punctuation! complications?
By Jessica Mattson
five golden rings for sentences
- Sentences must have an initial capital letter.
- Sentences must have a subject.
- Sentences must contain an action (a.k.a. a verb).
- Sentences must be a complete thought.
- Sentences must have a closing punctuation mark.
choosing the appropriate punctuation…
Although there are 30 punctuation marks, only a few are used in common writing.
ending a sentence…
Period.
- Periods signal the end of a statement, a mild command or polite request, or an indirect question.
- Periods also appear in most abbreviations. If an abbreviation ends a sentence, do not add another period.
- If the abbreviation appears within a sentence, use normal punctuation after the period.
Exclamation Point!
- An exclamation point signals the end of an emotional statement.
Example:
Remember the Maine!
- Do not use multiple exclamation points.
Example:
Don’t leave!!!
Question Mark?
- Use a question mark only to signal the end of a direct question.
Example:Who was that masked man?
- Do not use a question mark for an indirect question.
Example:I meant to ask you who that masked man was in the shop.
comma drama: how to use them and when?
- Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause.
Examples:After a while, Regina was finally able to become an art major.
When he mastered mathematics, Rodney decided to become an accountant.
- Use a comma to separate
independent clauses that are joined by the fanboys conjunctions—for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Example:I went to the bookstore, but my books were not there.
- Use a comma to set off
a group of words that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Example:I’ve had the yellow cat, in the window, for two years.
- Do not use commas
if the word grouping is essential to the sentence’s
meaning.
Example:
The cat that I’ve had for two years is in the window.
A college professor wrote on the board the words:
"A woman without her man is nothing."
The students were asked to punctuate the sentence correctly.
semicolons; semicolons
- Use a semicolon between closely related independent clauses that convey
parallel
or contrasting information but are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Example:Paul Revere’s The Boston Massacre is a traditional American protest art; Edward Hick’s paintings are socially conscious art with a religious strain.
- Use
a semicolon between two independent clauses when the second clause is introduced
by a transitional word or phrase.
Example:
It is important to learn how to use semicolons appropriately; however, some may find that the rules are somewhat confusing.
- Use semicolons between items in a series
when one or more of these items include
commas.
Example:
There are many places at IU Southeast that offer students activities, such as the Student Government Association, an elected group; Student Program Council, an appointed group; and the Non-traditional Student Union, a voluntary group.
All of the males in the class wrote:
"A woman, without her man, is nothing."
All the females in the class wrote:
"A woman: without her, man is nothing."
“the quotation situation”
- The comma goes inside the quotation marks in this first example.
Example:“I enjoy writing poetry,” said June.
- The comma comes before the quotation marks in the second.
Example:
Christy said, “I like short fiction.”
Placing Punctuation with Quotation Marks Can Be Confusing…
- “Always.” put the period inside the quotation marks
Example:She said, “It is important that we get volunteers.”
- “Sometimes!” put
the exclamation mark inside the quotation marks.
Example:She yelled, “Happy Birthday!”
- “Sometimes”! put the
exclamation mark outside the quotation marks.
Example:I have just been published in “The Review”!
- “Sometimes?” put
the question mark inside the quotation marks.
Example:He asked, “Does that symbol work in my story?”
- “Sometimes”?
put the question mark outside the quotation marks.
Example:How can she be so “tried and true”?
- “Never”: put
the colon inside of quotation marks; put it outside.
Example:The following item in my bag is an “enemy”: headphones.
- “Never”;
put the semicolon inside of quotation marks; put it outside.
Example:
She said, “We have to shop for pants”; however, I went yesterday.
