1. Part Three: Punctuation Guide

2. End Punctuation Periods Question Marks Exclamation Points
At the end of a statement, request, or command.
Prefixes (Mr., Dr.)
Abbreviations (including time) (etc., vs., A.M.)
Question Marks
At the end of a direct question.
Can you help me cook tonight?
At the end of a quoted question.
“Can you help me cook tonight?” he asked politely.
Exclamation Points
Expresses a strong emotion or urgent command
There’s not a taxi in this city that will pick us up!

3. Commas
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, so, or yet)
Joins two independent clauses
Here are two independent clauses.
The weather was nice today. I took a bike ride.
Now they are joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction.
The weather was nice today, so I took a bike ride.

4. Commas
Use commas between items in a series (even if they are adjectives)
You get this shirt in blue, purple, or black.
He was a quiet, serious, but generous man.
After introductory phrases
When you go to Germany, make sure you visit Hamburg.
At the restaurant, Judy ordered lobster.

5. Commas Use them after introductory words To offset transitional words
Well, I guess you can go to the concert.
Slowly, he got up from his chair to speak.
To offset transitional words
They have many cars at the lot, such as trucks, sedans, and SUVs.

6. Commas Use them to offset direct quotations
He said, “I don’t have any money to fund that.”
“We are going downtown tonight,” Julie said.
Use with dates, addresses, titles, numbers, states, and countries
On June 12th, 1972, the world stood still.
My new address is 297 East 4th Street, Plano, TX.
Ben Watts, PhD, is a professor here in town.

7. Semicolons Use them to connect two independent clauses
Richard had three dollars; he planned on buying breakfast with it.
Her car had to be jump started this morning; as a result, she was late for the meeting.
Between items in a series if the items have a comma or other punctuation
The rally will be Friday, May 5; Saturday, May 6; and Sunday, May 7.

8. Colons
Between two independent clauses (if the second clause explains or summarizes the first)
The book spends the entire time stating the obvious: we know the killer is the neighbor.
To introduce lists, examples, or definitions
They have a variety of summer classes: canoeing, crafts, wildlife observation, and hiking.
Let’s look at the definition of true leadership: an individual who takes control without having to force his or her ideas on the group.

9. Quotation Marks
Direct Quotation (double quotation marks for a quoted verbatim text, single for quoted material within another quotation)
“Life is too short,” he would always say.
“And then he said ‘I’m leaving’, and ran away.”
Titles of short works
This week we are reading “The Road”, and I like it.
With definitions
I would call my puppy “a ball of energy”, but that might not even be enough.

10. Apostrophes Show possession for single and plural nouns
It was Gail’s apple.
My three sisters’ cat ran away.
To form a contraction or where numbers have been omitted in a year or decade.
I can’t (cannot) see where this is going.
You weren’t (were not) even watching this.
I hate 80’s (1980) music.

11. Parentheses
They set off information that is helpful but not essential to the sentence
It was Carl (my son) who scored the most goals.
Yesterday the temperature was way below freezing. (It is not usually this cold in April.)
To enclose in-text citations
He purported to be born in Rome (Gooding, 72).
Letters or numbers used to label listed items
The violent crime rate in the city is as follows: (1) Crete area 23%, (2) Werner area 17%, and (3) Vale area 21%.

12. Ellipsis Marks
Indicate an omission (especially if from a direct quotation)
Here are the meeting notes. Baylor said, “Lawns should be kept healthy…and no unpainted furniture is allowed…Front lawns should be kept free of debris and cut regularly.”