GRAMMAR - PUNCTUATION - WHAT ARE PUNCTUATION MARKS?

Punctuation Marks
Punctuation marks are symbols that are used to aid the clarity and comprehension of written language. Some common punctuation marks are the period, comma, question mark, exclamation point, apostrophe, quotation mark and hyphen.

Punctuation Mark	Symbol	Definition	Examples
apostrophe	'	An apostrophe is used as a substitute for a missing letter or letters in a word (as in the contraction cannot = can't), to show the possessive case (Jane's room), and in the plural of letters, some numbers and abbreviations. Note: groups of years no longer require an apostrophe (for example, the 1950s or the 90s).	I can't see the cat's tail. Dot your i's and cross your t's. 100's of years.
colon	:	A colon is used before a list or quote. A colon is used to separate hours and minutes. A colon is used to separate elements of a mathematical ratio.	There are many punctuation marks: period, comma, colon, and others. The time is 2:15. The ratio of girls to boys is 3:2.
comma	,	A comma is used to separate phrases or items in a list.	She bought milk, eggs, and bread.
dash	—	A dash is used to separate parts of a sentence.	The dash is also known as an "em dash" because it is the length of a printed letter m — it is longer than a hyphen.
ellipsis	...	An ellipsis (three dots) indicates that part of the text has been intentionally been left out.	0, 2, 4, ... , 100
exclamation point	!	An exclamation point is used to show excitement or emphasis.	It is cold!
hyphen	-	A hyphen is used between parts of a compound word or name. It is also used to split a word by syllables to fit on a line of text.	The sixteen-year-old girl is a full-time student.
parentheses	( )	Parentheses are curved lines used to separate explanations or qualifying statements within a sentence (each one of the curved lines is called a parenthesis). The part in the parentheses is called a parenthetical remark.	This sentence (like others on this page) contains a parenthetical remark.
period	.	A period is used to note the end of a declarative sentence.	I see the house.
question mark	?	A question mark is used at the end of a question.	When are we going?
quotation mark	"	Quotation marks are used at the beginning and end of a phrase to show that it is being written exactly as it was originally said or written.	She said, "Let's eat."
semicolon	;	A semicolon separates two independent clauses in a compound sentence. A semicolon is also used to separate items in a series (where commas are already in use).	Class was canceled today; Mr. Smith was home sick. Relatives at the reunion included my older brother, Bob; my cousin, Art; and my great-aunt, Mattie.

NOW…WRITE A SENTENCE SHOWING THE CORRECT USE OF EACH OF THE ABOVE.

PUNCTUATION EXERCISES

1.       DELETE incorrect punctuation and add correct punctuation where necessary.

(a)    You need only one thing in life, luck.

(b)   ‘Henry give me a hand with the dishes,’ pleaded Henrietta.

(c)    Cats communicate with their owners dogs talk to other dogs.

(d)   The book, that won the award, was incomprehensible to me.

(e)   He turns twenty one today.

(f)     The twins father was so proud.

(g)    We waited for the rain it didn’t come.

(h)   I love writers such as, Carver, Salinger, and Hemingway.

2.       PUNCTUATE this passage. Add capitals and paragraphs.

as the power dressed daughter knows best new woman strides down Collins st and into the 90s i flatten myself against a shop window and ponder the place of the passive in the next decade must i buy a  leather satchel and pad my shoulders to survive i doubt if the trappings of success can make a snapdragon out of a shrinking violet coming from an age when the meek were blessed and father knew best when children were seen and not heard and only seen if sanitized and smiling when pushy was frowned on and stepping back applauded I still balk at the high jumps of life.