PUNCTUATION
     
     
    To many people punctuation includes many familiar marks such as the comma, colon, exclamation point, question mark, period, and quotation marks.  This knowledge is essential in writing and in everyday usage of the English language but must be used properly.  This Web site is dedicated to informing you on the proper uses of punctuation in your everyday writing.
     
     
    COMMAS
    In sentence patterns there are some simple rules you must follow to make sure you are using commas correctly:
      • A subject is never separated from a verb with a comma.
      • A verb is never separated from the direct object with a comma.
      • A direct object is never separated from the object complement with a comma.
      • An indirect object is never separated from the direct object with a comma.
      • A verb is never separated from the subject complement with a comma.

    In speech we often pause, and in writing we assume a comma is needed to indicate a pause.  A simple pause in a sentence does not require a comma.  Instead, careful writers follow specific conventions when deciding where to place commas.  For example, commas are necessary around phrases that distinguish the nouns they modify from some other nouns. The following sentences illustrate this principle:

    • The clowns who wore bright red wigs were really funny.
    • The clowns, who wore bright red wigs, were really funny.
    The relative clause in the first sentence lets us know which clowns were funny as opposed to the rest of the clowns, who might have worn blue wigs and had a lousy sense of humor.  The punctuation of the second sentence indicates that there was only one set of clowns; the relative clause "who wore bright red wigs" does not distinguish them from other clowns; rather, it merely provides additional information.
    QUOTATION MARKS
     
    Quotation marks are common in everyday writing and are very easy to use correctly.  Quotation marks set off what is being said by a certain person during conversation in a sentence.  They are also used to set off certain phrases that have been taken from a piece of work, word for word.  This is done in order to give the authorof that work his or her rightful recognition.
      • An example of quotations used in conversation is
    • He said, "I will be late for the party."
      • An example of a direct quotation is
    • Martha Kolln writes: "In this sentence the quoted passage is essentially a nominal clause in direct object position"(94).
     
     
    EXCLAMATION POINT
    Exclamation points often appear at the end of sentences that express strong feelings.
    Cxample:
    • I hate mosquitoes!
    • Listen!
    • What a ridiculous excuse he made!
    The last of these sentences is the result of the exclamatory transformation.  In this transformation, the complement appears in front of the subject and verb. Also, the words "how" and "what" serve as exclamatory signalers.

    Here are some other sentences in which exclamation points are appropriate.  Note that these sentences express strong feeling even though they have not undergone the transformation described above.

    • Have you ever seen a mountain that huge!
    • Is my leg ever going to heal!

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    HYPHENS
     
    Use a hyphen when two adjectives work together to modify a noun:
    • the dust-covered furniture
    • a big-city phenomenon
    Hyphens are common when a modifier in the adjective slot is a participle.  The  word covered, for example, is a participle.  Participles are verbs, and they are commonly modified by adverbs.  Examples:
    • the long-running show
    • this well-attended concert
    Do not use a hyphen if the first modifier is an -ly adverb:
    • a poorly organized event
     
    COLONS
     
    A colon can introduce a sentence, an appositive, or a list:
    • I am taking three dance classes this term:  ballet, jazz, and pointe.
    • I devised a plan: I am going to finish school here at UNC-Pembroke and then transfer.
    Just remember colons let the reader know that the information they are expecting is coming within the next phrase.
     
    SEMICOLONS
     
    A semicolon is used to connect two coordinate clauses without a conjunction.
    • We ordered several interesting books; two of them are new this year.
    The semicolon is also used when a conjunctive adverb introduces a second clause.
    • I worked hard on my costume, sewing and cutting; however, no one appreciates great imagination.
     
    QUESTION MARK
    The question mark is associated with the interrogative sentence.
      • There are two types of questions in the English language:
    • the "yes/no question" and the "wh- question."
    Both of these kinds of questions are transformations of basic sentences.  In these sentences one or more element is shifted from its usual sentence position.
      • In the yes/no question the auxiliary, or the first if there is more than one, is shifted to the beginning of the sentence.
    •  I will go with you.
    •  Will I go with you?
    The wh-question simply has signalers.  The words why, where, when, who, what, and how are signalers that specifically point out the interrogative sentence.
    • Where is my mother?
    • Why are you still here?
    • When are we going to leave?
    • What are you suggesting?
    • How are you planning on doing that?
     
    DASHES
    A dash can be a substitute for a comma or a colon in some cases.  It tends to draw attention to sentence elements, such as adjectivals and appositives. Examples:
    •  The unicorn -- which was bright and happy--reared its head back in glory and honor. (relative clause)
    • The school system has one feature that stands out among the rest--the ability to provide the athletic department with all the means necessary. (appositive)
    • We have all experienced it once before--if not at school, at a party. (adverbial)
    • The cheerleaders were loud--they did many difficult pyramids. (compound sentence)

    Punctuation is important to successful writing.  Without punctuation, words would be scrambled, and phrases would be incomprehensible.  I hope this Web site has helped you and broadened your horizons on punctuation.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY
    Kolin, Martha.  Understanding English Grammar. 5th ed. Needham, Mass.: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.