PUNCTUATION MARKS
A full stop or period ( . ) is used:
¨ to mark the end of a sentence.
Example: There are two sides to every question.
¨ to show the shortened form of a word
Example: exam
¨ at the end of an abbreviation.
Example: Dr.
Comma ( , ) is used:
¨ to separate words in a list.
Example: We saw monkeys, lions and tigers in the zoo. ¨ to show a pause in a sentence or reading.
Example: Yesterday, as I was jogging, I saw a big snake.
¨ before inverted commas of actual words spoken.
Example: He told us, “The world is round.”
¨ to separate the name of the person spoken to.
Example: “John, let’s start work straightaway.”
¨ to separate parts of an address.
Example: 99, Downing Street, Kingston.
¨ to separate relative clause from the rest of the sentence.
Example: The man, who lives next door, is a doctor.
Question Mark ( ? ) is used at the end of a sentence to show a question.
Example: “When will the train arrive?”
Exclamation Mark ( ! ) is used at the end of a sentence to show surprise, excited, or angry.
Example: We won! Quiet!
Colon ( : ) is used to introduce an example, quotation, etc.
Example: This box contains the following items: bandages,plasters, lotion, medicines and a pair of scissors.
Semicolon ( ; ) is used to join two sentences or two complete parts of a sentence which are closely connected in meaning.
Example: He gives up smoking; obviously, he fears smoking-related disease may strike him.
Apostrophe ( ‘ ) is used:
¨ to show that numbers or letters have been left out.
Example: ’86 (=1986); don’t (=do not).
¨ to show that something belongs to someone or something.
Example: John’s mother; Charles’ book
¨ to the plural of letters and numbers.
Example: Your c’s / 5’s are too big.
Hyphen ( - ) is used to join two words or more to form compound words.
Example: good-looking, pro-American, forty-one, mother-in-law.
Quotation Marks ( “ “ ) are used:
¨ to show the beginning and end of reported speech.
Example: “Turn on the light” she said to me.
¨ to show a quoted word, phrase or title.
Example: “War and Peace” is a novel by Leo Tolstoy.
A full stop or period ( . ) is used:
¨ to mark the end of a sentence.
Example: There are two sides to every question.
¨ to show the shortened form of a word
Example: exam
¨ at the end of an abbreviation.
Example: Dr.
Comma ( , ) is used:
¨ to separate words in a list.
Example: We saw monkeys, lions and tigers in the zoo. ¨ to show a pause in a sentence or reading.
Example: Yesterday, as I was jogging, I saw a big snake.
¨ before inverted commas of actual words spoken.
Example: He told us, “The world is round.”
¨ to separate the name of the person spoken to.
Example: “John, let’s start work straightaway.”
¨ to separate parts of an address.
Example: 99, Downing Street, Kingston.
¨ to separate relative clause from the rest of the sentence.
Example: The man, who lives next door, is a doctor.
Question Mark ( ? ) is used at the end of a sentence to show a question.
Example: “When will the train arrive?”
Exclamation Mark ( ! ) is used at the end of a sentence to show surprise, excited, or angry.
Example: We won! Quiet!
Colon ( : ) is used to introduce an example, quotation, etc.
Example: This box contains the following items: bandages,plasters, lotion, medicines and a pair of scissors.
Semicolon ( ; ) is used to join two sentences or two complete parts of a sentence which are closely connected in meaning.
Example: He gives up smoking; obviously, he fears smoking-related disease may strike him.
Apostrophe ( ‘ ) is used:
¨ to show that numbers or letters have been left out.
Example: ’86 (=1986); don’t (=do not).
¨ to show that something belongs to someone or something.
Example: John’s mother; Charles’ book
¨ to the plural of letters and numbers.
Example: Your c’s / 5’s are too big.
Hyphen ( - ) is used to join two words or more to form compound words.
Example: good-looking, pro-American, forty-one, mother-in-law.
Quotation Marks ( “ “ ) are used:
¨ to show the beginning and end of reported speech.
Example: “Turn on the light” she said to me.
¨ to show a quoted word, phrase or title.
Example: “War and Peace” is a novel by Leo Tolstoy.
