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Punctuate - to be understood!

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Put a stop - to take a pause

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Got a question?

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Show your emotion!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Punctuation
Contents

Part 1

WHY PUNCTUATE?
THE FULL STOP ( . )
THE QUESTION MARK ( ? )
THE EXCLAMATION MARK ( ! )
CAPITAL LETTERS ( A, B, )

Part 2

THE COMMA ( , )
THE SEMI-COLON ( ; )
THE COLON ( : )

Part 3

THE APOSTROPHE ( ' )

Punctuation exists to help us make sense of the words we read. It also helps written English sound like it does when we speak. This guide will help you practise your punctuation.

 
WHY PUNCTUATE?

Read the following passage, without punctuation..

i would like to apply for a job with your company for two years i have been employed as a sales clerk for the jones store i sold nothing that i did not take pride in i am sure it will be the same if i work for you

Now, look at how much easier it is to read with punctuation:

I would like to apply for a job with your company. For two years I have been employed as a sales clerk for the Jones store. I sold nothing that I did not take pride in. I am sure it will be the same if I work for you.

Now, look at what happens when we change the position of the punctuation marks. It actually changes the meaning of the passage.

I would like to apply for a job with your company for two years. I have been employed. As a sales clerk for the Jones store I sold nothing. That, I did not take pride in. I am sure it will be the same if I work for you.


THE FULL STOP

The full stop ends a sentence when it is a statement. (Remember, a sentence makes sense. You take a long pause at the end of a sentence. This long pause means that you need a full stop.)

Example: The dog sat outside the door. His master had not fed him for a week.

A full stop also indicates an abbreviation, unless first and last letters are shown. (There is a trend to phase out full stops with abbreviations.)

Examples:

N.S.W.

admin.

Op. cit.

ACTIVITY

Put full stops in the correct places in these groups of sentences. (You'll need to add capitals where there are new sentences.)

1. It had been raining for weeks the river was rising very quickly and the farmers were afraid the dam would burst we decided we would have to leave our farm

2. You should not drive if you have been drinking it has been proven that accidents are more likely when drivers have been drinking


THE QUESTION MARK


The question mark ends a sentence when it asks a question.

Examples:

1. Why is it so cold?

2. Where is your warm coat?

ACTIVITY

Put question marks and full stops in the correct places in these groups of sentences. (There are two sentences in each example)

1. I am going to wash the dishes will you peel the potatoes for me

2. He is going by car are you going by bus

3. How are you I hope you are well


THE EXCLAMATION MARK

This mark shows strength of emotion. It is often used in direct speech and informal notes, messages and letters. It is less common in formal writing.

Examples:

1. Hi! Sorry I haven't written for so long!!!
2. Great work! Congratulations!
3. "Leave me alone!" she screamed.

ACTIVITY

Put exclamation marks in the correct places in the following.

1. What wonderful news

2. Come here this instant

3. Help


CAPITAL LETTERS

Capital letters are used:

At the start of a new sentence. Example: The cat sat on the mat. His owner sat nearby.

For the letter "i" when you are referring to yourself. Example: He can run faster than I can.

For people's names. Examples: Jim Smith, Bill Jones

For titles. Examples: Dr Jones, Mr Brown

For book/film/company titles (main words only). Examples: The Catcher in the Rye, The Wizard of Oz, Briggs and Sons

In direct speech, for the first spoken word. Example: She said, "My name is Mary."

For acronyms. Examples: TAFE, CIA

For titles of days, months. Examples: Monday, July

Activity

Put capital letters in the correct places in the following sentences:

1. mr brown needed to see the doctor urgently.
2. mary said, " may i come,too?"
3. i will go to see joe on the first monday in may.
4. she lives in sydney, nsw.
5. karl and i went to the movies on wednesday night. we saw "one flew over the cuckoo's nest", starring jack nicholson.

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