Punctuation


 * toc

End Marks
Use an mark at the end of a sentence. End marks include periods, question marks , and exclamation marks.

 Commas
The following song has most of the comma rules, one rule per verse. Notice how each rule is illustrated in the last line of each verse!

The Comma Song

Oh where, oh where do these commas go? Oh where, oh where do they go? Oh where, oh where do these commas go? Please tell me; I just want to know!

Use commas to separate **items in a series**; A series is three or more. Use commas to separate items in a series Like **//Tom, Ted, and Theodore//**.

Use commas to separate **adjectives** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">That come before a noun. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas to separate adjectives <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Like **//silly, outrageous clown//**.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas to separate **two complete thoughts** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">When joined by //and, but, or, nor// (//for// or //yet//). <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas to separate two complete thoughts.
 * //<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I get it, and now I want more. //**

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas to **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> set off an appositive, ** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">A noun that follows a noun (to explain it). <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas to set off an appositive, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Like **Woodward, a school of renown.**

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas for **words of direct address**. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Oh, teacher, are you talking to me? <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas for words of direct address. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Yes**, teacher,** I think that I see.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas **after introductory words** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Like //yes, no, oh, now,// or //well//. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after introductory words. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">**Oh, yes, now,** I think I can tell.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after **introductory prep. phrases,** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">At least after two, my dear. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after **introductory prep. phrases.** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">After one, if it helps to be clear.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after **introductory adverb clauses** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Introduced by subordinating conjunctions. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after **introductory adverb clauses** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">If you do, you'll be happy you did! //(I can't think of a rhyme!)//

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas in **conventional situations** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Like parts of addresses and dates. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas in conventional situations <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Like greetings and closings-- **Love,**
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Kate **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Now, let's take a look at each comma rule. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">//**Rule 1:**// <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**to separate** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> **items in a series**. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**//Note://** **When conjunctions separate each item in a series, there is no need for commas.** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Example: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">**//Rule 2://** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas ** to separate adjectives which precede a noun **. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Examples: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">//**Rule 3:**// <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use a comma after the first independent clause in a **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">compound sentence **. The comma is followed by a coordinating conjunction (//and, but, or, nor, for, yet//) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Examples: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">//**Rule 4:**// <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Commas for ** interrupters **: //**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Rule 5: **// <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas after<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;"> **introductory elements:** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">1. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">** Introductory words **(//Yes, No, Oh, Now, Well//)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A series can be made up of **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">words **. In the following examples can you tell how the words in the series function in the sentence?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Pines, firs, and spruces are evergreens. (a series of subjects)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">We gathered our books, returned them to the library, and went to lunch. (a series of verbs)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The festival was on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (a series of objects of prepositions)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fast foods are high in fats, high in sugar, and low in nutrition. (a series of predicate adjectives)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A series can be made up of **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">prepositional phrases **. Consider the following examples:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The troops traveled over the mountain, across the valley, and into enemy territory.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Paul read his book at school, on the bus, and in his room.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A series can be made up of <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**clauses** . Consider the following examples:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">I don't know what the contest was, where the contest was, or who was in the contest.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Our team lost the game because we didn't play well, we were minus one player, and our coach was absent.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">For breakfast Jesse had three pieces of toast and two eggs and four slices of bacon.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The caring, understanding mother soothed her frightened child.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The wise, experienced counselor advised the family to take a vacation.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">You may go for a ride on the camel, or you may ride the elephant instead.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The prince married the princess, and they lived happily ever after.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">We went on a vacation to Florida, for we needed some rest and relaxation.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**  to set off an appositive or an appositive phrase . **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Examples:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">George Washington, **our first President**, is often called the father of our country.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Dr. Gulley, **the seventh president of Woodward Academy**, was formerly the president of LaGrange College.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Have you ever read //The Little Princess//, **a classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, a British author and playwright?**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Six Flags over Georgia, **a 100-acre park**, has awesome rides and incredible attractions.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Use commas **to set off words of direct address.** A word of direct address names a person to whom one is speaking.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Examples:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Doctor**,** is my arm broken?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Will you<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**,** Eliza**,** bring me that lovely flower?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I have a surprise for you<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**,** Dad.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Good morning<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**,** beautiful butterfly !
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Yes, I would love to attend the ball with you!
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">No, I will never go to the ball with you!
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Why, I'd be delighted to attend the ball with you!
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Now, what what time shall I be ready for the ball?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Well, I might attend the ball with you, but I might not.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">2.<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;"> **Two or more introductory prepositional phrases** 3. **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Introductory adverb clauses ** //**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Rule 6: **// <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use commas in <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">conventional situations : <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">1. Parts of addresses: <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">2. Dates: <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">3. Greetings: <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">4. Closings:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the middle of the old book**,** I found a beautiful book mark.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">On a clear, sunny day in May**,** we went on a picnic in the park.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">After a hard day's practice on the baseball field**,** the team was ready for a break.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">After we played in the baseball tournament, <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">our family left for vacation.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">When the hurricane came on shore, it destroyed much of the natural habitat.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">If you sing "The Comma Song" from memory, you will get a treat!
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The Bhaktas moved from 234 Bear Lane, Birmingham, AL 40027, to their new home at 781 Silver Trail, Alpharetta, GA 3004, last summer.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">At 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the forty-fourth President of the United States.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Dear Rocky,
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Sincerely,

