English punctuation.
Remember to place a full stop at the end of each sentence. The following lists some of the most common English punctuation;
Full stop or period = (.)
All statements are followed by a full stop. Full stops come at the end of a complete thought.
Most abbreviations are followed by periods, (Mr., Mrs., Dr.) some, however, now consider this use optional (I still use it and recommend my students do too). An abbreviation is a short way of writing something. Abbreviations follow standard forms; there is no 'inventing' them. Some short forms, like TV and UN are not abbreviations at all. They are pronounced as they are written and they are not followed by full stops. When an abbreviation occurs at the end of a sentence a closing period is required (DEA, TWA, RAF).
A full stop, not a comma, separates the two parts of a decimal in English punctuation (e.g. 23.16 and is read twenty-three point sixteen.)
Comma = (,)
Commas follow “Yes”, or “No”, at the beginning of a short response.
We use a comma between adjectives in a series (a large, black sedan). When two or more adjectives precede a noun, comma's are not usually necessary (a gloomy wet day.)
In compound sentences before the connectors. (I know him, and he knows me) However, this usage is becoming dated and out of style.
Commas separate street from city and city from state when no prepositions are used. (I live in Main Street, Lansing, Michigan).
Commas are used to separate three or more sentence parts in a series of actions when the same subject is used. (e.g. he catches the ball, turns to shoot, and scores the game winning basket. There is only one subject here (he) and three verbs in a series.)
In direct quotation a comma separates the introductory statement from the actual words of the speaker (e.g. he says, “Is that Mr. Brown?”)
Commas separate numbers into groups of thousands NOT periods. (e.g. there are 200,000,000 internet users in the United States.)
When we directly address one person by name, the addressee’s name is separated by a comma or commas. (e.g. “You know, Mr. Lincoln, we met a year ago.”)
Commas precede question tags (e.g. You are not Greek, are you?)
Commas not exclamation marks are placed after a mild exclamation, such as “oh”, or “well”. (e.g. Well, let’s go. “Oh, it that so?”)
Commas are used to set off an apposition. Both commas need to be included. (e.g. Dr. Johnson and his friend, Dr. Wright, went fishing.)
The words: hence, therefore, for example, for instance, consequently, as it were, moreover, on the other hand, on the contrary, in the first place, etc. are usually placed between commas.
After introductory adverbial phrases or clauses whenever there is a possibility of misreading (e.g.) When the house is ready for habitation, I'll let you know.
Non-defining clauses are always set off from the rest of the sentence by commas. (e.g. Jarl, who came from Iceland a year ago, is the best student in the class).
Using a comma to separate a conditional clause coming at the beginning of a sentence is now optional. (e.g. If it rains, (optional) the show will be canceled.)
Apostrophe ( ')
Apostrophe use typically shows possession and/or association. It is also specifically used to indicate when certain letters have been omitted or left out. It can be a tricky item for those whose mother tongues change word endings to indicate singular, plural, gender, or possessive cases.
There are two primary uses of the apostrophe. Namely, contractions and possessives of nouns and pronouns. It is also used to indicate plurals.
It comes from the Greek word, which literally means 'a turning away from' or, 'to turn away'.
NOUNS
With a singular noun, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe (`) and then the letter "s"....
The dog's tail = one dog
When a plural noun ends in s, the apostrophe comes after the s....
The dogs' tails = several dogs
When a plural noun ends in a letter other than s, we add (`s) to form the possessive....
The children's noses
A singular compound noun shows possession with's at the end of the word.
My mother-in-law's book
A plural compound noun receives an 's after first making the plural first.
My two sisters-in-law's houses
When two people possess the same item, we use the 's only after the second name.
Todd and Evi's house is in Greece.
CONTRACTIONS
All contractions must contain an apostrophe in the places where one or more letters have been left out.
won’t, shan’t, it’s, we’re, you're etc.
In the word o’clock, which means "of the clock".
G'day which means "good day".
