Punctuation, when we read, are sign posts for the reader. We speak with punctuation more naturally, but in writing, we need to use it in the right way.

Full Stops are needed when reading to take a breath! A full stop ends a sentence. A sentence is a complete statement usually containing a verb.

Commas break up a sentence. Without them, you run away with what your saying making it hard to read.

Commas act as pauses and they can be used to separate independent statements which are linked by: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

Semicolons 1 when needing a stronger pause. SC BEFORE: however, therefore, also, moreover, furthermore, hence, subsequently and consequently.

Colons 1

Colons can be used to introduce new information, quotations or a list of things.

Remember a colon points the reader forward.

Apostrophes 1 Apostrophes do two really important jobs. Firstly, they help to tell us when one thing is owned by another. they tell us when something has been contracted; made shorter: Jon's bike. Steve's hat. You're dumb. Don't say that.

They shorten two words, omitting letters: Shall not = shan't; would have = would've.

singular nouns = dog's; teacher's.
plural nouns: girls' , weeks'

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Speech Marks.

Speech marks or quotation marks are used when recording what somebody has said.

To quote direct speech as the peron said it.
indirect speech is when what has been said is not in its entirety - it summarizes what the pwerson said.

Punctuation goes INSIDE the speech marks!!

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Less common punctuation marks

! The exclamation mark gives a lot of oomph to words
a word is stated in anger or disgust, has the opposite meaning, or is an insult or a command.

Give me my money now!

You are such a nosey parker!

You have to do four essays by Monday!

... This is an ellipsis and is used to show that the writer has left something out deliberately; or has offered a thought that isn't complete; or to show that time has passed; or to show that a speech was all over the place.

This is a bullet

Example:

use semicolons when the pause needs to be stronger than a comma pause

use an exclamation mark to give oomph to words

use the asterisk to replace letters in words that may offend people

	Created by C.S. West over 9 years ago

Diploma Dip Eng Grammar Note on Module 3: Punctuation, created by C.S. West on 06/07/2015.