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Here are succinct explanations covering the different ways that each of the main punctuation marks is used. This is an important page on Grammar Monster. Punctuation controls how information is grouped, how it flows, and how it is emphasized. In other words, it controls how your readers absorb your words.
- Exclamation Mark
Using Exclamation Marks An exclamation mark (!) indicates a...
- Brackets
Read more on using round brackets. Square Brackets (or "Box...
- Dashes
Dashes vs Hyphens A dash (—) is a punctuation mark with...
- Quotation Marks
What Are Quotation Marks? Quotation marks ("") are...
- Using Quotations
A direct quotation is an exact copy of the original. A...
- Question Marks
Question Marks in Quotations When used with quotation marks,...
- Exclamation Mark
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- What This Handout Is About
- Semicolons
- Colons
- Dashes
This handout explains the most common uses of three kinds of punctuation: semicolons (;), colons (:), and dashes (—). After reading the handout, you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing.
The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma does but less than a period does. Here are the two most common uses of the semicolon:
Colons follow independent clauses (clauses that could stand alone as sentences) and can be used to present an explanation, draw attention to something, or join ideas together.
The first thing to know when talking about dashes is that they are almost never required by the laws of grammar and punctuation. Overusing dashes can break up the flow of your writing, making it choppy or even difficult to follow, so don’t overdo it. It’s also important to distinguish between dashes and hyphens. Hyphens are shorter lines (-); they ...
Nov 2, 2022 · Some of the most widely used punctuation marks are: 1. Full stop a.k.a. period (.) 2. Question mark (?) 3. Comma (,) 4. Semicolon (;) 5. Exclamation mark (!) 6. Colon (:) 7. Apostrophe ( ‘) 8. Hyphen ( –) There are also other types like the dash ( – ), ellipses ( … ), parenthesis ( () ), etc. 1. Full Stop.
- 1) Should a comma be used before the ‘and’ in a series?This is known as the oxford comma and is purely a personal preference. Most business writers however prefer to use it. Example: I love Paris, Ro...
- 2) Should we use commas with ‘which’ and ‘that’?The general rule is: we use ‘that’ for a restrictive or defining clause viz. the condition is inevitable or crucial. A comma should not be used in...
- 3) When the conjunction ‘and’ is used to join two clauses, should a comma be used?When the subject is different in the two clauses, then a comma should be used. But when the subject is the same, then the comma can be omitted. E...
Jan 30, 2015 · Using Explanation Marks . . . Posted on January 30, 2015 by admin. I know that I over-use the exclamation mark . . . and I confess that I have always had that failing ...
Oct 3, 2019 · This guide provides instruction on the basic rules of using a period, comma, colon, semicolon, question mark and exclamation point. Each type of punctuation is followed by an explanation and example sentences for reference purposes.
The standard English punctuation is as follows: period, comma, apostrophe, quotation, question, exclamation, brackets, braces, parenthesis, dash, hyphen, ellipsis, colon, semicolon. Below is an explanation of some punctuation that is commonly misused.
