Punctuation Flashcards
used to indicate the end of a sentence. Also used at the end of a command, indirect question or for abbreviations.
Period – (.)
used for separating words in the middle of a sentence or adding words to the end of a sentence both are used for added emphasis on a part of a sentence.
Dash – (–)
used to join related independent clauses in compound sentences and to separate items in a series if the elements of the series already include commas.
Semicolon – (;)
used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, series, etc. and after the salutation of a formal letter.
Colon – (:)
is probably the most debated form of punctuation, but it is generally used to form compound words and prefixes.
Hyphen – (-)
used to show that the phrase was originally said by another or to show that the sentence is being said by a character.
Quotation marks – (“)
used to show emphasis or surprise. If a character is using it, they may be shouting.
Exclamation points – (!)
used for the first letter of a sentence or a quoted sentence, proper nouns or words derived from proper nouns (ex English from England) and for titles of publications except for little words such as a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or, nor, when used internally (if used externally capitalize them). *Note: There are many more rules and uses concerning people’s titles such as doctor, president etc.
Capitalization – (A)
are not really punctuation, but they can be used to indicate titles of major or complete works, foreign words that are not usually used in English, words used as words themselves (as in when giving a definition of the word) and words or phrases that one wishes to emphasize.
Italics – (a)
consists of three evenly spaced periods and is used to indicate the omission of words or suggest an incomplete thought.
ellipsis ( … )
punctuation marks used within a sentence to include information that is not essential to the main point.
Brackets (parentheses) — ( )
