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M S . B R O W N

Punctuation Parts 1 & 2

Presentation Outline

Why is punctuation important?

How are punctuation marks used?

At the end of a sentence

Within a sentence

What are some punctuation errors to avoid?

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Why is punctuation important?

Punctuation is the window to your paper’s soul

When your punctuation is consistently incorrect, your ideas become unclear. Imagine a dirty window. Your vision is clouded by the film on the glass. Correcting your punctuation provides a clear window to your thoughts.

Punctuation changes everything!

Punctuation changes everything!

Punctuation is a part of the writing process:

Prewrite

Outline

Draft

Revise

Edit and Proofread

Can anyone guess what part of the writing process we need to check our punctuation?

Punctuation is a part of the writing process:

Prewrite

Outline

Draft

Revise

Edit and Proofread

Can anyone guess what part of the writing process we need to check our punctuation?

Why is punctuation important?

Summary

Punctuation provides a clear window to your thoughts.

Punctuation changes the meaning of our message.

Woman, without her man, is nothing.

Woman! Without her, man is nothing.

Correcting punctuation is an important and necessary step in the writing process.

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How are punctuation marks used?

How are punctuation marks used?

We are going to break up this portion into two parts:

Punctuation at the end of a sentence

Punctuation within a sentence

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Completing a thought

Completing a thought

Periods are used to complete a statement or command.

It is raining today.

Hand me a paper towel.

Periods are also used in abbreviations.

I.D. (identification)

etc. (etcetera)

Dr. Warren (doctor)

Figueroa St. (street)

Completing a thought

Question marks are used at the end of a question.

Are you going to the research writing workshop?

What time is it?

Completing a thought

Exclamation points end a sentence with feeling or excitement.

Hit the brakes before we crash!

Be quiet!

Stop yelling!

Completing a thought

Periods are used to:

Complete a statement or command

Shorten words for abbreviations

Question marks are used to:

Ask a question

Exclamation marks are used to:

Show excitement or feeling

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Connecting thoughts

Connecting thoughts

Semicolons are used to connect two closely related sentences.

My stomach is growling; I should eat lunch soon.

Semicolons are also used to connect ideas with internal punctuation.

I have lived in Los Angeles, California; Brooklyn, New York; and Dallas, Texas.

Connecting thoughts

Commas are used to connect words in a series. I will buy eggs, cheese, milk,

bottled water, and beef at the store. (nouns)

He ran, jumped, and shot the basketball through the hoop. (verbs)

Commas are used to connect transitional expressions and dependent clauses. First of all, eating breakfast

is an important way to begin the day.

When I get home, I will study my notes.

Connecting thoughts

Commas are used to set off descriptions (mid-sentence modifiers). Broccoli, which I hate, is

healthy and high in fiber.

My boyfriend made broccoli for dinner, which I hate.

Commas are used to set off important information. Your financial aid

application, required for admission, is due today.

Connecting thoughts

Commas are used to rename another item.

Ms. Brown, our English instructor, is offering extra credit for attending workshops and poetry night.

Commas are used to punctuate dates and addresses.

October 16, 2013

Los Angeles, California

Connecting thoughts

Perhaps most importantly, commas are used to connect two complete thoughts when used with a coordinating conjunction.

Note: this method is completely different from connecting two sentences with a semicolon! Never combine these methods. Semicolons do not need the help of coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS).

I am tired, so I will take a nap.

I ran to the corner, and I caught the bus for a ride.

She likes drawing, but she does not enjoy singing.

Connecting thoughts

Apostrophes show ownership (possessives). My mom’s car is in the shop.

(singular)

The girls’ restroom is closed. (plural)

Note: When you have a plural possessive, just add the apostrophe.

Apostrophes help shorten words (contractions). Aren’t you going to school

today? (Are not)

Don’t worry about tomorrow’s test. (Do not)

Connecting thoughts

Apostrophes make numbers and letters plural.

Bill writes his 2’s like 7’s.

I earned three A’s and two B’s last semester.

Connecting thoughts

Colons are used to offset examples, a list, or an explanation, possession. I am allergic to three things:

peanuts, coconut, and all forms of dairy.

Colons are used to place an emphasis on another thought. College will help you succeed

for one reason: You will increase your knowledge. Note: The word after the

colon is a complete sentence, so we capitalize the first word.

Connecting thoughts

Quotation marks connect someone’s exact words in a sentence.

The counselor said, “Fill out the application, turn it in to the registrar, and wait for our response.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase,” said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Connecting thoughts

Parentheses are often used similarly to commas to offset information.

Broccoli (a vegetable I hate) is healthy and high in fiber.

Compare the sentence above to the following: Broccoli, a vegetable I hate, is healthy and high in fiber.

Can you tell the slight difference in emphasis?

Connecting thoughts

Ellipses are used to stand in for omitted thoughts/words. There are several ways to

take notes: use a highlighter, underline passages, write summaries, etc….

Ms. Brown is handing out free pens, gift cards, money…all because she wants to help students.

Note: When you have completed a sentence with the omitted information, add an additional period to complete the thought.

Connecting thoughts

Hyphens are used to make adjectives out of nouns.

I live on a one-way street.

Hyphens are used with compound numbers.

Forty-six

Hyphens are used with some prefixes.

Pre-Civil War

T-shirt

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What are some punctuation errors to avoid?

Periods and Semicolons Question marks

Periods and semicolons, when used improperly, create fragments. Although I have to work in

the morning. I am going to study tonight.

When I get to school; Marta and I will study in the library.

Overuse

Should we ban smoking in nightclubs??

Note: There is no need to use a question mark more than once in our academic writing.

What are some punctuation errors to avoid?

Exclamation point

Overuse

Smoking is unhealthy! People should change the laws immediately. Think of all the children and old people dying from illnesses!

Note: Avoid using exclamation points in your academic writing.

What are some punctuation errors to avoid?

Comma Confusion

Commas, when used to connect two complete sentences, create an error called a comma splice.

I am going to school, Maria is going to work.

What are some punctuation errors to avoid?

Apostrophe Abuse

Beware of creating possessives out of plurals!

Let’s Punctuate!

Use magnetic punctuation marks on the board to punctuate sample sentences.