PUNCTUATION In The English Language Presented by Rushda Ashraf English Language Instructor

OUTLINE Introduction to Punctuation How does Punctuation Work Full stop Comma Colon/Exclamation mark Semi Colon Apostrophe Question Mark/Parentheses Dash/Slash Quotation Mark/ Hyphen/ Capital letters

INTRODUCTION TO PUNCTUATION Punctuation is used to help us make sense

of what we read. It can alter the meaning of the sentences we write.

Good punctuation makes a sentence clear and easy to read and understand because it shows grammatical structure, meanings and relationships between words and clauses.

HOW DOES PUNCTUATION WORK Punctuation is about how words relate to

each other. Using punctuation symbols helps us know

when to stop a sentence, take a breath, pause, become excited, lift your voice to ask a question, and also when to began a sentence.

When we are speaking we do this naturally, however, when we write, punctuation symbols sign posts for the reader.

FULL STOP (.) A full stop ends a sentence. This is my pencil. Full stops are also used to indicate

abbreviations. Apr. Mon. Sat. Capt. Gen. Smith & Co. After initials in people’s names. Sh. Ahmad, M. Usman At the end of a mild request or a command. Please stop doing that. Will you pass the copy, please.

COMMA(,) To separate independent clauses joined by

a conjunction. Example: This is the street, but I don’t know the

number. To separate parts of a series. Example: Saturday, Sunday and Monday To separate equal adjectives in a series. Example: a loud, sharp blast.

CONT… Note: Unless the adjectives modifies the

same noun in the same way, they are not in series and no comma is used. To test, check if the adjectives can be reversed. If not, no comma.

To separate introductory statements beginning with such words as when, while, since, if because, until, although and whenever.

Example: When the rain was falling, there was

very little wind.

CONT… To set off introductory prepositional

phrases (starting with in, on, at, to, by, for, of , through).

Example: By the time she crawled into bed, she

was too exhausted to sleep. Three words or less prepositional

phrases will not follow a comma. Example: In Japan he served as a teacher.

CONT… To separate additional information in a

sentence. Example: I visited Lahore, capital of Pakistan, to

see my grandparents. To set off introductory phrases

beginning with verb participles ending with –ing –ed –en etc.

Example: Having done with the work, I stopped

the motor.

To set off such expressions as you, no, well, on the other hand, you might say, of course(interrupters).

Example: He was, of course, the first person I

saw. To set off such expressions as “HE SAID”

from direct quotation. Example: “That decision”, he explained, “must be

your own”.

CONT… To separate contrasting elements. Example: The wall is grey, not blue. To prevent misreading. Example: Undressing, the child ran into the

bathroom. To set off the name of the person

addressed. Example: Ali, may I borrow your pencil?

SEMI COLON(;) To separate independent statements that

are not joined by a coordinating conjunction. Example: Black is the mixture of all colors; white is

the complete is the complete opposite. To separate independent statements when

the second statement begins with such conjunctives, phrases or adverbs like therefore, however, thus ,otherwise, on the other hand, for example, in fact, that is, etc.

Example: I submitted a request in advance; still, I did not receive a permission.

APOSTROPHE(‘) To show possession Example: The doctor’s advice, The woman’s dress To indicate the omission of letters in

contractions. Example: Can’t, won’t, doesn’t, it’s To form plurals of letters, words and

symbols that do not have logical plurals. Example: Three 2’s, Too many &’s

DASH( ) To indicate a sudden break of an

unfinished word or sentence. Example: She will take charge of this post and-

Wait a minute. Who are you? To set off a summary of a preceding

series. Example: Food, clothing, shelter and a sense of

humor- those are the things a man needs to survive.

HYPHEN(-) To join two or more words serving as a single

adjective before a noun. Example: a one-way street, chocolate- covered peanut Use a hyphen with compound number. Example: Forty-six, thirty- nine To avoid confusion or an awkward combination

of letters. Example: re-sign a request( resign) shell-like(childlike)

CONT… Use hyphen with prefixes ex-, self-,

all-,with the suffix –elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and figures or letters.

Example: ex-fellow, self assured To divide the word at the end of a line,

or show a break between syllables. Example: pre-fer-ence, sell-ing

QUOTATION MARK(“-”AND ‘-’) To set off quotation matters. Example: “I saw him” he replied. To indicate a quotation within a

quotation(single quotation mark) Example: I replied, “when I asked him if he

heard about a boat, he said ‘I saw it’” To enclose titles of short stories, poems,

magazine articles, portions of books and individual television show episodes.

Example: Good tenses can be found in the chapter “Tenses ” in William Austin’s book “Tenses Made Easy”.

PARENTHESES( ) To set off elements which provide extra

information. Example: The progress (From#78) is

submitted each weak. I told him (Ali) exactly what to do. To enclose numbers and letters

mentioning parts. Example: The principle parts are(1) the

present tense (2) the past tense (3) the past participle.

COLON (:) Used after an independent clause to

direct attention to a list. Example: He laid down three rules: no

smoking, no idle talk, and no sleeping. To separate two independent clauses

when the second one summarizes or explains the first.

Example: Faith is like love: it cannot be forced.

SLASH(/) To indicate the end of a line of poetry. Example: Here with a Loaf of Bread

beneath the Bough,/… To set off phonemic transcription. Example: In French /e/ is pronounced as

/a/. To separate paired terms Example: pass/fail producer/director

CAPITAL LETTERS We use capital letters for names,

months, days of week, at the beginning of a sentence.

Example: Maria, April, Sunday ( I like apples.) We use it after full stop. Example: Maria likes apples. She eats five apples

a day. “I” is always capital.

QUESTION MARK(?) Question mark is used at the end of an

interrogative sentence. Example: Why is she coming to Lahore? Where is your warm coat?

EXCLAMATION MARK(!) It shows strong feeling of joy, sadness,

anger etc. It seems like shouting or raising voice while speaking. It is mostly used in informal writing and less used in formal writing.

Examples: Hi! Sorry I haven't written for so

long!!! Great work! Congratulations! “ Leave me alone”! She screamed

THE END

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