativity.
• When I was young, I had a lot of video
games.
• Ultimately, students will not reach their full
learning potential if the education system
fails to emphasize creativity.”
• When I was young, I had a lot of video
games.
• Through the use of rigid structure, the
education system tends to stress
conformity, not creativity.
• Through the use of rigid structure, the
education system tends to stress
conformity, not creativity.
• When curriculum designers choose to
stress factual knowledge above everything
else, the freedom to explore options is
threatened.
• When curriculum designers choose to
stress factual knowledge above everything
else, the freedom to explore options is
threatened.
• When curriculum designers choose to
stress factual knowledge above everything
else, the freedom to explore options is
threatened, and students may become
apathetic about their studies.
• When curriculum designers choose to
stress factual knowledge above everything
else, the freedom to explore options is
threatened, and students may become
apathetic about their studies.
• Dependent clause: When curriculum
designers choose to stress factual
knowledge above everything else
• Independent clause: the freedom to
explore options is threatened, and students
may become apathetic about their studies.
Next Week:
Punctuation and
Apostrophes
Part II
