Rules for Punctuation



Rules for Punctuation

1. Use a semicolon between complete sentences if they are not joined by and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet.

It has been raining all day; I guess our picnic will be cancelled.

2. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items already contain commas.

I will visit Houston, Texas; Springfield, Missouri; and Richmond, Virginia.

3. Use a colon between a complete introductory statement and a list of items.

Please bring the following items to class: pen, pencil, calculator, and paper.

Please bring your pen, pencil, calculator, and paper.

4. Use a colon between a statement and a word, phrase, or sentence that identifies or explains it. (If you hear a “drum roll,” a colon might be your best choice!)

I finally decided on my destiny: a career in the field of teaching!

5. Underline (italicize) the titles of books, plays, movies, periodicals (magazines), works of art, CD’s, long musical compositions, television series, ships, and aircraft. (Underline when writing by hand; italicize when typing.)

In class, we are reading a book entitled Flu.

6. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation.

Bob said, “We will go on a field trip next week.”

7. A direct quotation that expresses a complete thought begins with a capital letter.

The shopper exclaimed, “I’m so happy that I won the contest!”

8. When the quoted sentence is divided into two parts by an interrupting expression such as he said, the second part begins with a lowercase letter (unless the first word is one that is always capitalized).

“I will be gone,” mother said, “for only two hours.”

9. A direct quotation is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma, question mark, or exclamation point, not by a period.

“Remember your books tomorrow,” Mrs. Smith announced.

“Do you have a key?” mother asked.

“Get out of town!” Sheriff Jones shrieked.

10. Commas and periods always go inside closing quotation marks. Semicolons and colons always go outside the closing quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation points follow two rules: if the full sentence is a question/exclamation, the mark is placed outside the closing quotation marks. If, however, only the quoted section is the question or exclamation, the mark is placed inside the closing quotation marks.

“Leave your homework on the table,” I said.

Mary said, “I really hope to go to the concert.”

Ellen yelled, “Hey, save me some birthday cake”; she then ran to the table!

Tom asked Maria, “What is your college major?”

Who will demonstrate the proper way to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”?

11. Use quotation marks to enclose the titles of articles in magazines, short stories, essays, poems, songs, individual episodes of TV series, and chapters and other parts of books and periodicals.

My mom just read me a poem entitled “Springtime.”

12. Use quotation marks to enclose slang words, nicknames, and other unusual uses of words.

That basketball player is William “Stilts” Smith.

That is a “groovy” sweater!

13. Use single quote marks to enclose a quote within a quote.

“Today,” the teacher said, “we will read ‘Springtime’ out loud.”

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

The table’s leg has been scratched.

15. To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s, add only the apostrophe.

The books’ covers have been taped many times.

16. To form the possessive of a plural noun not ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

The children’s names have been put into the album.

17. Possessive personal pronouns do not require an apostrophe.

This book is hers.

Yours is in the cabinet.

18. In compound words and words showing joint possession, only the last word uses the apostrophe.

Tom and Melissa’s home is around the corner.

19. When two or more persons possess something individually, each of their names is possessive in form.

Michael’s and Lila’s books need to be repaired.

20. Use an apostrophe to show where letters, numbers, or words have been omitted in a contraction.

I can’t believe she’s a ’99 graduate.

21. Use an apostrophe to form the plurals of letters or numbers.

There are two n’s in my name, and there are two 3’s in my address.

22. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line. Divide only on a syllable break. Never split a one-syllable word, and never leave one letter alone.

This is a very interesting book; I would love to talk with you about the inter-

pretation sometime.

23. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.

I need to make thirty-five copies of this paper.

24. Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the noun it describes.

The well-written paper received an A.

The clean-shaven man got dressed for the party.

25. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought or speech.

The party—I forgot to tell you about it—will begin at 6:30.

26. Use parentheses to enclose material of minor importance in a sentence.

The new school (built in 1998) is ready to open.

27. Use brackets around information that is inserted into a quote for added identification (but that was not actually said by the speaker).

The politician said, “I don’t think it [the tax increase] would be a good idea.”

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