How to Use Correct Punctuation in English Writing (A Guide)

"Punctuation in skilled hands is a remarkably subtle system of signals, signs, symbols and winks that keep readers on the smoothest road".

Writing without proper punctuation is like water without a cup—it would spill all over and be a complete mess. Though you'd be demonstrably wrong, some consider punctuation as pointless, no pun intended.

Learning correct punctuation is necessary to be a strong writer and communicator in the written word. There are "no ifs, ands, or buts," about it. So, learn how to use punctuation, or don't ...it's your choice.

What does the word punctuation mean?

The word punctuation has roots in Latin, punctus, its literal translation being 'point' or 'mark'.

The essential punctuation marks in writing

The main points of punctuation in English writing are the following:

1. Periods or full stop .
2. Question marks ?
3. Exclamation marks !
4. Commas ,
5. Colons :
6. Semicolon ;
7. Apostrophes ' ... '
8. Quotations " ... "
9. Ellipses ...
10. Hyphens -
11. Dashes —
12. Parentheses ( ... )
13. Brackets [ ... ]

Let's review each, in turn.

An overview: Punctuation marks & how to use them

Punctuation is the use of symbols like periods, commas, and question marks to separate sentences and clauses, clarify meaning, and guide the reader.

Punctuation to end a sentence

There are only 3 ways to end a sentence:

• A period, "My name is Sam."
• A question mark, "What is your name?"
• An exclamation mark, "I just told you my name—it's Sam!"

The period is the most common way to end a sentence (that's not a question or an emotionally-charged interjection). We use periods to complete declarative sentences and softer imperative one's.

• Please hold on for a second.
• I would prefer the simple answer.

All direct question statements should end in a question mark ?

• What time is it?
• Can you come for dinner on Saturday evening?
• What did they say?

"The exclamation mark is the literary equivalent of a man holding up a card reading LAUGHTER to a studio audience."—Miles Kington.

As you'd expect, all exclamatory sentences end in an exclamation mark or point ( ! ) While declarative and imperative sentences can also end in an exclamation, the exclamation is purely arranged for the purpose of expressing strong feeling or emotion in the place of a full stop.

• Ouch!
• Nicely done!
• There's a bug on my arm!

Quotations look like upside-down, inverted commas, " ". We use them to enclose a word, phrase, or several complete sentences from a source that is not one's own. The job of quotations is to make it clear when writing is not the author's own, which is why it's crucial to use them in cases where you want to borrow text (otherwise plagiarism occurs).

• "The garden is beautiful," Penelope responded.

Though the precise rules vary by style guide, several suggest block quotes only for direct quotations that are longer than 4 lines or 40 words.

It would be pleasant to be able to say of my travels with Charley, "I went out to find the truth about my country and I found it." And then it would be such a simple matter to set down my findings and lean back comfortably with a fine sense of having discovered truths and taught them to my readers.

Parentheses are how writers can provide additional or supplementary information in sentences.

• She is coming to our house after work (around six o'clock).
• Your use of citations in the last paper (which was beautifully written, by the way) offered a good example of how to avoid plagiarism.

A colon : is a punctuation mark that can introduce a list, explain or add emphasis on the prior clause:

• To make a cake you need the following ingredients: sugar, eggs, milk, flour, baking soda, and salt.
• I want an assistant who can do the following: input data, take notes, answer the phones, and handle my schedule.

Semicolons connect closely related independent clauses, and they are used to clearly separate items in a list or series with commas.

• Present at the film's premiere were Jane Anthony, the director; Sam Divine, the executive producer; and Allan Hamm, the lead actor.
• I have been to San Francisco, California; Reno, Nevada; and Seattle, Washington.

Commas represent a small pause in writing and are used in a variety of contexts. They're essential for clarity and proper sentence structure.

• To separate items in a series: I need to buy milk, eggs, bread, and butter.
• To join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction: I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
• After introductory phrases: After the rain stopped, we went outside.
• To set off nonessential information: The book, which was very long, took me weeks to finish.

Apostrophes serve two main purposes: to show possession and to form contractions. They're small marks that make a big difference in meaning.

• Possession: Sarah's car, the children's toys, the cat's food
• Contractions: don't (do not), it's (it is), you're (you are), can't (cannot)

Remember: "its" (without an apostrophe) shows possession, while "it's" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has."

An ellipsis (plural: ellipses) consists of three dots (...) and indicates an omission of words or a trailing-off thought. Ellipses help create pauses and show that something has been left out.

• To show omitted text in quotations: "To be or not to be ... that is the question."
• To indicate a trailing thought: "I'm not sure ... maybe we should reconsider."
• To show hesitation: "Well ... I suppose you're right."

In formal writing, ellipses are typically used to show omissions from quotations. In creative writing, they can also indicate pauses or unfinished thoughts in dialogue.

A hyphen (-) is a short horizontal line used to connect words and parts of words. Hyphens create compound words and clarify meaning in phrasal adjectives.

• Compound words: well-known, part-time, mother-in-law, self-esteem
• Compound modifiers before nouns: a long-term project, a well-written essay, a state-of-the-art facility
• Numbers and fractions: twenty-one, two-thirds, mid-1990s

Remember: When compound modifiers appear after the noun, they're typically not hyphenated. For example, "The project is long term" (not "long-term").

There are two types of dashes: the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). Dashes create emphasis and set off information in ways different from other punctuation marks.

• En dash (–): Used for ranges of numbers, dates, or time (e.g., pages 10–15, Monday–Friday, 9:00–5:00)
• Em dash (—): Used to create emphasis, indicate a sudden break, or introduce additional information (e.g., The team—the one with the best strategy—won the competition.)

Em dashes can often replace commas, colons, or parentheses when you want to create stronger emphasis. They're especially useful for setting off appositives or interrupting thoughts.

• She finally admitted the truth—she had never been there before.
• All the ingredients—flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla—were on the counter.

Brackets, also called square brackets [ ], are used for different purposes than parentheses. They're primarily used for technical notation, clarifying quotes, or indicating editorial changes.

• To clarify or add information in quotations: "She [the teacher] was very patient with the students."
• To indicate corrections: "The meeting will be held on [Tuesday]."
• In technical or mathematical notation: [x + y = z]
• In citations: [Smith, 2020]

Note: In American English, "brackets" typically refers to square brackets [ ], while parentheses are the curved marks ( ). In British English, "brackets" can refer to either parentheses or square brackets.

Worksheet: Punctuation

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