ContentsWhy Punctuate DashFull Stop (a.k.a. Period) HyphenQuestion Mark Quotation MarkExclamation MarkCapital LettersCommaSemi-ColonColonApostrophe

Why Punctuate?

To be understood

Read the following passage, without

punctuation.

i would like to apply for a job with your company

for two years i have been employed as a sales

clerk for the jones store i sold nothing that i did

not take pride in i am sure it will be the same if I

work for you

Now, look at how much easier it is to read

with punctuation:

I would like to apply for a job with your

company. For two years I have been employed

as a sales clerk for the Jones store. I sold

nothing that I did not take pride in. I am sure it

will be the same if I work for you.

Now, look at what happens when wechange the position of the punctuationmarks. It actually changes the meaning ofthe passage.

I would like to apply for a job with your companyfor two years. I have been employed. As a salesclerk for the Jones store I sold nothing. That, Idid not take pride in. I am sure it will be thesame if I work for you.

Full Stop (.)Why do we use a full stop?

To end a sentence when it’s a statementExample: The dog sat outside the door. His

master had not fed him for a week.

To indicate an abbreviationExample: N.S.W, e.g., Prof.

Note: There’s a trend to phase out full stops with abbreviations.

Activity

Put full stops in the correct places in thesegroups of sentences. (You'll need to addcapitals where there are new sentences.)

It had been raining for weeks the river was rising veryquickly and the farmers were afraid the dam would burstwe decided we would have to leave our farm

You should not drive if you have been drinking it hasbeen proven that accidents are more likely when drivershave been drinking

ActivityKey

It had been raining for weeks. The river wasrising very quickly and the farmers were afraidthe dam would burst. We decided we wouldhave to leave our farm.

You should not drive when you have beendrinking. It has been proven that accidents aremore likely when people have been drinking.

Question Mark (?)Why do we use a question mark?

To end a sentence when it asks aquestion

Examples:Why is it so cold?Where is your warm coat?

ActivityPut question marks and full stops in the correctplaces in these groups of sentences. (There aretwo sentences in each example)

I am going to wash the dishes will you peel thepotatoes for me

He is going by car are you going by bus

How are you I hope you are well

ActivityKey

I am going to wash the dishes. Will you peel thepotatoes for me?

He is going by car. Are you going by bus?

How are you? I hope you are well.

Exclamation Mark(!)Why do we use an exclamation mark?

This mark shows strength of emotion. It is oftenused in direct speech and informal notes,messages and letters. It is less common informal writing.

Examples:Hi! Sorry I haven't written for so long!!!Great work! Congratulations! "Leave me alone!" she screamed

ActivityPut exclamation marks in the correctplaces in the following sentences.

What wonderful newsCome here this instantHelp

ActivityKey

What wonderful news!Come here this instant! Help!

Capital LettersCapital letters are used:

At the start of a new sentence. Example: The catsat on the mat. His owner sat nearby.

For the letter "i" when you are referring toyourself. Example: He can run faster than I can.

For people's names. Examples: Jim Smith, BillJones

Capital Letters (2)Capital letters are also used:

For titles. Examples: Dr Jones, Mr Brown

For book/film/company titles (main words only).Examples: The Catcher in the Rye, The Wizardof Oz, Briggs and Sons

In direct speech, for the first spoken word.Example: She said, "My name is Mary."

Capital Letters (3)Capital letters are also used:

For acronyms.Examples: TAFE, CIA

For titles of days, months. Examples: Monday, July

ActivityPut capital letters in the correct places in thefollowing sentences:

mr brown needed to see the doctor urgently.mary said, " may i come,too?" i will go to seejoe on the first monday in may. she lives insydney, nsw. karl and i went to the movies onwednesday night. we saw "one flew over thecuckoo's nest", starring jack nicholson.

ActivityKey

Mr Brown needed to see the doctor urgentlyMary said, "May I come, too?”

I will go to see Joe on the first Monday in May.She lives in Sydney, NSW.

