Rules of Punctuation
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Philippine Content Development 2011 Notes on Punctuation Punctuation marks are the “traffic signals” of a language. When correctly used, they guide the reader through the text and makes comprehension easier. However, when incorrectly placed, they can also change the meaning of a sentence. Consider the following example: Original text: A woman without her man is nothing. Punctuated text 1: A woman, without her man, is nothing. Punctuated text 2: A woman: without her, man is nothing. Below is a discussion on the uses of different punctuation marks such as the comma, apostrophe, semicolon, colon, hyphen, quotation, and ellipses. Use of the period There are only two uses of the period (also known as “full stop” in British English): 3 • To mark the end of a sentence expressing a statement (if you are unsure whether the words constitute a sentence, look for a verb which is an essential component of a sentence) • To signify an acronym - [N.A.T.O. for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (although increasingly it is ac- ceptable and even preferable not to use full stops in such cases)] Note: A common mistake is to use a comma where a full stop should be used, The following are the uses of some common punctuation marks as discussed by Prof. Rosella Torrecampo during the “Basic Onine Writing Training” for SUC Writers: 1 Uses of a Comma: 1) In a list Oxford comma ~ the comma before “and” or “or” in a series of items. Example: Ham, eggs, and chips 2) Before dialogue Example: Mark said, “Good morning!” 3) Mark out additional information Example: The girl, who is wearing a pink shirt, is my sister. 4) Before a conjunction (e.g. and but or for while yet) introducing an independent clause Example: The boys wanted to stay up until midnight, but they grew tired and fell asleep. 5) Enclose parenthetic expressions (additional information) between commas Example: The best way to see a country, unless you’re pressed for time, is to travel on foot. Note: When in doubt over where to use a comma, try reading the sentence out loud and, generally speaking, commas should be used where you pause for clarification or breath. Uses of the Apostrophe 1. Indicates a possessive in a singular noun Example: The café’s menu But when the possessor is a regular plural, the apostrophe follows the “s.” Example: The cafés’ menus
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Notes that describes how to punctuateComma, semi colon, question mark, Hyphon, dash, Exclamation sign
Transcript of Rules of Punctuation
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Philippine Content Development2011
NotesonPunctuation
Punctuationmarksarethetrafficsignalsofalanguage.Whencorrectlyused,theyguidethereaderthroughthetextandmakescomprehensioneasier.However,whenincorrectlyplaced,theycanalsochangethemeaningofasentence.Considerthefollowingexample:
Originaltext: Awomanwithouthermanisnothing.
Punctuatedtext1: Awoman,withoutherman,isnothing.Punctuatedtext2: Awoman:withouther,manisnothing.
Belowisadiscussionontheusesofdifferentpunctuationmarkssuchasthecomma,apostrophe,semicolon,colon,hyphen,quotation,andellipses.
Useoftheperiod
Thereareonlytwousesoftheperiod(alsoknownasfullstopinBritishEnglish):3
Tomarktheendofasentenceexpressingastatement(ifyouareunsurewhetherthewordsconstituteasentence,lookforaverbwhichisanessentialcomponentofasentence)
Tosignifyanacronym[N.A.T.O.forNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(althoughincreasinglyitisacceptableandevenpreferablenottousefullstopsinsuchcases)]
Note:Acommonmistakeistouseacommawhereafullstopshouldbeused,
ThefollowingaretheusesofsomecommonpunctuationmarksasdiscussedbyProf.RosellaTorrecampoduringtheBasicOnineWritingTrainingforSUCWriters:1
UsesofaComma:
1)InalistOxfordcomma~thecommabeforeandororinaseriesofitems.Example: Ham,eggs,andchips
2)BeforedialogueExample: Marksaid,Goodmorning!
3)MarkoutadditionalinformationExample: Thegirl,whoiswearingapinkshirt,ismysister.
4)Beforeaconjunction(e.g.and but or for while yet)introducinganindependentclauseExample: Theboyswantedtostayupuntilmidnight,buttheygrewtiredandfellasleep.
5)Encloseparentheticexpressions(additionalinformation)betweencommas
Example: Thebestwaytoseeacountry,unlessyourepressedfortime,istotravelonfoot.
Note:Whenindoubtoverwheretouseacomma,tryreadingthesentenceoutloudand,generallyspeaking,commasshouldbeusedwhereyoupauseforclarificationorbreath.
UsesoftheApostrophe
1. IndicatesapossessiveinasingularnounExample: Thecafsmenu
Butwhenthepossessorisaregularplural,theapostrophefollowsthes.Example: Thecafsmenus
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Note:Withmodernnamesendingins(includingbiblicalnamesandanyforeignnamewithanunpronouncedfinals),thesisrequiredaftertheapostrophe.
