Punctuations

PUNCTUATION

OBJECTIVES

1. To gain an understanding of periods, exclamation points, and question marks and to use them in writing

2. To identify the appropriate use of commas, semicolons, and colons and to employ them in writing

3. To identify the appropriate use of quotation marks, italics, and apostrophes and to employ them in writing

4. To gain an understanding of hyphens, dashes, and parentheses and to use them in writing To learn about abbreviations, numerals, and spelled-out numbers and to use them in writing

What is a period?

• Use a period at the end of a declarative sentence. A declarative

the sentence makes a statement.

• Use a period at the end of an imperative sentence that does

not express strong feelings. An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request.

What is a question mark?

• Use a question mark at the end of an interrogative sentence.

  An interrogative sentence asks a question.

What is an exclamation point?

• Use an exclamation point at the end of an interjection. An

  interjection is a word or group of words that expresses strong emotion.

• Use an exclamation point at the end of an exclamatory

  sentence or a strong imperative. An exclamatory sentence expresses strong feeling.

Multiple Choice

used for interrogative sentences

• period

• hyphen

• question mark

• comma

Multiple Choice

used after a command or a request

• period

• hyphen

• exclamation point

• comma

Multiple Choice

used after expressions of strong feeling

• period

• hyphen

• exclamation point

• comma

Multiple Choice

Wow! My goodness! Hi! Hey!

Hooray! Oh, boy! Oops! Phew!

Identify the punctuation

• period

• hyphen

• exclamation point

• comma

Multiple Choice

Get the ball

Identify the punctuation

• period

• hyphen

• exclamation point

• comma

Draw

What kind of music do you like

Draw

How wonderful it is to get new clothes

Commas

RULE 1: Use commas to separate three or more items in a series.

Cars, buses, and trucks clog city streets.

RULE 2: Use commas to show a pause after an introductory word and

to set off names used in direct address.

Yes, most cities have few parking garages.

Tony, are you going downtown?

RULE 3: Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional

phrases, when the prepositional phrase is very long, or when the comma

is needed to make the meaning clear. A comma is not needed after a

single, short prepositional phrase, but it is acceptable to use one.

In the fall of 1991, Frank M. Jordan was elected mayor.

Commas

RULE 4: Use a comma after an introductory participle and an

introductory participial phrase.

Plagued by deficits, many cities need state aid.

RULE 5: Use commas to set off words that interrupt the flow of

thought in a sentence.

A large city, as you can see, employs many police officers.

RULE 6: Use a comma after conjunctive adverbs such as however,

moreover, furthermore, nevertheless, and therefore.

The city is growing; therefore, the city payroll must grow.

RULE 7: Use commas to set off an appositive if it is not essential to

the meaning of a sentence.

Alpine Inc., this city’s oldest company, joined a large cartel.

Multiple Choice

Yes cities offer many different places to live.

• Yes cities, offer many different places to live.

• Yes, cities offer many different places to live.

• Yes cities offer many different places, to live.

• Yes cities offer many different places to, live.

Multiple Choice

Does Jo your new friend enjoy living in the city?

• Does, Jo your new friend enjoy living in the city?

• Does Jo your new friend enjoy living, in the city?

• Does Jo your new friend, enjoy living in the city?

• Does Jo, your new friend enjoy living in the city?

Commas

RULE 8: Use a comma before and, or, or but when it joins main clauses.

Farming is a business, and farmers need to make a profit.

Farmers must sell their crops, or they cannot afford to replant.

Farming can be rewarding, but it is hard work.

RULE 9 Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. Adverb

clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions, such as after, although,

as, because, before, considering (that), if, in order that, since, so that,

though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, or while.

When the weather is too dry, farmers have problems.

If there is no rain, crops can be ruined. In most cases, do not use a comma with an adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence.

Farmers have problems when the weather is too dry.

Crops can be ruined if there is no rain.

Commas

RULE 8: Use a comma before and, or, or but when it joins main clauses.

Farming is a business, and farmers need to make a profit.

Farmers must sell their crops, or they cannot afford to replant.

Farming can be rewarding, but it is hard work.

RULE 9 Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause. Adverb

clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions, such as after, although,

as, because, before, considering (that), if, in order that, since, so that,

though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, or while.

When the weather is too dry, farmers have problems.

If there is no rain, crops can be ruined. In most cases, do not use a comma with an adverb clause that comes at the end of a sentence.

Farmers have problems when the weather is too dry.

Crops can be ruined if there is no rain.

Commas

RULE 10: Use a comma or a pair of commas to set off an adjective

clause that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. This means

that the clause merely gives additional information. Adjective clauses

often begin with the relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which,

or that.

Dairy cows, which are common on farms, are raised for their milk.

Do not use a comma or pair of commas to set off an essential clause

from the rest of the sentence. An adjective clause is essential when it is

necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

An animal that is raised for milk is the dairy cow.

Multiple Choice

Some seeds are planted directly in the ground but others are started indoors.

• Some seeds are planted directly in the ground, but others are started indoors.

• Some seeds, are planted directly in the ground but others are started indoors.

• Some seeds are planted directly in the ground but, others are started indoors.

• Some seeds are planted directly in the ground but others, are started indoors.

Multiple Choice

Although many people fear wasps some wasps help control harmful insects.

• Although many people fear wasps some, wasps help control harmful insects.

• Although, many people fear wasps some wasps help control harmful insects.

• Although many people fear wasps, some wasps help control harmful insects.

• Although many people fear wasps some wasps help control harmful, insects.

Commas

Commas

Multiple Choice

Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5 2001 and depart a

week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5, 2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November, 5 2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November, 5 ,2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5 2001, and depart a

  week later.

Multiple Choice

Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5 2001 and depart a

week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5, 2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November, 5 2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November, 5 ,2001 and depart a

  week later.

• Dr. Loubet will arrive at the conference on November 5 2001, and depart a

  week later.

COMMAS, SEMICOLONS, AND COLONS

​SELECT THE CORRECT PUNCTUATION MARK THAT SHOULD BE USED IN EACH SITUATION.

Multiple Choice

after the salutation of a business letter

• comma

• semicolons

• colon

• period

Multiple Choice

to separate three or more items in a series

• comma

• semicolons

• colon

• period

Multiple Choice

to join the parts of a compound sentence when a coordinating conjunction

is not used

• comma

• semicolons

• colon

• period

Write the correct punctuation mark that is missing from each item.