Punctuation

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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 comma?

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Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, separate items in a list, and clarify meaning.

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When should you use a comma in a list?

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Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. For example: 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

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What is a possessive apostrophe?

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A possessive apostrophe shows ownership. For example, 'Max's hat' means the hat belongs to Max.

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How do you use commas before conjunctions?

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Use a comma before conjunctions (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when connecting two independent clauses. For example: 'I wanted to go, but it was raining.'

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What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

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Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. For example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

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When should you not use a comma?

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Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or to separate two items that are closely related.

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

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

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How do you punctuate direct quotations?

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Use quotation marks to enclose direct speech. For example: She said, 'I will be there soon.'

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What is a semicolon?

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A semicolon is a punctuation mark used to connect closely related independent clauses. For example: 'I like tea; my sister prefers coffee.'