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Punctuation Lessons

using apostrophes using colons using commas using dashes using hyphens using brackets using semicolons using quotation marks

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Punctuation Explained (with Examples)

Punctuation Explained (with Examples)

Punctuation is the use of conventional characters (e.g., commas, semicolons) to improve clarity. In general, punctuation aids comprehension by showing a reader which words are grouped and where to pause.

The main punctuation characters are:

• apostrophes (')
• parentheses (round) ( ( ) )
• parentheses (square) ( [ ] )
• colons (:)
• commas (,)
• dashes (–, —)
• ellipsis (...)
• exclamation mark (!)
• hyphen (-)
• periods (full stops) (.)
• question marks (?)
• quotation marks("")
• semicolons (;)

Punctuation (Apostrophes)

Apostrophes are used:

• To show possession
(e.g., one dog's kennel, two dogs' kennel)
• In time expressions
(e.g., a day's holiday, two weeks' pay)
• In contractions
(e.g., can't, don't, isn't)

Apostrophes are not used:

• To show plurals
(e.g., three dog's , two patio's )
• Randomly before the letter s
(e.g., She like's cakes. )

Read more about using apostrophes.

Punctuation (Colons)

Colons are used:

• To extend a sentence to expand on something previously mentioned in the sentence
(e.g., I need just one personal trait: loyalty.)
• After an introduction
(e.g., I've seen the following: rust, slime, and a rat.)
• In references, times, and titles
(e.g., Read Genesis 1:1 before 09:00.)
• With quotations
(e.g., He said: "Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.")

Read more about using colons.

Punctuation (Commas)

A comma is used:

• After setting the scene at the start of a sentence
(e.g., Now she is wiser, she understands.)
• After transitional phrases like However, Consequently, or As a result
(e.g., However, I now agree with you.)
• After an interjection
(e.g., Crikey, it's true!)
• Before a conjunction joining two independent clauses
(e.g., She likes pies, and she likes cakes.)
• As parentheses
(e.g., Peter and John, who live next door, love my pies.)
• To separate list items
(e.g., bread, honey, and jam)
• After a long subject if it helps the reader
(e.g., A, B, C, and D, are essential qualifications.)
• In numbers
(e.g., 2,515 )
• With the vocative case
(e.g., I know your uncle, Sarah.)
• Before a quotation
(e.g., She whispered, "I know.")

Read more about using commas.

Punctuation (Hyphens)

Hyphens are joiners. They are used:

• To join the words in a compound adjective
(e.g., seven-foot table, silver-service banquet)
• To join the words in compound nouns
(e.g., paper-clip, cooking-oil)
• To join prefixes to words
(e.g., ultra-expensive, re-establish)

Their main purpose is to show the joined words are a single entity (e.g., a single adjective or a single noun). They are also useful to avoid ambiguity (e.g., a hyphen makes it clear that a paper-clip is a clip for paper and not a clip made of paper).

Read more about using hyphens.

Punctuation (Round Parentheses)

Round parentheses (brackets) are used:

• To insert extra information (often an afterthought, clarification, or expansion of a recently mentioned idea)
(e.g., Set in the 17th century, The Three Musketeers ("Les Trois Mousquetaires" in French) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas.)
• To present a plural option with a singular one
(e.g., Your guest(s) must leave before midnight.)

.

Punctuation (Square Parentheses)

Square parentheses (brackets) are used:

• To make quoted text clearer by expanding on or replacing part of the quote.
(e.g., If you don't like them [my principles], well, I have others.)
• To make it clear that terms like [sic] and […] are insertions by the current author not the originator.
(e.g., In your statement, you wrote: "I appraised [sic] him of the situation at about 4 o'clock.")

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Punctuation (Period / Full Stop)

A period (.) (or full stop in the UK) is a punctuation mark used:

• At the end of a declarative sentence
(e.g., I eat pies.)
• At the end of an imperative sentence (which is not forceful enough for an exclamation mark)
(e.g., Please use the bathroom upstairs.)
• In an abbreviation (including initialisms and contractions)
(e.g., B.B.C., Prof.)

Read more about periods / full stops.

Punctuation (Semicolons)

Semicolons are used:

• In lists when the list items contain commas
(e.g., Peter, the officer in charge; Colin, the chef; and Heidi, my dog)
• To create a smoother transition between sentences, particularly when the second starts with a phrase like however or as a result
(e.g., It was freezing; however, we still enjoyed it.)
• Before a conjunction which merges two sentences containing commas
(e.g., Yesterday, it was, to our surprise, sunny; but today, as expected, it's dull.)

Semicolons are not used for introductions (e.g., I would blame one thing for my divorce; beer. It should be a colon.)

Read more about using semicolons.

Punctuation (Quotation Marks)

Quotation marks (or speech marks as they're also called) are used:

• To show the exact words spoken or written
(e.g., Reagan said: "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans.")
• For the names of things like ships, books, and plays
(e.g., I was certain the "Spruce Goose" was too heavy to fly.)
• To express the idea of alleged or so-called
(During the speech, his "mates" slipped out the side door.)

Read more about using quotation marks.

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