Punctuation12 Simple Rules for Punctuating Sentences

12 Punctuation Rules

• These rules do not cover EVERY point on punctuation; however, if you master these simple rules, you will be well on your way to using punctuation correctly.

1. Use a period at the end of a sentence and after abbreviations and initials.

*Note: Two-letter state abbreviations are used without periods and are written as two capital letters with no space between the letters.

Ex: Dr. My dog ran away. Co. NJ, CO, DE H. L. Jones

2. If a sentence is asking a question, use a question mark (?) at the end of the sentence. Exclamation marks (!) are used to show great surprise, urgency, or strong feeling.

Ex: Where is the bell-work for today?

The bell-work ismissing!

3. Use a comma to separate words or phrases in a series.

Ex: He bought eggs, milk, bread, and a paper.

Ex: The gas entered the house through an open window, through the crack under the door, and down the open chimney.

4. Use a comma to separate an appositive. (An appositive is a word or phrase that repeats the noun directly before it.

Ex: George Washington, our first president, is a hero for all of us.

5. Use a comma in dates where you have three or more items together.

Ex: The allies invaded Europe on June 5, 1944.

With two items no comma is required.

Ex: June 5 was the day to remember.

6. Use a comma to separate three items in an address, and/or to separate a city from a state.

Ex: He lived at 21 Main St., Denver, Colorado.

Ex: He lives in Denver, Colorado, but he is moving to Bradford, Florida, next month.

7. Use a comma to set off an introductory clause. (The sentence will usually begin with the word since, because, although, as, if, when, or similar words.)

Ex: Because he was going to be late, he took a key with him.

Ex: Since it stopped raining, she no longer needed an umbrella.

8. Use a comma to separate the main clauses connected by “and” or “but.” (A main clause is a clause that could stand alone as a simple sentence.)

Ex: It was raining.

We continued to play in the rain.

It was raining, but we continued to play in

the rain.

Ex: She cashed her paycheck.

They bought a ticket for Tucson.

She cashed her paycheck, and they bought a

ticket for Tucson.

9. Use a comma to set off interrupting words and phrases like “however,” “of course,” “for example,” “more-over.”

Ex: He, however, would not ask her out.

What, for example, is the square root of nine?

10.In a direct quotation use a comma to set off expressions such as—“he said,” or “she stated.” The direct quotation is enclosed with quotation marks. Periods and commas go inside quotes.

Ex: He said, “What a lot of rot that is.”

Ex: “Tomorrow,” she stated, “I will begin to think about that.”

**Remember, the first word in a direct quote is capitalized.

11.“No,” “yes,” “well,” and “however” will generally be set off with commas when they are the first words in a sentence.

Ex: No, I will not go.

Well, I may think about it.

12.When a person is directly addressed the name is set off with a comma.

Ex: Susie, pay attention.

Ex: Susie never pays attention.

Ex: Put your hand down, Frank.

NOTE: Underline each word in the title of a book, movie, or television show.

Ex: I had read Gone With the Wind before I saw it in the movies.

Ex: The Ed Sullivan Show was the last of athe variety type shows.

Ex: He gave me the book The Complete Poems of Robert Browning.

NOTE: For the title of individual poems, short stories, or episodes in a television series, put the title in quotation marks.

Ex: My favorite poem is “Invictus.”

Ex: In the Collected Short Words of Poe, I liked the short story “The Gold Bug” the best.

Ex: Of all the Star Trek shows I liked “The Last Warrior” the best.

Practice

• I’d like you to meet my aunt the writer of One Hundred and One Recipes

• Please sit next to Dr and Mrs J L Heathcliff

• Oh so you’ve been here before have you

• It was impossible not to be rude to that proud overbearing man

Practice

• Yes he said he likes chocolate on the top vanilla in the middle and strawberry on the bottom

• She thought it would be fun to go skiing but he wanted to hang-glide

• Since he was the first he should be served first

Practice

• “How do you do” he said “I’m glad to finally meet you”

• The ending however was far from satisfactory

• He would not mind going to Portland Oregon or anywhere else you asked him to go

• Pete Meyer the french fry king has finally announced his retirement

Practice

• The mayor a good neighbor of mine has gone into a private law firm

• “Did he” I asked “drop the ball on the third strike”

• In my life I’ve seen New York New York Akron Ohio Baltimore Maryland Washington D C and Hoboken New Jersey

Practice

• Let’s meet here again at 915 on Tuesday July 18

• The father of the child said “I was afraid but I had to do it”

• When Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon he made the following statement “That’s one small step for man and a giant leap for mankind”

Practice

• Because it was late we said goodnight and turned out the lights

• If it rains remember to bring your umbrella otherwise we’ll ruin our clothes

• Simon did you say you were dating the redhead who works the cash register or are you seeing the redhead who cuts hair at “La Hair Boutique”