Punctuation Review

Front

What is punctuation?

Back

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

Front

What is the purpose of a comma?

Back

A comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, or to set off clauses.

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.

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What is an apostrophe used for?

Back

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

Front

What is the function of quotation marks?

Back

Quotation marks are used to indicate direct speech, quotations, or titles of short works.

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What is a hyphen?

Back

A hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words, such as in compound adjectives (e.g., well-known) or to indicate word breaks.

Front

What is the difference between a dash and a hyphen?

Back

A dash (—) is used to create a strong break in a sentence, while a hyphen (-) is used to connect words or parts of words.

Front

What is a colon used for?

Back

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

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a series?

Back

In a series, commas are used to separate three or more items, with an optional comma before the conjunction (Oxford comma).