Punctuation Flashcards
What do we use a full stop for
- to end a sentence
2. In abbreviations
What is the rule with a full stop In abbreviations
If the abbreviation ends with the same letter as the word that is shortened then there is no full stop
What are acronyms
The initial (first) letters of a name or phrase formed a pronounceable word. No full stops are used
What are the functions of a comma
- To separate items in a list or two or more adjectives describing a noun
- To give extra information (parenthesis)
- To separate clauses and phrases from the rest of the sentence.
- To separate a subordinate clause from the main clause at the end of a sentence.
- To indicate a pause around people’s names, and interjections or introductory phrase
- Before question tags
What is the function of a colon :
- To introduce a list when the let follows an independent clause.
- To introduce a sub-section between a title and its sub-title.
- The colon introduces an explanation when the explanation is proceeded by an independent clause.
What is the function of a semi colon ;
- Joins 2 closely linked sentences (the main clause to a subordinate clause) replacing the conjunctions and, but, for.
- Used in a list to separate phrases rather than single words
- To separate independent clauses where the second one begins with: however, therefore, nevertheless…
- To separate opposite or disparate ideas
- To separate two main clauses in a very long sentence
What is the function of an exclamation mark
- Used to express emotion
What is the function of a question mark
- Used after a direct question that requests an answer
2. After rhetorical questions
What is the function of double inverted commas
To show the exact words someone has spoken.
What is the function of single inverted commas
Use to indicate irony
Indicate speech within a speech
What is the function of an ellipsis
To show a pause
Words have been left out
An incomplete sentence
- to indicate that material has been omitted when summaeising or reporting
- to show that the speech has faded out: if this is at the end of the sentence, the full stop becomes a fourth dot
What is the function of an apostrophe
- Omission/contraction (to indicate a word has been contracted and a letter omitted)
- Possession (to show ownership/ possession)
What is the function of the dash
- To signal an interruption
2. Parenthesis (either an additional comment being added or additional information being added)
What is the difference between the dash and the hyphen
The dash is longer than the hyphen
there is no space around the dash
What is the function of brackets
- To adjust the quoted text. The actual thing may appear grammatically incorrect when taken out of context
- Parenthesis