Introduction

Punctuation: Definition, Types & Usage Rules.

• The most common punctuation marks in English are capital
letters, full stops, question marks, commas, colons, semi-
colons, exclamation marks and quotation marks.
• In speaking, we use pauses and the pitch of the voice to make
what we say clear.
• Punctuation plays a similar role in writing, making it easier to
read.
• There are rules about when and how to use punctuation.
PUNCTUATION MARKS
 Full stop/period

 Comma

 Colon

 Semi colon

 Question mark

 Exclamation mark

 Quotation marks

 Parentheses

 Apostrophe

 Hyphen/Dash
SPACING WITH PUNCTUATION

Rule -1. With a computer, use only one space after commas,
semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation
marks.

Rule -2. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.

•Example: We borrowed twenty-two sheets of paper.

capital letters (B, D) and full stops (.)
We use capital letters to mark the beginning of a sentence and we use full stops to
mark the end of a sentence:
• We went to France last summer. We were really surprised that it was so easy to
travel on the motorways.
We also use capital letters at the beginning of proper nouns. Proper nouns include
personal names (including titles before names), nationalities and languages, days of
the week and months of the year, public holidays as well as geographical places:
• Dr. David James is the consultant at Leeds City Hospital.
• They are planning a long holiday in New Zealand.
• Can she speak Japanese?
• The next meeting of the group will take place on Thursday.
• What plans do you have for New Year?
We use capital letters for the titles of books, magazines and newspapers,
plays and music:
• ‘Oliver’ is a musical based on the novel ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles
Dickens.
• The Straits Times is a daily English language newspaper in Singapore.
In addition to closing sentences, we also use full stops in initials for
personal names:
• G. W. Dwyer
• David A. Johnston, Accountant
Full stops are also used after abbreviations, although this practice is
becoming less common:
Arr. (Arrival) Dr. (Doctor) Prof. (Professor)
question marks (?)
The note of interrogation is used to complete sentences that form a
direct question.
Indirect questions are regarded as statements, and they take periods, not
question marks.
Example:
• Have you had your breakfast?
• Where are you going?
• I don’t know where he is going. (A statement, not a direct question)
Note of Exclamation (Exclamation mark/point) (!)

The note of exclamation indicates excitement, either positive or negative.

It can also be used for giving additional emphasis to sentences, phrases, or
single words, and especially to commands and interjections.
Example:
• Wait! Don’t take another step!
• I can’t believe she could say that!
• What a Beautiful house!
Note: It is best to avoid using a note of exclamation whenever the
excitement can be described in words. You should be meticulous in using
this punctuation in any form of writing.
Comma (,)
The comma is the most useful and common punctuation mark in English. It has many
important roles in making a written form of English easy to read.
i. Comma between Independent Clauses
• Usually, a comma separates two independent clauses when they are connected by
certain coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, or for).
• However, if the clauses are very short, no comma is needed.
Example:
• They finished dinner in pin-drop silence, but Alex knew that he would have to
apologize.
• I wanted to watch a movie after dinner, but I could not tell her as I was confused
about her reactions.
• We had dinner and then I watched a movie. (No comma is needed between these
clauses)
Comma (,)
ii. Comma after Introductory Clauses, Phrases, and Expression
• Commas are used not only between independent clauses but also after introductory clauses and
phrases.
• Some expressions and connectors which are placed at the beginning of a sentence also require
a comma after them.
Example:
• If you take off your jacket, you’ll catch a cold. (If the subordinators are used at the
beginning of the sentences, the comma marks the separation of the two clauses)
• Before start riding it, you should read the instructions.
• When you came here, Alex was the general manager.
• Well, I cannot play in the next match.
• However, Alex will play in the next match.
• In winter we usually stay at home most of the time. (Short phrases like “in winter” don’t
need commas.)
Comma (,)
iii. Series Comma
• Commas are used to separate multiple items of the same category in a
series.
• These items can be a series of words, phrases, or clauses.
Example:
• We brought pizzas, burgers, chocolates, and a chocolate cake on tour.
• The batsman set up his pads, put on his helmet, and played a good
knock. (verb phrases)
• He is a player, a singer, an actor, and a director.
Comma (,)
iv. Comma before Tag Question
Commas are used before a tag question which is usually a reassuring
statement of a sentence’s overall idea.
• They’re ready to go, aren’t they?
• They’ll never do it, will they?
• He loves you, doesn’t he?
Comma (,)
v.Commas in Dialog
Commas are used in the dialog to set off the indirect speech from the
direct speech.
Example:
I told him, “Don’t go there!”
“When we were going there,” she said, “we saw thousands of palm
trees.”
“Please, give me that ball”, said the boy
The use of comma before and
• The dog is well-trained, and good-natured.
• The dog is well-trained and good-natured.
• The dog is young, well-trained, and good-natured.
• The dog is young, well trained and good-natured.
The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. (There are a few
exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty
rare.)
• The dog barks, and plays.
• The dog barks and plays.
Comma before and that joins two independent clauses
On Monday we’ll see the R.K Beach, and on Tuesday we’ll visit the
Simachalam Temple.
colons (:)

