Punctuation for Dummies

Periods

Rule 1: Use a period at the end of a declarative (statement) sentence.

Example: I enjoy the beach.

 

Rule 2: Place a period at the end of an imperative (command) sentence.

Example: Give me the DVD.

 

Rule 3: Use a period after initials.

Example: David J. Sloan or D.J. Sloan

Rule 4: Use a period after letters and numbers of an outline.

Example(s): 1. Tea or i. Reconstruction

 

Rule 5: Place a period after and abbreviation.

Example: Mon. (Monday)

(Months of the year, times, directions, titles, and places (general and specific).

Apostrophe

Rule 1: Use an apostrophe in a contraction to show where letter(s) have been omitted.

Example: Can't=cannot or I've=I have

 

Rule 2: Use an apostrophe when the first two digits of a year have been omitted.

Example: '95=1995

 

Rule 3: Use an apostrophe when taking letters or words out of context.

Example: You need to cross your I's

Rule 4: Use and apostrophe to show possession.

Example(s): 

Barber's chair

Dogs' kennel

Women's apparel 

Commas

Hang in there, this is a big one

Rule 1: Use comma so set off a noun of direct address (a person spoken to).

Example: Ann, come here, please.

 

Rule 2: Use a comma to set off introductory words.

Example: Yes, that would be fine.

 

Rule 3: Use a comma to set off interrupters in a sentence.

Example: The answer, I think, is twenty-three

Rule 4: Use a comma after the greeting of a friendly  letter.

Example: Dear Mom,

 

Rule 5: Use a comma after the closing of a letter.

Example: Sincerely yours,

 

Rule 6: Use a comma to set off words or phrases in a series.

Example: Carrots, peas, beans, strawberries, and candy.

Rule 7: Use a comma to clarify a sentence.

Example: 

In the night time was extremely important.

In the night, time was extremely important.

 

Rule 8: Use a comma between two or more descriptive adjectives.

Example: Bright, sparkling stars  twinkled in the night.

 

Rule 9: Use a comma to set off an appositive from the rest of the sentence.

Example: Mrs. Glade, the teacher, was very upset at her class.

Rule 10: Use a comma between a city and state or country.

Example: London, England

 

Rule 11: Use a comma after a month and year or day and year in a date.

Example: April, 2001

 

Rule 12: Use a comma at the end of most direct quotations.

Example: "I could eat a whole cow!" exclaimed Emma

Rule 13: Use a comma to set off a title following a name.

Example: Gloria Kole, D.D.S., is opening a new office.

 

Rule 14: Use a comma to invert a name.

Example: Reddy, Jacob

 

Rule 15: Use a comma after a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence.

Example: After we ate lunch, we saw a movie.

Rule 16: Use a comma before the conjunction that joins two independent clauses.

Example: Dad cooked dinner, and I set the table.

 

Rule 17: Use a comma after two introductory prepositional phrases or after a long prepositional phrase when a subject follows it.

Example: In the middle of the night, Lucy started to sleep walk.

Rule 18: Use a comma after and introductory participle phrase

Example: Jumping on the couch, the dog barked with delight.

 

Rule 19: Use a comma to set off adjectives in apposition

Example: The sun, hot and bright, shone in the sky.

Semicolon

Rule 1: Use a semicolon (;) to join two independent clauses that are closely related.

Example: The rain stopped; the sun came out.

DO NOT place and, but, or or after a semicolon.

Colon

Rule 1: Use a colon after the greeting of a business letter

Example: Gentlemen: or Dear Mrs Atmadi:

 

Rule 2: Use a colon in writing the time

Example: 9:00

 

Rule 3: Use a colon to set off lists

Example: Groceries: milk, bread, cookies

 

Rule 4: Use a colon after divisions of topics.

Example: Rule 1: or Rule 3:

Question Mark

Rule: Use a question mark (?) at the end of an interrogative sentence.

Example: Has Linda been to the new puppy shelter?

Exclamation Point

Rule 1: Use and exclamation point after and exclamatory sentence.

Example: Watch it! or Look out!

 

Rule 2: Use an exclamation point after a word or phrase that shows strong feeling.

Example: Yeah! You did it! or Oh no! Someone ate my cookies!

Hyphen

Rule 1:  Place a hyphen between fractions and certain numbers.

Example: two-fiths or twenty-one

 

Rule 2: Use a hyphen when dividing a word of two syllables at the end of a line.

Example: Un-

happy

 

Rule 3: Use a hyphen to combine some prefixes with a base word.

Example: ex-president or self-rising

Rule 4: Use a hyphen to combine some closely related words.

Example: Two-handed or to-and-fro

 

 

Check a dictionary to determine if a word should be hyphenated 

Underlining

Rule 1: Underline the names of ships, planes, and trains.

Example: The Spirit of St. Louis

 

Rule 2: Underline letters, words, or numerals used out of context.

Example: You forgot to dot your i!

 

Rule 3: Underline the title of books, magazines, movies, newspapers, plays, television shows, record albums, CD's, tapes, long stories, and works of art.

Rule 4: In printed materials, any item underlines can be in italics.

Example: I love to read the book Dillan's Bear.

I love to read the book Dillan's Bear.

Quotation Marks

Rule 1: Use quotation marks (" ") to indicate someone's exact words.

Example(s): "Where did you get that?" asked Ann

"I see," said Blake, "that you enjoy cake."

In dialogue, each time a person speaks, a new paragraph is begun.

 

Rule 2: Use quotation marks too enclose the titles of chapters, articles, poems, essays, short stories, nursery rhymes, and songs.

Example: I like the poem entitles "Love"

Capitilization

Rule 1: Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

Example: I love that band!

Rule 2: Always capitalize the pronoun I.

Rule 3: Capitalize the first word in a direct quote.

Example: "Wow, she wore that dress really well!"

Rule 4: Capitalize Mother, Father and other titles if replacing their real name.

Example: I love Mother (Diana).

Rule 5: Capitalize the names of organizations. 

Example: Boy Scouts of America

Rule 6: Capitalize business names, governments bodies and departments, institution names, geographic places, historical events, periods of time, and historical documents.

Rule 7: Capitalize names of days, months, holidays, and other special days.

Rule 8: Capitalize brand names, but not the products.

Example: Maylord Muffins

Rule 9: Capitalize religions, churches, religious documents, and names for supreme beings.

Example: God

Rule 10: Capitalize languages, race, and ethnic groups.

Example: English or Caucasian 

Rule 11: Capitalize directions when referring to a region of the country or world.

Example: Does Gina live in the West?

Rule 12: Capitalize names, initials, and titles appearing with names.

Example: Bailey or Professor Snape

Rule 13: Capitalize President when referring to the leader of the United States of America.

Rule 14: Capitalize a specific , well-known area or event.

Example: Did President Bush work late in the Oval Office?

 

Rule 15: Capitalize the first word of the greeting and closing of a letter.

Example: Dear John, (or)

 Sincerely yours,

YOU DID IT!!

I'm so proud of you!

THE END

Citations

Easy Grammar®: Plus Student Workbook