8/13/2019 The Basic Rules of Punctuation

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THE BASIC RULES OF PUNCTUATION

http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/

Period

1. Use a period to end a complete sentence. A sentence is a group of words containing asubject and predicate. In British English a period is called a 'full stop'.

Examples:

He went to Detroit last week. They are going to visit.

2. Use a period after an initial. Example: M. E. Kerr is a wonderful author.3. Use a period after an abbreviation.

Example: We welcomed Mrs. Simmons to our team.

Comma

There are a number of different uses for commas in English. Commas are used to:

Separate a list of items. This is one of the most common uses of a comma. Notice that acomma is included before the conjunction 'and' which comes before the final element of alist. Examples:

I like reading, listening to music, taking long walks, and visiting with my friends. They would like books, magazines, DVDs, video cassettes, and other learning materials fortheir library.

Separate phrases. Examples:

In order to qualify for your certificate, you will need to take the TOEFL exam. Although he wanted to come, he wasn't able to attend the course.

Separate two independent phrases that are connected by a conjunction such as 'but'.Examples:

They wanted to purchase a new car, but their financial situation would not allow it. I'd really enjoy seeing a film this evening, and I'd like to go out for a drink.

Introduce a direct quote. Examples:

The boy said, "My father is often away during the week on business trips." His doctor replied, "If you don't stop smoking, you run the risk of a heart attack."

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Separate appositives (a noun, or noun phrase).

Examples:

Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, comes from Seattle. My only sister, who is a fantastic tennis player, is in great shape.

Question Mark

The question mark is used at the end of a question.

Examples:

Where do you live? How long have they been studying?

Exclamation Point

The exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence to indicate great surprise. It is also used foremphasis when making a point.

Examples:

That ride was fantastic! I can't believe he is going to marry her!

Semicolon

There are two uses for a semicolon:

To separate two independent clauses. One or both of the clauses are short and the ideasexpressed are usually very similar.

Examples:

He loves studying; He can't get enough of school. What an incredible situation; it must make you nervous.

To separate groups of words that are themselves separated by commas.

Examples:

I took a holiday and played golf, which I love; read a lot, which I needed to do; and sleptlate, which I hadn't done for quite a while. They plan to study German, for their travels; chemistry, for their work; and literature, fortheir own enjoyment.

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Colon

A colon can be used for two purposes:

To provide additional details and explanation. Examples:

He had many reasons for joining the club: to get in shape, to make new friends, to losesome weight, and to get out of the house. She gave notice for the following reasons: bad pay, horrible hours, poor relations withcolleagues, and her boss.

To introduce a direct quote (a comma can also be used in this situation). Examples:

He announced to his friends: "I'm getting married!" She cried out: "I never want to see you again!"

8. Using Capital Letters

Rule 1: All sentences begin with a capital letter, even sentences that only consist of one word.

a. This is my house. (Statement)

b. Are you going to school? (Question)

c. Watch out for the truck! (Exclamation)

d. Stop!

Rule 2: The proper name, the name of a specific person or thing, begins with a capital letter. Allother important words in the name must also start with a capital letter.

a. Henry David Thoreau (a man, a writer)

b. Grand Canyon (a canyon, a geographical wonder, a tourist attraction

c. Atlantic Ocean (an ocean, a body of water, a sea)

Rule 3: Titles of books, songs, stories, works of art, magazine articles, tests, and other writtenmaterials must begin with a capital letter. Every other important word of the title must also beginwith a capital letter. Words that do not need a capital letter unless they are the first word of the

title are a, an, and, of, to, the, etc.

a. Winnie the Pooh

b. To Kill a Mockingbird

c. The Merchant of Venice

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Rule 4: The letter I, when used as a pronoun referring to yourself must always be written as acapital letter.

a. I am not happy.

b. Am I the first person here?

c. Tell me what I have to do.

Rule 5: The first word of a direct quotation must begin with a capital letter.

a. "Who's been sleeping in my bed?" Papa Bear cried.

b. The president said, "Ask not what your country can do for you."

Rule 6: Titles of people when used with their names or in place of their names must begin with acapital letter.

a. My boss is Mister Smith

b. "Look out, Mister! You're in the way."

If the whole word would begin with a capital, then so would the abbreviation.

a. My boss is Mr. Smith.

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Alaskan Oil Spill

An oil tanker became stuck on a reef in Alaska. The rocks in the reef tore a hole in the ship. Lots ofoil spilled out of the hole and into the ocean. This oil began getting on everything.

A person from the oil company said that they are trying to clean it up as fast as they can. They willpay for the entire clean up.

When the oil pipes were put across Alaska, the pipe builders said that this would not happen. Aperson who lives in Alaska said that they were told that they would never see this kind of problem.

A fisherman worried that an oil spill could wipe out his fishing business. The sale of oil brings inmuch more money than the fishing business.

The people at the pipeline company thought they were ready for a spill. They had even practiced itwith a model in their office. The problem was that they did not practice with real equipment.

People complained that the clean up was not being done right. The number of workers cleaning upthe mess was cut back. When the ship hit the reef, the first call was for tarps. They should haveasked for equipment to contain the oil.

The ship's captain was fired by his company. A person from the ship company said that they wereupset that an officer put his ship and crew in danger like that.

The oil company could not do much about cleaning it up quickly. In 36 hours, the oil spread fortwenty miles. The oil company could only put out a few thousand feet of boom to contain it. Theoil spill could not be stopped.

1. In 36 hours, the oil spread for _____.

1. two miles 2. twenty-two miles 3. twenty miles

2. What does the sale of oil bring in?

1. fishermen 2. more fish 3. Money 4. ships

3. The sale of oil brings in much more _____ than the fishing business.

1. fish 2.tourists 3. money

4. What did the oil company do to the ship's captain?

1. hired him 2. fired him 3. shook his hand 4. forgot him

5, When the ship hit the reef, what should the oil company have called for instead of tarps?

1. equipment to contain the oil 2. Rags 3. Hoses 4. blankets

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6. When the ship hit the reef, what should the oil company have called for instead of tarps?

1. equipment to contain the oil 2. Rags 3. Hoses 4. blankets

7. People from the pipeline company practiced having a spill with a _____ in their office.

1. watch 2. a real ship 3. model

7. The oil company said that they will pay for _____.

1. only some of the clean up 2. most of the clean up 3. the entire clean up

8. What did the pipe builders say would never happen?

1. fishermen getting mad 2. a ship spilling oil 3. the oil company having a model

4. rocks appearing in a reef

9. Lots of oil spilled into the ocean. This oil began getting on _____.

1. everything 2.only the fish 3. just the ship

10. What tore a hole in the ship?

1. a rock in the reef 2. a fisherman 3. another ship 4. a pipeline