KeatsspoemsSt.JamessSquareCharlesscoffeemug
Withnamesfromtheancientworld,itisnot.AchillesheelArchimedesscrew
Ifthenameendsinanizsound,anexceptionismade:BridgesscoreMosestabletsJesusdisciples
2. Indicatestimeorquantity.TwoWeeksNoticeTheCafwillopenintwomonthstime.
3. IndicatestheomissionoffiguresindatesExample: Batch08issoexcitedtograduate.
4. IndicatestheomissionoflettersExamples: Thetrainingstartsat8oclockeveryday.
ThegovtissettobattletheinsurgentsinBasilan.
Its(itis)yourturn.Itsbeenseveralyears(Ithasbeenseveralyears).
5. FeaturedinIrishnamessuchasONealandOCasey.O=Of(?)O=anglicisationofuameaninggrandson
6. IndicatesthepluralofwordsThedosanddontsofspeakingShedidntwelcomehisbutsandands.
Note:Theapostrophedoesnthavetoappearinthepluralsofabbreviations(e.g.DVDs)orpluraldates(e.g.1980s)
Remember: PossessivepronounsdonotrequireanapostrophePossessivePronouns:Mine OursYours YoursHis TheirsHers TheirsIts Theirs
UsesofSemicolon
1) Separatetworelatedsentenceswherethereisnoconjunction(suchasandorbut),andwhereusingonlyacommawouldbeungrammatical.Example: Sheisagoodwriter;shehaspublishedseveralbooks.
2) OrganizessyntaxthoughtwheremanycommasareusedExample: Weboughtdairyproductslikemilk,butter,andcheese;vegetablessuchascarrots,potatoes,
andspinach;andsomefruitslikebananasandmangoes.
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3) Linkingwordssuchashowever,nevertheless,also,consequently,andhencerequireasemicolon.Example: Hespentalotforthecampaign;however,themajorityofthepublicsawthroughhispretense
anddidnotvoteforhim.
UsesofColon:
1) Separatesstatementsplacedbaldlyindramaticoppositiona. Lawrencecouldnotspeak:hewasdrunk.b. Manproposes:Goddisposes.
Itisalsousedwhenthesecondstatementreaffirms,explainsorillustratesthefirst
2) Startslistsa. Pleasepurchasetheff:furniture,glassware,ingredients,andlinen.
3) Setsoffbookandfilmsubtitlesfromthemaintitlesa. GandhiII:TheMahatmaStrikesBack
4) Separatesdramaticcharactersformingadialogue:Philip:HowdoyougettoCebu?
o Anne:Youcangotherebyplane,byship,orbybus.
UsesoftheHyphen3
1) Useahyphentojointwoormorewordsservingasasingleadjectivebeforeanoun:Examples: aonewaystreet
chocolatecoveredpeanutswellknownauthor
However,whencompoundmodifierscomeafteranoun,theyarenothyphenated:Examples: Thepeanutswerechocolatecovered.
Theauthorwaswellknown.
2) Useahyphenwithcompoundnumbers:Examples: fortysix
sixtythreeOurmuchlovedteacherwassixtythreeyearsold.
3) Useahyphentoavoidconfusionoranawkwardcombinationofletters:Examples: resignapetition(vs.resignfromajob)
semiindependent(butsemiconscious)shelllike(butchildlike)
4) Useahyphenwiththeprefixesex(meaningformer),self,all;withthesuffixelect;betweenaprefixandacapitalizedword;andwithfiguresorletters:Examples: exhusband antiAmerican
selfassured TshirtmidSeptember preCivilWarallinclusive mid1980smayorelect
5) Useahyphentodividewordsattheendofalineifnecessary,andmakethebreakonlybetweensyllables:Examples: preference
sellingindividualist
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6) Forlinebreaks,dividealreadyhyphenatedwordsonlyatthehyphen:Examples: mass self
produced conscious
7) Forlinebreaksinwordsendingining,ifasinglefinalconsonantintherootwordisdoubledbeforethesuffix,hyphenatebetweentheconsonants;otherwise,hyphenateatthesuffixitself:Examples: planning
runningdrivingcalling
8) Neverputthefirstorlastletterofawordattheendorbeginningofaline,anddon'tputtwolettersuffixesatthebeginningofanewline:Examples: lovely(Donotseparatetoleavelybeginninganewline.)
evaluate(Separateonlyoneithersideoftheu;donotleavetheinitialeattheendofaline.)
UsesoftheDash
When you type two hyphens together (--), most word processors automatically combine them into a single dash. Thedash(oremdash)shouldbeusedforaspecificreason,andnotbeoverusedinacademicwriting.
1) Useadashtotaketheplaceofthemoreformalcolon,particularlywhenyouwanttoemphasizeapoint:
Example: Studentswereaskedtobringtheirownsuppliespaper,pencils,andcalculator.
2) Useapairofdashesinplaceofparentheseswhenyouwanttoplacemoreemphasisonthecontent:
Example: TheparticipantstwofromgroupAandtwofromgroupBtestednegatively.
