Group topic: Punctuation

Semicolon

Use semicolon to separate items in a list, when some of those items already contain commas.

Example: "I bought shiny, ripe apples; small, sweet, juicy grapes; and firm pears."
Reference: http://www.writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html Spet 11.2012

Use a semicolon between closely related independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.

Example : "Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or a computer; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil."
Reference: http://www.writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html Spet 11.2012

Using a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression.

Example: "The five nations respects the abilities of all its people; therefore, both women and men participate in making tribal decisions."
Reference: http://www.writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html Spet 11.2012

Use To announce, introduce, or direct attention to a list, a noun or noun phrase, a quotation, or an example/explanation.

Lists example: “We covered many of the fundamentals in our writing class: grammar, punctuation, style, and voice.”

Noun/noun phrase example: “My roommate gave me the things I needed most: companionship and quiet.”

Quotation example: Shakespeare said it best: “To thine own self be true.”
Reference: http://www.writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Semicolons.html Spet 11.2012

Colon

Use a colon to separate titles and subtitles, to express time, to cite a law or biblical passage, to end a salutation, to separate the place of publication and the publisher in a bibliographic entry.

Example: Richard Nixon: The Tarnished President

4:00 p.m.

Dear Rachel:

West, Gerald. How to Write Best Sellers. New York: Henry James Publishing, 1973.

The point of final game was 104:97

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semi-colons-colons-and-dashes/, September 11, 2012

Use a colon to connect two sentences when the second sentence summarizes, sharpens, or explains the first.

Example: “Religion and politics can be sensitive subjects: many people hold opinionated views and are easily offended by other peoples' remarks.”

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semi-colons-colons-and-dashes/, September 11, 2012

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/colon.html, September 11, 2012

Period [.]: Use a period at the end of a sentence (The dog ran fast.), command (Hand in your homework by Friday.), indirect question (The teacher asked why Frank was late to school.), or for abbreviations (Mr. Smith went to Texas.).

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/period.htm, September 11, 2012

Question Mark [?]: Use a question mark at the end of a question. (What are you doing?)

*Question words: Who, what, where, when, how, whom, whose, and which

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/period.htm, September 11, 2012

http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/wh-question-words.htm, September 11, 2012

Exclamation Point [!]: Use an exclamation point at the end of an empathic declaration, interjection, or command. (Do it now! or What are you doing! Stop!)

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/exclamation.htm, September 11, 2012

Quotation Marks [“ ”]:  Use quotation marks to set off material that represents quoted or spoken language. Quotation marks also set off the titles of things that do not normally stand by themselves: short stories, poems, and articles. Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotations. (My mother always said “Be careful what you wish for”)

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm, September 11, 2012

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/566/01/, September 11, 2012

Hyphen [-]: Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun (a one-way street), with compound numbers (sixty-three), to divide words at the end of a line if necessary, and with the prefixes (ex-husband).

What is the apostrophe? The apostrophe indicates that a number or letter has been omitted. Moreover, apostrophes are also used to show possession or ownership.

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/apostrophe.html, September 11, 12

Commas

What is the comma? A comma is a punctuation mark used to indicate separation that in spoken English is proved by a brief pause (or breathing space).

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_comma, September 11, 12

 There are six rules for using commas.

1.      Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, nor, yet, for, so) that separates two independent clauses. For example: One of our teachers gave us a lot of homework for next week, but he changes his mind and moves the due date.

2.      Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause that comes before a main clause. For example: Strangely, no one has suggested that Watergate gave us a "new Nixon."

3.      Use commas around words, phrases, and clauses in the middle of a sentence when they aren't essential to the meaning of the sentence. For example, this was not, in other words, an invisible 56 percent of the population.

4.      Use commas between items in a series. For example: Three reasons for the closing were insufficient enrollment, poor instructional materials, and inadequate funds.

5.      Use commas before and after a quotation within a sentence. For example: The band leader said, "Once the simple marching drill is learned, we will work on more maneuvers."

6.      Use a comma before an afterthought or contrasting element. For example: To understand a particular culture, we must consider the society as a whole, not its individual parts.

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/comma.html, September 11, 12

There are some examples how to use them.

 He is= he’s

Does not= doesn’t

There are some singular (not ending with –s)

Owner	Thing Owned	Correct Form
a child	shoes	a child’s shoes
anyone	idea	anyone’s idea
a person	incoming	a person’s income

Singular Nouns (ending with –s)

Owner	Thing Owned	Correct form
Chris Jones	dog	Chris Jones’ dog
James	room	James’ room

Plural Nouns (not ending with –s)

Owner	Thing Owner	Correct Form
people	beliefs	people’s belief
children	songs	Children’s songs

 Plural Nouns (ending with –s)

Owner	Thing Owned	Correct Form
Two weeks	vacation	two weeks’ vacation
ten dollars	worth	Ten dollars’ worth
students	addresses	Students’ addersses

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/punct/apostrophe.html, September 11, 12