Punctuation Marks

Punctuation Marks

How to use them?

• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to join two simple sentences. Jesus Christ brought salvation, and I gladly accepted it. Alexa reads books and listens to music. (1 Simple sentence with a compound verb--- no comma needed)

• Use single commas to separate three or more items in a series. Men have traveled across oceans, around the world, and to the moon.

• Use a single comma anytime to avoid misreading. After losing my brother does not want to talk for a while. (There should be a comma after the word losing to avoid misreading.)

Multiple Choice

Decide if the comma is used correctly or not.

Josiah Creesy loved the sea, and wanted to be a ship's captain.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Decide if the comma is used correctly or not.

Josiah's wife was an excellent navigator, and she sailed with him.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Decide if the comma is used correctly or not.

Several storms broke some of the masts and ripped the sails, but Captain Creesy refused to give up.

• correct

• incorrect

More rules?

• Use a pair of commas to set off words used in direct address. Your books, Professor, have been returned. Grandmother, when are you comming? What did you say, Carol?

• Use a pair of commas to set off the words well, yes, and no when they are nonessential. Well, I think you are right. Yes, you are certainly correct.

• use a pair of commas to set off parenthetical words or expressions. Eric, however, will arrive late. Diane, of course, likes to swim.

• Use commas after the salutation of a friendly letter; use a comma after the closing of all letters Dear Nathan, With love,

Where else

• Use it after the salutation of a business letter. Dear Mr. Knightly: Dear sir:

•  Do not use a colon in a complete sentence after phrases such as "such as," "including," and "for example." Phrases like these already indicate to the reader that a list of examples will follow, there is no need to introduce them with a colon, which would merely be redundant.

• Do not use a colon after a preposition (such as "in"), or a verb, that introduces a list.