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PUNCTUATION

Punctuation marks are symbols (like . , ? ! " ' : ;) used to organize and structure writing. They help break up sentences, making the meaning clearer for the reader.

  • Why We Use It
    Punctuation gives clarity to our writing. It shows where ideas begin and end, adds emphasis, and helps guide the reader through the text. Without punctuation, writing can be confusing and difficult to understand.

  • When We Use It
    We use punctuation at specific points in a sentence to separate ideas, show pauses, and highlight important parts. Each type of punctuation mark has its own role in making writing clear and effective.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  1. I have two pets: a dog and a cat.

  2. "Are you coming to the party?" she asked.

  3. Don’t forget to bring your notebook.

  4. My favorite colors are blue, green, and purple.

  5. The teacher said, "Please be on time."

  6. It's raining outside, so bring an umbrella.

  7. Sarah’s book is on the table.

  8. He wasn’t sure what to say.

  9. She asked, "Where's the library?"

  10. The recipe calls for flour, eggs, and milk.

TYPE OF PUNCTUATION

. Period - Ends a declarative sentence or statement.

, Comma - Separates items in a list, clauses, or phrases for clarity.

? Question Mark - Ends a sentence that asks a question.

! Exclamation Mark - Shows strong emotion, excitement, or emphasis.

: Colon - Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation.

; Semicolon - Connects closely related independent clauses or separates items in a complex list.

' Apostrophe - Indicates possession or forms contractions.

" " Quotation Marks - Encloses direct speech, quotations, or specific titles.

- Hyphen - Joins words or parts of words, like compound words (e.g., well-known).

( ) Parentheses - Adds extra information or an aside without interrupting the main sentence flow.

… Ellipsis - Indicates omitted text or a trailing thought.

— Dash - Adds emphasis, sets off a list, or indicates a pause longer than a comma.

HOW WE USE PUNTUATION

PERIOD ( . )

Use a period (.) to end a complete thought or sentence.
Examples:

  • "I like pizza."

  • "She walks to school."

  • "We enjoyed the movie."

QUESTION MARK ( ? )

Use a question mark (?) to ask a question.
Examples:

  • "Do you like pizza?"

  • "Where are you going?"

  • "Can I help you?"

EXCLAMATION MARK ( ! )

Use an exclamation mark (!) to show excitement or strong feeling.
Examples:

  • "I love pizza!"

  • "Watch out!"

  • "That’s amazing!"

COMMAS ( , )

Use commas to separate items in a list, link phrases, or add a pause after an introductory word.
Examples:

  • "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas."

  • "After dinner, we went for a walk."

  • "My friend, who loves to sing, joined the choir."

QUOTATION MARKS ( " … " )

Use quotation marks for quotes, dialogue, or specific titles.
Examples:

  • "She said, 'Hello!'"

  • "The teacher asked, 'Who knows the answer?'"

  • "My favorite book is 'The Great Gatsby.'"

APOSTROPHES ( ' )

Use apostrophes for possessive forms (showing ownership) and contractions (shortened words).
Examples:

  • "Sara’s book" (possessive)

  • "I’m going" (contraction)

  • "It’s time to go."

COLONS ( : )

Use a colon to introduce a list or explanation.
Examples:

  • "Bring these: pens, pencils, and paper."

  • "She had one goal: to win the race."

  • "Remember the rule: always be kind."

SEMICOLONS ( ; )

Use a semicolon to connect closely related sentences.
Examples:

  • "It’s late; we should go."

  • "She wanted to join the team; however, she missed the tryouts."

  • "The dog was barking; the neighbors complained."

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