Karl and I went to the movies on Wednesdaynight. We saw "One Flew Over the Cuckoo'sNest" starring Jack Nicholson.

Commas (,)Why do we use a comma?

This marks a natural pause during a sentence. Itis only a short pause, and should not beconfused with the longer full stop pause.

Sometimes commas are essential to make themeaning of a sentence clear to the reader.

Note: Don't use too many commas, as they can makeyour writing jerky and disjointed. If in doubt,leave out!

Commas (2)When do we use a commas?

In a list. Example: We bought apples, bananas,pears and grapes. (Note: no comma before"and" in a list of single items)

To separate adjectives (describing words) unless the words "go together". Examples: Shehad long, thick, wavy hair. (But: She had verydark brown hair.)

Commas (3)When do we also use a commas?

To prevent the reader from connecting wordsthat do not properly belong together.Example: While I cooked the baby playednearby. (While I cooked, the baby playednearby.)

To separate an introductory expression oftime from the rest of the sentence. Example: Three months later, it was all forgotten.

Commas (4)When do we also use a commas?

To separate parts of a long sentence whichcontains "but" or "and". Example: The manager has given the instruction,and the staff must obey it.

To enclose anything which interrupts the flow ofthe sentence.Example: I hope, of course, that they'll come.

Commas (5)When do we also use a commas?

To enclose the name of a person or theirposition/job, if both are mentioned. Example: The coach, Bob Jones, was given anaward.

To separate direct speech from the rest of theSentence.Example: "Go away," she said.

Activity 1Insert commas where necessary.

The house was cold damp small andinconvenient.When he fired the bullet hit the targetaccurately.Bill said "The train is late.”Andre the world famous clown is a Frenchman.Before we left we checked to make sure we'dturned off the computer.

Activity 1 (2)Insert commas where necessary.

I insist on eating Grandfather before we leavethe house.Wilma Fred's wife lived near the river.Jim will arrive sometime tonight but I don'tknow exactly when it will be.

Activity 1Key

The house was cold, damp, small andinconvenient.When he fired, the bullet hit the targetaccurately.Bill said, "The train is late.”Andre, the world famous clown, is aFrenchman.

Activity 1Key (2)

Before we left, we checked to make sure we'dturned off the computer.I insist on eating, Grandfather, before we leavethe house.Wilma, Fred's wife, lived near the river.Jim will arrive sometime tonight, but I don'tknow exactly when it will be.

Activity 2Some of the examples below need to be twosentences, instead of one sentence with acomma. Change the commas to full stopswhere necessary.

The rain began to come down heavily, we weresoon wet through.We ran down the road, and soon found shelterin a doorway.

Activity 2 (2)We waited for about an hour, but the rain wouldnot stop.At three o'clock my friend drove by, he offeredus a lift home.When we arrived home our house was flooded,we stayed with friends for the night.

Activity 2 (1)Key

The rain began to come down heavily.We were soon wet through.We ran down the road, and soon found shelterin a doorway.We waited for about an hour, but the rain wouldnot stop.At three o'clock my friend drove by. He offeredus a lift home.

Activity 2 (2)Key

When we arrived home our house was flooded.We stayed with friends for the night.

Note: The examples in yellow each contain two statements with nojoining word such as and, so, but or as. Because of this, they needto be made into two sentences.

Colon (:)The colon can be used to:

Introduce a list of thingsexample: Yesterday I had an enormous meal:onion soup, a dozen oysters, a pile of potatoesand apple pie and ice cream.

Introduce something which is written in quotationmarks example: Remember the old proverb:"More haste, less speed."

Colon (:)The colon can also be used to:

Make two statements in the same sentence saysomething of equal value (one may be anexplanation of the other).example: Mary is a regular world traveller: everyyear she visits many countries.

ActivityCorrectly insert colons into the followingsentences.These meals will be dropped from this week'smenu hamburgers, soup, tacos and vegetablepies.In his article, Bill Jones feels we should befirmer with our children "Let them know who'sboss! Don't be weak!”Jane plays these instruments the trombone, thepiano, the clarinet and the guitar.

