PUNCTUATION
1. What is Punctuation? 5. Colon (:)
Punctuation refers to the symbols used in writing to Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation.
separate sentences and their elements, clarify
meaning, indicate pauses, and convey tone or She brought three things: bread, milk, and butter.
emotion. He had one goal: to win.
Example: 6. Semicolon (;)
Without punctuation: Let’s eat grandma.
With punctuation: Let’s eat, grandma. Connects closely related independent clauses.
Separates items in a complex list.
2. Why is Punctuation Important?
She loves music; he loves art.
Clarifies meaning On our trip we visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy;
Organizes sentences and Berlin, Germany.
Indicates pauses, stops, and tone
Helps avoid ambiguity and 7. Apostrophe (’)
misunderstanding
Indicates possession.
3. Common Punctuation Marks and Their Forms contractions.
Uses
John’s book; children’s toys
It’s (it is), don’t (do not)
1. Full Stop / Period (.)
8. Quotation Marks (" ")
Used to mark the end of a declarative
sentence.
Enclose direct speech or quotations.
Abbreviations.
Indicate titles of short works.
She went home.
She said, “I’m tired.”
Dr., Mr., etc.
I read “The Road Not Taken.”
2. Comma (,)
9. Hyphen (-)
Separates items in a list.
Joins words in compound terms.
Indicates a pause.
Separates syllables.
Sets off clauses, phrases, or interjections.
Well-known, part-time, mother-in-law
I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.
Co-operate
Yes, I agree.
My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting.
10. Dash (—)
3. Question Mark (?)
Indicates a break or pause.
Adds emphasis or additional information.
Ends direct questions.
He was late — again!
What is your name?
She needed one thing — courage.
Are you coming?
11. Parentheses ( )
4. Exclamation Mark (!)
Enclose additional, non-essential information.
Shows strong emotion or surprise.
He gave me a gift (a book) on my birthday.
Wow! That’s amazing!
Help!
12. Ellipsis (…) 6. Summary Table
Indicates omission or pause. Punctuation Function Example
Shows trailing off of thought. . End of sentence She left.
Red, blue, and
He said, “I was thinking…” , Pause/list
green
She didn’t know what to say…
? Question Are you okay?
13. Brackets [ ] ! Emotion Stop!
Items: bread,
: Introduce list
Add editorial or explanatory information. milk
; Join clauses It’s late; go now.
She said she was “happy [about the results]” Sarah’s bag, it’s
' Possession/contraction
nice
14. Slash (/) "" Quotation “Hello,” he said.
- Compound word Mother-in-law
Indicates alternatives or fractions. I need this —
Used in URLs. — Break/emphasis
now!
She is kind (and
He/she will come. () Extra info
smart).
1/2; www.example.com … Omission/pause I wonder…
[Emphasis
4. Common Punctuation Rules [] Editorial info
added]
/ Alternatives and/or
Rule Example
Use a comma before "and" I like apples,
in a list (Oxford comma) oranges, and bananas.
Place the period inside She said,
quotation marks “Let's go.”
Use a semicolon to join two I went to the
related clauses park; it was closed.
Use apostrophes correctly That is
for possession Sarah’s car.
Correct: I
Do not overuse exclamation
love it! Overuse: I love
marks
it!!!
5. Common Errors in Punctuation
Error Correction
Its raining. It’s raining.
I love you do you I love you. Do you
love me love me?
She said I am fine She said, “I am fine.”
