USEFUL GRAMMAR

Punctuation is the use of special marks to make writing more clear. It’s important to proofread our writing to make sure that we’ve included all the proper punctuation.

• The ENDS of sentences often have punctuation like PERIODS, EXCLAMATION POINTS and QUESTION MARKS.

• Punctuation like COMMAS and QUOTATION MARKS are often found in the MIDDLE of sentences.

Commonly Used and Misused Punctuation Marks

 Comma (,)

Use commas to separate items in a series. 

Example: Our itinerary included Delhi, Bombay & Nepal.

Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet.

Example: The story gets off to a boring start, but it was exciting toward the end.

Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and phrases.

Example: My father, who was a genius, wrote this book.

Use a comma after introductory elements.

Examples: Well, how are you today? 

Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence.

Examples: This useful article, in our monthly magazine, is about child care. 

Use a comma in certain conventional situations (to separate items in dates and addresses, after the salutation and closing of a letter, and after a name followed by a title).

Examples: September 1, 1970  Mr. Robert, Ph.D.

Use commas after words like yes, no and well when they begin a sentence. 

Example: "Yes, I wrote this article."

Use commas to set off the names of people who are spoken to directly. 

Example: "Bob, that was a good lecture!"

Use commas to separate a series of three or more words. 

Example: "She made a sandwich with peanut butter, jelly, and bread."

Do not use unnecessary commas. Use them sparingly and only to clarify issues. Commas in the wrong places can be confusing and dangerous.

Example-1: Hang him, not release him. ----- This can get somebody hanged.

Example-2: Hang him not, release him. ----- This can get somebody released.

Quotation Marks (" ") 

Quotation marks come at the beginning and end of a person's exact words.

• Put periods and commas inside quotes.

• Put colons(:) and semi-colons(;) outside quotes.

• Quotations usually start with a capital letter. 

PERSON A: "Are you planning to change anything?"

PERSON B: "I want to change this design."

PERSON A: "What do you have in mind?"

PERSON B: "I want to decrease the tube length in the engine."

PERSON A: "It will not work."

End punctuation marks are usually placed inside the last quotation mark

Example:

Tom said, "He walked very quickly."

"Attention buyers. My book is in Amazon!"

Colon (:)

Use a colon to mean "note what follows."

Example: When you go to training, take these items: paper, pencil, and plenty of paper.

Semicolon (;)

Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by and, but, nor, for, yet, and so.

Examples:

Read what you've written; don't just pass it on.

Tom failed the exam; however, he did not drop the course.

Apostrophe (')

To form the possessive case of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s.

Examples: Tim's car; One's home. If the addition of an "s" produces an awkward sound, add only the apostrophe. Usually, this is when there is already a double "s" sound. Examples: Moses'; for old times' sake; for goodness' sake.

To form the possessive case of a plural noun, add an apostrophe after the s.

Example: girls' teams.

If the plural form of the word does not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

Example: women's team.

Use an apostrophe to show where letters have been omitted in a contraction.

Examples:

can't = cannot

it's = it is