3) Useadashatthebeginningandendofaseriesseparatedbycommas:
Example: ThestudentsJim,Marla,andSaraweretoldtheycouldleave.
4) Useadashtomeannamely,inotherwords,orthatisbeforeanexplanation:
Example: Themantheonewithhishandintheairlooksdesperate.
5) Useadashtoindicateanabruptbreakinthought:
Example: Theprofessorwasunwillingtochangetheduedateevenforacandybar!
6) Ifthesentenceresumesafterthebreak,useaseconddash:
Examples: Theprofessorwasunwillingevenforacandybar!tochangetheduedate.
AftertheprofessormadeherstatementIllextendtheduedate,butjustthisonetime.weapplauded.
7) Useadashtointerruptthemainideainasentencetoinsertanother,related,idea:
Example: Thestudenttheonedressedinblack,sittinginthecornerletoutacry.
Theendashisusedbetweenequalweightedwordsinacompoundadjective.Itismadebytypingthefirstadjective,followedbyaspace,ahyphen,anotherspace,andthesecondadjective:
Examples: TheYankeeRedSoxrivalry
TheNewYorkBeijingflight
Mostoftentheendashisusedtoexpressarange:
Examples:pages1023100300participantsJanuaryMay2009.
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Itcanalsostandforthewordsand,to,orversusbetweentwowordsofequalweight:
Example: TheIsraeliPalestinianPeaceConference.
UsesofQuotations
Theprimaryfunctionofquotationmarksistosetoffandrepresentexactlanguage(eitherspokenorwritten)thathascomefromsomebodyelse.Thequotationmarkisalsousedtodesignatespeechactsinfictionandsometimespoetry.Sinceyouwillmostoftenusethemwhenworkingwithoutsidesources,successfuluseofquotationmarksisapracticaldefenseagainstaccidentalplagiarismandanexcellentpracticeinacademichonesty.2
Adirectquotationistheinclusionofanotherperson'sexactwordsintoyourownwriting.ThefollowingaresomegeneralrulesontheuseofquotationsasgiveninthePurdueOnlineWritingLab(OWL)website:
1.Quotationmarksalwayscomeinpairs.Donotopenaquotationandfailtocloseitattheendofthequotedmaterial.
Example: Marthareplied,Iwilltrytobetherebeforenoon.
2.Capitalizethefirstletterofadirectquotewhenthequotedmaterialisacompletesentence.Example: Mr.Johnson,whowasworkinginhisfieldthatmorning,said,"Thealienspaceshipappeared
rightbeforemyowntwoeyes."
3.Donotuseacapitalletterwhenthequotedmaterialisafragmentoronlyapieceoftheoriginalmaterial's completesentence.Example: AlthoughMr.Johnsonhasseenoddhappeningsonthefarm,hestatedthatthespaceship
"certainlytakesthecake"whenitcomestounexplainableactivity.
4.Ifadirectquotationisinterruptedmidsentence,donotcapitalizethesecondpartofthequotation.Example: "Ididn'tseeanactualalienbeing,"Mr.Johnsonsaid,"butIsurewishIhad."
5.Inalltheexamplesabove,notehowtheperiodorcommapunctuationalwayscomesbeforethefinalquotationmark.ItisimportanttorealizealsothatwhenyouareusingMLAorsomeotherformof documentation,thispunctuationrulemaychange.
Whenquotingtextwithaspellingorgrammarerror,youshouldtranscribetheerrorexactlyinyourowntext.However,alsoinsertthetermsicinitalicsdirectlyafterthemistake,andencloseitinbrackets.SicisfromtheLatin,andtranslatesto"thus,""so,"or"justasthat."Thewordtellsthereaderthatyourquoteisanexactreproductionofwhatyoufound,andtheerrorisnotyourown.
Example: Mr.Johnsonsaysoftheexperience,"it'smademereconsidertheexistenceofextraterestials[sic]."
6.Quotationsaremosteffectiveifyouusethemsparinglyandkeepthemrelativelyshort.Toomanyquotationsinaresearchpaperwillgetyouaccusedofnotproducingoriginalthoughtormaterial.
Sources:
1Prof.RosellaTorrecampoResourcePerson,BasicOnlineWritingTrainingiSchoolsProjectVisayasStateUniversity,Babay,Leyte
2SeanM.Conrey,KarlStolleyHyphenUsePurdueOWL:Hyphens,PurdueOnlineWritingLabOnlinearticle,lastmodified17April2010Accessedon25March2011http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/576/01/
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3Darlington,RogerHowtoUsePunctuationOnlinearticle,lastmodified15February2007Accessedon20March2011http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/576/01/
4ColumbiaUniversityTheDashWritingCenterHandoutsOnlinearticleAccessedon25March2011
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ssw/write/handouts/dash.html
