This document is a chapter from a textbook about punctuation. It provides information on how to properly use different punctuation marks like periods, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, parentheses, hyphens, quotation marks, capital letters, numbers and abbreviations. The chapter explains the rules for using each punctuation mark and provides examples of their correct usage. It also includes practice questions to test the reader's understanding of punctuation skills.

1. Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

2. CHAPTER 27: PUNCTUATION
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

3. CHAPTER OUTLINE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter, you will learn to:
 demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

4. THE PERIOD
 Periods are used in two ways:
1. Use a period to mark the end of a sentence that
makes a statement.
2. Use a period after abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

5. THE QUESTION MARK
 Use a question mark after a direct question.
 If a question is not a direct question, it does not get a
question mark.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

6. THE COMMA
 There are four main ways to use a comma: as a lister,
a linker, an introducer, or an inserter.
 Use a Comma as a Lister
 Commas support items in a series.
 These items can be words, phrases, or clauses.
 Use a Comma as a Linker
 A comma and a coordinating conjunction link two
independent clauses.
 The comma is placed in front of the coordinating
conjunction.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

7. THE COMMA
 Use a Comma as an Introducer
 Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, or
clauses in a sentence.
 Use a Comma as an Inserter
 When words or phrases that are not necessary are
inserted into a sentence, put a comma on both
sides of the inserted material.
 Other Ways to Use a Comma
1. Use commas with quotations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

8. THE COMMA
2. Use commas with dates and addresses.
3. Use commas in numbers.
4. Use commas for clarity.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

9. THE SEMICOLON
 Two ways to use semicolons:
1. Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses.
2. Use semicolons to separate the items on a list
that contains commas.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

10. THE COLON
 A colon is used at the end of a complete statement.
 It introduces a list or an explanation.
 A colon may also introduce long quotations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

11. THE APOSTROPHE
 Use the apostrophe in the following ways:
1. Use an apostrophe in contractions to show that
letters or numbers have been omitted.
2. Use an apostrophe to show possession. If a word
does not end in s, show ownership by adding an
apostrophe and s.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

12. THE EXCLAMATION MARK
 The exclamation mark is used at the end of sentences
that express strong emotion.
 Use it sparingly.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

13. THE DASH
 Use a dash to interrupt a sentence.
 It usually indicates a dramatic shift in tone or thought.
 Two dashes set off dramatic words that interrupt a
sentence.
 Use them sparingly.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

14. PARENTHESES
 Use parentheses to enclose extra material and
afterthoughts.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

15. THE HYPHEN
 A hyphen joins two or more descriptive words that act
as a single word.
 Use a hyphen in the written form of compound
numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

16. QUOTATION MARKS
 Use quotation marks for direct quotes, for the titles of
short works, and for other special uses.
1. Put quotation marks around direct quotes, a speaker or
writer’s exact words.
2. Put quotation marks around the titles of short works.
3. Put quotation marks around words mentioned as words in
a sentence.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

17. CAPITAL LETTERS
 Ten main situations in which you capitalize:
1. Capitalize the first word of every sentence.
2. Capitalize the first word in a direct quotation if the
word begins a sentence.
3. Capitalize the names of persons.
4. Capitalize the titles of persons.
5. Always capitalize countries, cities, languages,
nationalities, religions, races, months, days of the
week, documents, organizations, holidays, and
historical events or periods.
6. Capitalize the names of particular places.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

18. CAPITAL LETTERS
7. Use capital letters for geographic locations.
8. Capitalize the names of specific products.
9. Capitalize the names of specific school courses.
10. Capitalize the first and last words in the titles of
long or short works, and capitalize all other
significant words in the titles.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

19. NUMBERS
 Spell out numbers that take one or two words
 Use the numbers themselves if it takes more than two
words to spell them out.
 Also, use numbers to write dates, times, addresses,
and parts of a book.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

20. ABBREVIATIONS
 Abbreviate Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr., Sr., and Dr. when they
are used with a proper name.
 You should abbreviate references to time and to
organizations widely known by initials.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

21. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ONE OF THE
FOUR MAIN WAYS TO USE A COMMA?
A. Use comma as a lister
B. Use comma as an introducer
C. Use comma as a linker
D. Use comma as a listener
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

22. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ONE OF THE
FOUR MAIN WAYS TO USE A COMMA?
A. Use comma as a lister
B. Use comma as an introducer
C. Use comma as a linker
D. Use comma as a listener
Demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

23. WHICH PUNCTUATION MARK IS USED TO
JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES?
A. comma
B. colon
C. parentheses
D. semicolon
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

24. WHICH PUNCTUATION MARK IS USED TO
JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES?
A. comma
B. colon
C. parentheses
D. semicolon
Demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.