**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Colons **
<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">1. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Use a colon before a list, usually after the words "the following" or "as follows." Consider the following examples: <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">//<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**Never use a colon between a preposition and its object! Never use a colon between a verb and its complement! __NEVER__!** //
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The colon is a mark of punctuation that means "note what follows." **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">It has very specific uses. They are as follows: **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Bring these items on the field trip: a sack lunch, a canned drink, and a camera.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Send your reservation to the following address: 222 Grayson Avenue, Gary, Indiana 46404.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">In the following sentences a colon is **not** needed even though there is a list:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">I thought the movie was entertaining, humorous, and thought-provoking.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">On my trip to the beach, I took a surf board, my bathing suit, and a towel.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Come to visit me at 777 Mountain Top Road, Rocky Mountain, Tennessee.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">2. Use a colon between the hour and the minutes: It is 8:30 A.M.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">3. Use a colon between chapter and verse in the Bible: Read Psalm 100:1-2.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">4. Use a colon after the greeting in a business letter: Dear Mr. President:

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">5. Use a colon after a long, formal quotation: This is my favorite quotation from Shakespeare: "To thine own self be true."

**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Italics **

 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Use italics (when typing) or underlining (when writing by hand) for the following items: **

<span style="color: #800000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">**The Underlining Song**


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Underline the following items. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">If you have a computer, then //italics// will do. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Underline the following items. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Now, you better get ready; there are more than a few: **


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Names of books, newspapers, and magazines-- **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Great works of art such as sculptures and paintings-- **


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Names of plays and movies and TV shows-- **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Long musical compositions and on the list goes-- **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Names of ships, trains, planes, and spacecraft, too. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">If you need to underline it, then this song is just for you. **

**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Quotation Marks **

 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">There are many rules for quotation marks. They are as follows: **


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I. Use quotation marks before and after a person speaks in dialogue. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Example of three different ways to write dialogue: **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Ms. Barton said, "Good morning, class. I hope you enjoyed your weekend."
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">"Good morning, class. I hope you enjoyed your weekend," said Ms. Barton.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">"Good morning, class," said Ms. Barton. "I hope you enjoyed your weekend."
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">"Well," said one student, "I had an accident over the weekend."

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">**II. If two or more people are speaking in a dialogue, you must indent every time you change speakers. Consider the following dialogue between two eleven-year-old girls:**




 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">III. Use quotation marks around the following titles: **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Short stories **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Poems **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Articles **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Chapters **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Episodes of TV shows **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Songs **

**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Apostrophes **

 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Use apostrophes to form the possessive case of nouns. The possessive case shows //relationship// or //ownership//. **

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">**I. Making singular nouns possessive:**
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Usually add an apostrophe and an s to the singular form of the noun
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Examples:
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Mom's apple pie (the apple pie Mom made)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> My doctor's appointment (an appointment with my doctor)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The radio's antenna (the antenna of the radio)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The bush's leaves (the leaves of the bush)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Sometimes a word is too difficult to pronounce if an apostrophe and an **//s//** are added. In such cases, **add an apostrophe only**.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> Odysseus' journey (the journey of Odysseus)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The Netherlands' tourism (tourism of the Netherlands)


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">II. Making plural nouns possessive **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> To make a regular plural noun possessive, add an apostrophe **after** the **//s//**.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The birds**'** migration (migration of the birds)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The cars**'** styles (the styles of the cars)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The bears**'** habitat (the habitat of bears)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> To make **irregular plurals** possessive, add an apostrophe **and** an **//s//**.
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The children**'s** toys (toys of the children)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The sheep**'s** skins (skins of the sheep)
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;"> The mice**'s** tails (tails of the mice)