Punctuation Review

1. Punctuation Review Mrs. Smith 7th Grade English

2. Periods and Commas • The period occurs at the end of most sentences. It is also used to identify an abbreviation. • The comma is a little more complicated, commas are used to indicate a pause in a sentence. They separate independent clauses joined by conjunctions such as: yet, so, but, or and nor. They also set off non-restrictive appositives and word lists. • Examples: The sentence ends now. • Abbreviations: Mr., Mrs., and Dr. • My friend John, the plumber, fixed our sink. • Most dogs will eat human food, and a few will climb on the table to get it.

3. Exclamation Points and Question Marks • Use an exclamation point to show strong emotion, emphasis or surprise. Yay! We won! • Overuse of an exclamation point is a sign of undisciplined writing. Do not use even one of these marks unless it is justified. Never use an exclamation point in business writing. • Use a question mark only after a direct question. • Will you go with me? • A question mark replaces a period at the end of a sentence. Always capitalize the word that follows a question mark.

4. Semicolons • Semicolons are used to separate clauses in a sentence when they are not joined by conjunctions. • We called early this morning; no one was home. • They are used with independent clauses joined with words such as; namely, consequently, however. • Bring any two items; however, sleeping bags and tents are in short supply. • They separate units in a series. • The students have come from Las Vegas, Nevada; San Francisco, California; and Phoenix, Arizona.

5. Colons • Colons are used to introduce a series of items. • You will need to bring: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. • Never use a colon when it directly follows a verb or preposition. • I want: pizza, popcorn and pop.-Incorrect. • I want the following: pizza, popcorn and pop.-Correct • Use a colon in a business letter salutation. • Dear Mr. Jones:

6. Quotation Marks • Use double quotation marks to set off a direct quotation. • “When will you be here?” he asked. • Quotation marks oritalics can be used for titles: magazines, books, plays, songs, poems, articles, etcetera. • Periods and commas always go inside a quotation mark. • Use single quotation marks for a quotation inside a quotation. • He said. “Sue cried, ‘Please don’t treat me this way.’”

7. Italics • Use italics when writing about titles of books , movies, poems, television shows, and songs. • The Outsiders, Frozen, The Raven, I-Carly, Crazy. • Italicize the titles of ships, aircraft and trains. • Titanic, Spruce Goose. • If you are handwriting, use underlining to indicate italics.

8. Apostrophe and Hyphens • An apostrophe can be used to show possession. • Caden’s shoes. • To show the omission of letters. • We’ll, wouldn’t, can’t • Hyphens can be used to divide syllables. • Lo-co-mo-tive • To separate compound numbers or words. • Drive-in, fifty-four • To form temporary adjectives. • Natural-gas, two-seater aircraft

9. Dashes • A dash is used to set off words that indicate a change in thought. • Mr. Palik—I believe he drives a P.T Cruiser—teaches science. • To act as an appositive that contains commas. • His wife studies languages—French, Spanish and Swedish.

10. Capitalization. • Use a capital letter as the first word in a sentence, in lines of poetry, songs, and direct quotations. • Abbreviations of words are capitalized. • Dr., U.S.A., Jan. • Do not capitalize the names of subjects unless they come from proper nouns. • math, science– French, German