learning punctuation

1. WRITING

4. B. Commas (,) 1. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. ex : Jupiter is a large, strange planet. 2. Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for and yet when they join the parts of a compound sentence. ex : Betty offered to get the tickets, and I accepted gratefully. 3. Use commas to set of expressions that interrupt the sentence. ex : Our neighbor, Taylor Swift, is a good singer.

5. C. Semicolons (;) 1. Use a semicolons between the parts of a compound sentence if they are not joined by and, but, or and yet. ex : After school I went to play station; then I studied in my room for an hour. 2. A semicolons may be needed to separate the parts of a compound sentence if there are commas within the parts. ex : I wrote to Ann, Beth, and Meg; and Jean notified Terry and Sue.

6. D. Colons (:) 1. Use a colon before list of items, especially after expression like as follows and the following . ex : A search showed that Jack’s pocket contain the following: a knife, half an apple, a piece of gum, and a bottle of mineral water. 2. Use a colon between the hour and the minute when you write the time. ex : 8:30 A.M., 10:00 P.M. 3. Use a colon after a salutation of a business letter. ex : Dear sir:

7. E. Italics 1. Use italics for titles of books, periodicals, works of art, ships, and so on. ex : Harry Potter is one of my favorite novels.

8. F. Quotation Marks (“…”) 1. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation – a person’s exact words. ex : “When the bell rings”, said the teacher, “leave the room quietly.” 2. A direct quotation begins with a capital letter. ex : Maria said, “ The frame isn’t strong enough.” 3. A period or a comma following a quotation should be place inside the closing quotation marks. ex : The man replied, “I’m ready.”

9. G. Apostrophes ( ‘ ) 1. to show owner ship or relationship. ex : the baby’s toy mice ‘s tracks cats’ basket 2. to show where letters have been omitted in a contraction ex : there is there’s is not isn’t will not won’t

10. H. Hyphens (-) 1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line. ex : In my opinion, this salad needs cu- cumber. 2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and with fractions used as adjectives. ex : There are twenty-nine days in February.

12. J. Stroke (/) 1. may be used to show alternatives; it is often replaced by the word or . ex : To begin a formal letter, we may write Dear Sir/Madam if we do not know who the receiver is.

13. K. Omission Marks (…) 1. The three dots may imply that omission occurs there and then. ex : “Language … a set of rules … for communication," the definition read. 2. It is especially useful when we intend to quote certain parts or words that somebody else has said or written. ex : The most important part of speech is the verb …” Hornsby said. 3. The three dots may represent something irrelevant or unnecessary. ex : “… two kinds of complements, namely, the subject complement and the object complement,” they concluded.

14. L. Brackets ( ) 1. Can indicate something optional ex : Could you help me (to) remove the box ? 2. Be used to show an after-thought or comment ex : The book said that when she was nineteen (in fact she was twenty-one), she married the writer.

17. References Faulkner, Claude W. (1957). Writing Good Sentence . New York: Charles Scribner’s sons George, E. Wishon, and Julia, M. Burks. (1980). Let’s Write English . Writing College Workbook. Second Edition. Oshima, A and Hogue A. (2006). Writing Academic English . Fourth edition. New York: Pearson Education Inc.