Learn how to use Punctuation marks in your writings to make them interesting and sophisticated.

1. In The English Language
Presented by
Rushda Ashraf
English Language Instructor

2. Introduction to Punctuation
How does Punctuation Work
Full stop
Comma
Colon/Exclamation mark
Semi Colon
Apostrophe
Question Mark/Parentheses
Dash/Slash
Quotation Mark/ Hyphen/ Capital letters

3. Punctuation is used to help us make sense of
what we read. It can alter the meaning of the
sentences we write.
Good punctuation makes a sentence clear and
easy to read and understand because it shows
grammatical structure, meanings and
relationships between words and clauses.

4. Punctuation is about how words relate to
each other.
Using punctuation symbols helps us know when
to stop a sentence, take a breath, pause,
become excited, lift your voice to ask a
question, and also when to began a sentence.
When we are speaking we do this naturally,
however, when we write, punctuation symbols
sign posts for the reader.

5.  A full stop ends a sentence.
This is my pencil.
 Full stops are also used to indicate
abbreviations.
Apr. Mon. Sat. Capt. Gen. Smith & Co.
 After initials in people’s names.
Sh. Ahmad, M. Usman
 At the end of a mild request or a command.
Please stop doing that.
Will you pass the copy, please.

6. To separate independent clauses joined by a
conjunction.
Example:
This is the street, but I don’t know the number.
 To separate parts of a series.
 Example:
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
 To separate equal adjectives in a series.
 Example:
a loud, sharp blast.

7. Note: Unless the adjectives modifies the
same noun in the same way, they are not in
series and no comma is used. To test, check
if the adjectives can be reversed. If not, no
comma.
 To separate introductory statements
beginning with such words as when, while,
since, if because, until, although and
whenever.
 Example:
When the rain was falling, there was very
little wind.

8. To set off introductory prepositional phrases
(starting with in, on, at, to, by, for, of ,
through).
Example:
By the time she crawled into bed, she was
too exhausted to sleep.
 Three words or less prepositional phrases will
not follow a comma.
Example:
In Japan he served as a teacher.

9. To separate additional information in a
sentence.
Example:
I visited Lahore, capital of Pakistan, to see
my grandparents.
 To set off introductory phrases beginning
with verb participles ending with –ing –ed –en
etc.
Example:
Having done with the work, I stopped the
motor.

10. To set off such expressions as you, no, well,
on the other hand, you might say, of
course(interrupters).
Example:
He was, of course, the first person I saw.
 To set off such expressions as “HE SAID” from
direct quotation.
 Example:
“That decision”, he explained, “must be
your own”.

11. To separate contrasting elements.
Example:
The wall is grey, not blue.
 To prevent misreading.
 Example:
Undressing, the child ran into the bathroom.
 To set off the name of the person addressed.
 Example:
Ali, may I borrow your pencil?

12. To separate independent statements that are
not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Example:
Black is the mixture of all colors; white is
the complete is the complete opposite.
 To separate independent statements when
the second statement begins with such
conjunctives, phrases or adverbs like
therefore, however, thus ,otherwise, on the
other hand, for example, in fact, that is, etc.
 Example: I submitted a request in advance;
still, I did not receive a permission.

13.  To show possession
 Example:
The doctor’s advice, The woman’s dress
 To indicate the omission of letters in
contractions.
 Example:
Can’t, won’t, doesn’t, it’s
 To form plurals of letters, words and symbols
that do not have logical plurals.
 Example:
Three 2’s, Too many &’s

14. To indicate a sudden break of an unfinished
word or sentence.
Example:
She will take charge of this post and- Wait a
minute. Who are you?
 To set off a summary of a preceding series.
 Example:
Food, clothing, shelter and a sense of humor-
those are the things a man needs to survive.

15. To join two or more words serving as a single
adjective before a noun.
Example:
a one-way street, chocolate- covered peanut
 Use a hyphen with compound number.
 Example:
Forty-six, thirty- nine
 To avoid confusion or an awkward combination of
letters.
 Example:
re-sign a request( resign)
shell-like(childlike)

16. Use hyphen with prefixes ex-, self-, all-,with
the suffix –elect; between a prefix and a
capitalized word; and figures or letters.
Example: ex-fellow, self assured
To divide the word at the end of a line, or
show a break between syllables.
Example:
pre-fer-ence, sell-ing

17. To set off quotation matters.
Example: “I saw him” he replied.
To indicate a quotation within a quotation(single
quotation mark)
Example: I replied, “when I asked him if he
heard about a boat, he said ‘I saw it’”
To enclose titles of short stories, poems,
magazine articles, portions of books and
individual television show episodes.
Example: Good tenses can be found in the
chapter “Tenses ” in William Austin’s book
“Tenses Made Easy”.

18. To set off elements which provide extra
information.
Example: The progress (From#78) is
submitted each weak.
I told him (Ali) exactly what to do.
 To enclose numbers and letters mentioning
parts.
 Example: The principle parts are(1) the
present tense (2) the past tense (3) the past
participle.

19. Used after an independent clause to direct
attention to a list.
Example: He laid down three rules: no
smoking, no idle talk, and no sleeping.
To separate two independent clauses when
the second one summarizes or explains the
first.
Example: Faith is like love: it cannot be
forced.

20. To indicate the end of a line of poetry.
Example: Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath
the Bough,/…
To set off phonemic transcription.
Example: In French /e/ is pronounced as
/a/.
To separate paired terms
Example: pass/fail
producer/director

21. We use capital letters for names, months,
days of week, at the beginning of a
sentence.
Example:
Maria, April, Sunday ( I like apples.)
 We use it after full stop.
 Example:
Maria likes apples. She eats five apples a
day.
 “I” is always capital.

22. Question mark is used at the end of an
interrogative sentence.
Example:
Why is she coming to Lahore?
Where is your warm coat?

23. It shows strong feeling of joy, sadness, anger
etc. It seems like shouting or raising voice
while speaking. It is mostly used in informal
writing and less used in formal writing.
 Examples:
Hi! Sorry I haven't written for so long!!!
Great work! Congratulations!
“ Leave me alone”! She screamed

24. Thanks for your