Punctuation marks and its uses examples.ppt

Marks

1. PUNCTUATION
Marks

2. This presentation helps
you use punctuation
marks with precision

3. Use a semicolonbetween two
closely related independent
clauses notjoined by and, but, or,
nor, for,or (sometimes)yet.
Few minds wear out;most
minds rust out.
Success is getting what you want;
happiness is wanting what you get.

4. Use a semicolon(or a period)
before a transition expression
joining independent clauses.
I have a contract;therefore,
I am protected legally.
(Omit the comma after short
transitions --then, thus, hence, still,
yet, and also.)
If you are protected thenso am I.

5. Use a semicolonbefore a
coordinate conjunctionthat
joins independent clauses--IF
the sentence already hastwo
or more commas.
We ordered the team’s uniforms,
shoes,and caps;andthey were
shipped directly to your Cincinnati,
Ohio,stadium address.

6. Use asemicolonafter an
independent clause precedingfor
example, for instance, namely,or
that iswhen a list is introduced or
an explanation ends the sentence.
The retirement village is
convenient to needed services;
namely,a grocery store, a
library, and a post office.

7. Use asemicolonbetween
items in a series IF the series
hascommaswithin.
Visiting hours are weekdays,8 to
5;Saturdays,10 to 5;and
Sundays,1 to 5.
We also have locations in San
Mateo,California; Atlanta,
Georgia; and San Antonio,Texas.

8. Use acolonafter a sentence
(independent clause) when a second
sentence (clause), a phrase, or even a
single word explains or supplements
the first sentence (original clause).
Backyard bird watching is growing in
popularity:Specialty stores now
cater to this popular hobby.
Urban birds have one main predator:
cats.

9. Use a colonafter a complete
sentence (independent clause)
that introduces a quotation or
when a series follows.
There is an old saying:“Birds of
a feather flock together.”
You can attract wild birds to your
yard if you provide four things:
fresh seed, clean water, shelter,
and safety from predators.

10. Use acolon between hour and
minutes and in technical proportions.
12:30 p.m.20:1 (ratio of 20 to 1)
“Standard Punctuation style” calls for a
colonafter the salutation (and comma
after the complimentary close).
Dear Mr. Vu: Sincerely,

11. Use acolonin a vertical list,
unlessanother sentence
separates the list from its
introductory sentence:
These may be North America’s rarest birds.
This is based on several studies.(no colon)
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Green Parakeet
These may be North America’s rarest birds:
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Green Parakeet

12. Quotation marksprevent accusations
of plagiarism (stealing someone else’s
words or intellectual property). Use
before and after repeating someone’s
exact words
Mark Twain once said, “Nothing is ours but
our language, our phrasing. If a man takes that
from me (knowingly, purposely) he is a thief.”
Do not use when paraphrasing
(summarizing what someone said)
Mark Twain once said that if anyone took his
exact language or phrasing on purpose, that
man would definitely be a thief.

13. Insert closingquotation marksafter
a period or comma (American style), but
not if a colon or semicolon is needed.
“To find yourself, think for yourself,”
Socrates said.
Three philosophers are included in
“Great Ancient Sages” :Socrates,
Plato, and Confucius.

14. Mahatma Ghandi said, “ Could there be a
greater proof of our cowardice than fighting
amongst ourselves?” (question mark
applies only to quote)
With question or exclamation
marks, placement varies.
Did you know that Ghandi said,“ Could there be
a greater proof of our cowardice than fighting
amongst ourselves”?(question mark applies to
entire sentence, not just quote)

15. Usequotation marksfor titles of
subdivisionsof published works
(articles, chapters). Also use
quotation marks for names of
short poems, songs, and
lectures.

16. Use the underlineor preferably italics
to emphasize a word or expression or
to show that a word is used where it
might seem out of place.
Italicizefull-length published books,
magazines, newspapers, films, plays,
and shows.If italicsare not available,
underlinethe title or use all capital letters.
Marie wrote massageinstead of message.

17. The hyphenand the dashare
completely different!
(half a dashis a hyphen)
Compound
numbers from
twenty-oneto
ninety-nine
are spelled
with a hyphen
Selfwords are
hyphenated
except for
selfsame.
Self-conscious
Self-respect
Hyphenateexwhen it means former
ex-presidentex-husband

18. Whennon, over, under, semi,orsub
is a prefix, write the word without a
space orhyphen: nonfat,
overestimated, underachieved,
semiconductor, subcontractor
If a proper noun follows a prefix, use a
hyphen:un-American
Most pre, re, and dewords do not
require hyphens, except sometimes if
the main word begins with e: preheat,
replay, re-elect, deselect

19. If a prefix ending in e(such as
re, de, or pre) might be
confusing, use a hyphen.
Re-cover
(to cover
again)

20. If an adjective is more than one
word (compound), it has a hyphen
if shown in the dictionary OR if it
precedes the noun being modified.
What’s the difference between a small
business owner and asmall-businessowner?
hard-working, up-to-date,
government-owned, tax-exempt

21. If the first word of the compound
expression ends with ly, the hyphen
is usually not required. If the lyword
is an adjective, douse the hyphen:
friendly-lookinggirl
fashionably dressed man
No hyphenis required when the word
is a well-established compound noun
functioning as an adjective:
A high schoolstudent found the
social securitycheck.

22. Use a hyphento divide words at
the end of a line. Divide words
between syllables. Avoid
distracting the reader with
amusing or confusing divisions:
Please send me your cat-
alog. Just over the horizon-
tal line, you’ll find a number.
Finally, he abandoned his pet-
ulant attitude.

23. Remember the rules for showing possession.
•According to Kim report, Mr. Atkins
sisters had several years experience
making children clothes for Mrs.
Kentfield children.
•Ms. Hendrix letter is in Dr. Jacobs
office.
’s ’
’
’
’s
s
’ ’

24. A dash–or emdash –emphasizes
nonessential expressions ordinarily
enclosed with commas.
The movie star was living in Brooklyn
with his wife, his sweetheart of many
years, and two children.
Hmmm. Now replace the commas with dashes.
The movie star was living in Brooklyn
with his wife –his sweetheart of
many years–and two children.
Isn’t that better and much clearer?

25. A dashis required after a word or
word group preceding an
independent clause.
Honesty, creativity, and humor–
those qualities help in the workplace.
Use parenthesesto enclose
directions.
The game (see map on page 7)will be
at McCormack Stadium.
Dashesemphasizeand parenthesesde-emphasize.

26. You have now seen how to
use punctuation marks with
precision (including the semicolon,
colon, hyphen, dash, quotation, and
parentheses).