What is Punctuation?Punctuation is used to create sense, clarity and stress in sentences. You use punctuation marks to structure and organize your writing.

Period

• A period [ . ] use at the end of a sentence that makes a statement.

Comma

• A comma [ , ] that is used to separate words or groups of words in a sentence.

Quotation mark

• QUOTATION MARKS [ “ ” ] TO SET OFF MATERIAL THAT REPRESENTS QUOTED OR SPOKEN LANGUAGE.

Exclamation Point

• an exclamation point [ ! ] at the end of an emphatic declaration, interjection, or command.

Question Mark

• A QUESTION MARK [ ? ] USE AT THE END OF A DIRECT QUESTION.

Semicolon

• A semicolon [ ; ] is used to separate two parts of a sentence that have a relationship to each other in terms of meaning when each part could stand alone as a sentence in its own right.

• a semicolon [ ; ] help sort out a list:There were citizens from Bangor, Maine;

Hartford, Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island.

• to separate closely related independent clauses:

My grandmother seldom goes to bed this early; she's afraid she'll miss out on something.

Colon

A colon [ : ] is used to divide a sentence when the second part explains or elaborates on what has gone before.

•  a colon [ : ] before a list or an explanation that is preceded by a clause that can stand by itself.

• Think of the colon as a gate, inviting one to go on:

• There is only one thing left to do now: confess while you still have time.

• The charter review committee now includes the following people: the mayorthe chief of policethe fire chiefthe chair of the town council

Hyphen (-)• A hyphen [ - ] is used at the end of a

line when a word must be divided or to link the parts of a compound word or phrase.