Activity (2)Jane is a talented musician she has the abilityto play any instrument you can name.

I always listen to my mum's motto "An apple aday keeps the doctor away.”

There are various reasons for the types ofvegetation in this area the soil type, the climateand the closeness to the ocean.

ActivityKey

These meals will be dropped from thisweek's menu: hamburgers, chicken soup,tacos and vegetable pies.

In his article, Bill Jones feels we should befirmer with our children: "Let them knowwho's boss! Don't be weak!"

Activity (2)Key

Jane plays these instruments: the trombone,the piano, the clarinet and the guitar.

Jane is a talented musician: she has theability to play any instrument you can name.

Activity (3)Key

I always listen to my mum's motto: "An apple aday keeps the doctor away.”

There are various reasons for the types ofvegetation in this area: the soil type, the climateand the closeness to the ocean.

Semi-Colon (;)Why do we use a semi-colon?

A semi-colon can be used instead of a full stopwhen the two parts of the sentence are tooclosely related in meaning to be put intoseparate sentences.Examples: We did not go into the theatre beforeour friends arrived; instead, we waited outside.I don't know who my grandfather was; I am moreconcerned to find out who his grandson will be.

Semi-Colon (;)Why do we use a semi-colon?

Semi-colons can also be used between items ona list, when the items consist of a number ofwords, or when the use of commas alone wouldbe confusing.

Example: The committee consisted of CarolJones, the staff representative; Bill Johnson, theboss; Terry Smith, the local doctor; Murray Todd,the fisherman; and Mary Renshaw, the cook.

ActivityPut semi-colons in the correct places in thefollowing sentences.

He and his dog spent all their time together hehad no other friends.She arranged to meet Tom inside the footballground she wanted to avoid paying his entryfee.I left the movie early I was not feeling well.The rain fell all day the carnival had to be calledoff.

Activity Key

He and his dog spent all their time together; hehad no other friends.She arranged to meet Tom inside the footballground; she wanted to avoid paying his entryI left the movie early; I was not feeling well.The rain fell all day; the carnival had to becalled off.

Apostrophy (‘’)The apostrophy can be used to:

Show that letters have been left out. These arecalled contractions.example: can't for cannot, didn't for did not, it'sfor it is or it has

Apostrophy (‘) 2The apostrophe is also used to show possession(or ownership) in the following ways:

If the thing/person that owns something issingular, add 's Examples: The girl's books (thebooks belonging to the girl)

If the thing/person that owns something is pluraland already ends with an "s", simply add anapostrophe. Examples: The girls' books

(thebooks belonging to the girls)

Apostrophy (‘) 3The apostrophy can also be used:

If the thing/person that owns something isplural but does not end in an "s", add 's.Examples: The women's club (the clubbelonging to the women)

Activity Where does the apostrophe of possessionbelong in the following sentences?

The dogs dinner (the dinner belonging to onedog)The dogs dinner (the dinner belonging to morethan one dog)The cats whiskers (the whiskers belonging toone cat)The cats whiskers (the whiskers belonging tomore than one cat)

Activity Key

The dog’s dinner The dogs’ dinner The cat’s whiskersThe cats’ whiskers

Dash (--)Used to strongly emphasize a point or set off an

explanatory comment. Don’t overuse it.

To some of you, my proposals may seem radical

-- even revolutionary.

Hyphen (-)Use a hyphen to join two or more words servingas a single adjective before a noun:Example: a one-way streetchocolate-covered peanuts

Use a hyphen with numbers. Example: forty-six,sixty-three, a fifteen-year-old boy

Use a hyphen with certain prefixes. Example: exhusband, self-assured, mid-September, allinclusive.

Quotation mark (‘’)To enclose direct quotations and dialogue.Example: “You must arrive on time,” theprofessor said.

To denote titles and nicknames.Example: Her favourite book is “Brick Lane”.

Note:Punctuation goes inside thequotation marks if it is part of the quote.Example: “Give me my dignity!” the prisoner pleaded.But: Have you seen “Pulp Fiction”?