We use colons to introduce lists:

There are three main reasons for the success of the government: economic,
social and political.
We also use colons to indicate a subtitle or to indicate a subdivision of a topic:
Life in Provence: A Personal View
We often use colons to introduce direct speech:
Then he said: ‘I really cannot help you in any way.’
We commonly use a colon between sentences when the second sentence
explains or justifies the first sentence:
Try to keep your flat clean and tidy: it will sell more easily.
semi-colons (;)
Like the comma and the colon, the semicolon is used to connect
sentences together.
The semicolon typically indicates that the second sentence is closely
related to the one before it.
• I can’t eat peanuts; I am highly allergic to them.
• Lucy loves to eat all kinds of sweets; lollipops are her favorite.
Exclamation mark!
They are so expressive and can add so much to a sentence. They can be used to
convey excitement, surprise, joy, anger, and other strong emotions. They can
also be used to emphasize a point or command attention.
Here are some examples of how to use exclamation marks:
• Excitement: "I won the lottery!"
• Surprise: "Look! A shooting star!"
• Joy: "I'm so happy for you!"
• Anger: "Stop it!"
• Emphasis: "You must do this!"
• Command attention: "Help!"
Parentheses ( )
Parentheses ( ) are used to enclose additional information that is not
essential to the meaning of the sentence. They can be used to provide
examples, explanations, or comments.
• Here are some examples of how to use parentheses:
• To provide an example: The company's products include computers
(laptops, desktops, and tablets), smartphones, and televisions.
• To provide an explanation: The defendant was found guilty of murder
(first degree).
• To provide a comment: The new movie is very good (in my opinion).
Brackets [ ]
Brackets are used to enclose information that is added to a quotation or to explain or
modify something that has already been said. They are also used to indicate editorial
changes to a text.
Here are some examples of how to use brackets:
• To add information to a quotation:
The witness said, "He [the defendant] hit me."
• To explain or modify something that has already been said:
The author's use of the word "metaphor" is confusing [because she does
not define it].
• To indicate editorial changes to a text:
[Original: The dog ran down the street.]
[Revised: The dog barked and ran down the street.]
Braces { }

Braces are a type of punctuation mark that is less commonly used than
parentheses or brackets. They are typically used to enclose sets of items,
such as mathematical expressions, lists of choices, or code blocks in
programming languages.
Here are some examples of how to use braces:
• In mathematics: {1,2,3,4,5} is the set of all natural numbers from 1 to
5.
• In lists of choices: {A, B, C, D, E} are the possible answers to the
question.
Activity-2
Punctuate the following sentences.
a. i like playing with my friends sandy sunny sameer
b. we went through the smoky mountains near shimla on our way to leh
c. my favorite soap is pears and my favorite toothpaste is pepsodent
d. i’m a catholic and that’s why i go to st joseph’s school
e. my friend priya speaks german and she is teaching me some words
f. he was honest sincere hard working
g. hindus muslims sikhs christians live together in india
h. long ago in a town in switzerland there lived a famous man called william
i. akbar the greatest of the mughal emperors ruled wisely
Answers
a. I like playing with my friends Sandy, Sunny and Sameer.
b. We went through the Smoky Mountains near Shimla, on our way to Leh.
c. My favourite soap is Pears, and my favourite toothpaste is Pepsodent.
d. I’m a Catholic and that’s why I go to St. Joseph’s School.
e. My friend Priya speaks German, and she is teaching me some words.
f. He was honest, sincere, and hard working.
g. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians live together in India.
h. Long ago, in a town in Switzerland, there lived a famous man called William.
i. Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors, ruled wisely.
Note that in the above examples the word "and" is placed before the last item in
the list, which is a common practice in English grammar.
1.Which punctuation mark is used to indicate the end of a declarative
sentence?
a) Comma b) Exclamation mark c) Period (full stop) d) Colon
2. Which punctuation mark is used to separate items in a list?
a) Semicolon b) Hyphen c) Apostrophe d) Comma
3. What punctuation mark is used to indicate a pause or break within a
sentence for added emphasis or clarity?
a) Exclamation mark b) Colon c) Dash d) Ellipsis
4. Which punctuation mark is used to introduce a list, explanation, or
example?
a) Comma b) Period (full stop) c) Semicolon d) Colon
Activity-1
my favorite color is red do you like red my sister likes
green she always says green is the color of champions
regardless of which color is better we both agree that no
one likes salmon which is a fish and not a color
Activity-1 Key
My favourite colour is red. Do you like red? My sister likes green. She
always says green is the colour of champions, regardless of which
colour is better. We both agree that no one likes salmon, which is a fish
and not a colour.