1. Quick Punctuation Guide

2. Comma Use before a coordinating conjunction linking main clauses
following introductory clauses and phrases
between items in a series
to set off incidental comments (appositives, nonrestrictive clauses)
when meaning is unclear without its use
when authority figures tell you to use one while you are writing for them

3. Don't use a single comma between a subject and its verb
when a subordinate clause follows a main clause
before the first or after the last item in a series
between two words joined by a coordinating conjunction

4. Semicolon
Use
instead of a coordinating conjunction between main clauses
to separate main groups of items in a list already using commas
Don't use
too frequently in the same document
between parts of unequal grammatical rank

5. Colon
Use
to connect explanation, details, or a quotation to a main clause
Don't use
more than one in a sentence
directly after prepositions or verbs unless you knowingly choose to violate the normal usage rules

6. Dash Use Don't use to indicate a sudden change of tone or idea
to emphasize, clarify, or interject
Don't use
too often
a hyphen(-) for a dash; dash(--) = two consecutive hyphens or an em-dash

7. Parentheses Use Don't use to insert nonessential material
to indicate citation
to introduce acronyms, abbreviations, etc.
Don't use
if the material can be better incorporated another way

8. Brackets Use to interpolate in quotations
as parentheses inside parentheses

9. Ellipsis Use Don't use to indicate an omission
to indicate that you're starting a sentence in the middle
to alter meaning in a quotation

10. Apostrophe Use Don't use
to indicate possessive case for nouns and indefinite pronouns
to indicate omissions in contractions
to indicate plurals of odd words, acronyms, and numerals (opt.)
Don't use
to indicate possessive case for personal pronouns
to add an "s" for making standard words plural

11. Single Quotation Marks
Use
within double quotation marks or for unusual terms
Don't use
to pretend you're not really using a word you're using

12. Double Quotation Marks
Use
to enclose direct quotes
for minor (internal) titles
correctly with other marks:
place period and comma inside
place colon and semicolon outside
place question mark and exclamation point inside when they apply only to the quoted matter, and
outside when they apply to the whole sentence
Don't use
to pretend you're not really using a cliche you're using

13. Hyphens Use * to integrate words into a functional unit
when your keyboard lacks bullets to set off listed items

14. Prepositional Phrases

15. Prepositions connect nouns or pronouns to other words.
The phrases created by this linkage are called prepositional phrases, and they usually function as modifiers— adjectives or adverbs—adding detail to the sentence.
Tree frogs are colorful.
Tree frogs of the Colombian mountain ranges to the north of the country's capital near the border are colorful, with markings on their limbs, between their eyes, underneath their arms, and on their backs in hues of red, orange, green, purple, and black.

16. Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition, which can be a word or a phrase, and its object:
Prepositions Objects
according to Aristotle
because of jellyfishes' sensitivity
since the beginning
with regard to ecological studies
with the exception of white whales
throughout the article

17. Lists of prepositions can be found in any grammar book :
above,
around,
across,
below,
between,
by,
over,
past,
since,
throughout,
concerning,
despite,
etc.

18. Technical writers tend to use prepositions frequently because they often need to communicate details:
describing specific features of animals,
analyzing the particular configurations of chemicals,
explaining the effects of procedures, and
the like.
However, overuse of prepositional phrases confuses, rather than clarifying, the writer's point.
The design of the apparatus with the tubing and the electrical wiring was useful for diagnosis of the transmission of electrical impulses in the nerve tested.

19. Revising to avoid overuse of prepositional phrases makes the ideas and information
more readable,
easier to understand, and
easier to retain.
Consider using the object of the preposition as an adjective or converting the idea into a subordinate clause.