Punctuation

Front

What is punctuation?

Back

Punctuation refers to the marks used in writing that help clarify meaning and separate linguistic units. Common punctuation marks include periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points.

Front

What is the purpose of a period?

Back

A period is used to indicate the end of a declarative sentence or a statement.

Front

When should you use a comma?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, before conjunctions in compound sentences, after introductory phrases, and to set off non-essential information.

Front

What is an apostrophe used for?

Back

An apostrophe is used to indicate possession (e.g., Linda's book) or to form contractions (e.g., don't for do not).

Front

What is the correct way to abbreviate days of the week?

Back

Days of the week should be abbreviated with a period after the abbreviation (e.g., Mon., Tues., Wed., etc.).

Front

How do you punctuate a direct quote?

Back

Direct quotes should be enclosed in quotation marks, and punctuation typically goes inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it,' while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.'

Front

When should you use a semicolon?

Back

A semicolon is used to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list.

Front

What is the function of a colon?

Back

A colon is used to introduce a list, a quote, or an explanation that follows an independent clause.

Front

What is the rule for using quotation marks with titles?

Back

Titles of short works, such as articles or poems, should be enclosed in quotation marks, while titles of longer works, like books or movies, should be italicized.