Sabtu, 09 Mei 2015
Punctuation is used to create sense, clarity and stress in sentences.
You use punctuation marks to structure and organise your writing.
You can quickly see why punctuation is important if you try and read this sentence which has no punctuation at all:
perhaps you dont always need to use commas periods colons etc to
make sentences clear when i am in a hurry tired cold lazy or angry i
sometimes leave out punctuation marks grammar is stupid i can write
without it and dont need it my uncle Harry once said he was not very
clever and i never understood a word he wrote to me i think ill learn
some punctuation not too much enough to write to Uncle Harry he needs
some help
Now let's see if punctuating it makes a difference!
Perhaps you don't always need to use commas, periods, colons etc.
to make sentences clear. When I am in a hurry, tired, cold, lazy, or
angry I sometimes leave out punctuation marks. "Grammar is stupid! I can
write without it and don't need it," my uncle Harry once said. He was
not very clever, and I never understood a word he wrote to me. I think
I'll learn some punctuation - not too much, enough to write to Uncle
Harry. He needs some help!
Use the pages in this punctuation section to learn how to make your English clearer and better organised.
The Period, Full Stop or Point
The
period (known as a full stop in British English) is probably the
simplest of the punctuation marks to use. You use it like a knife to cut
the sentences to the required length. Generally, you can break up the
sentences using the full stop at the end of a logical and complete
thought that looks and sounds right to you.
Mark the end of a sentence which is not a question or an exclamation
Examples
- Rome is the capital of Italy.
- I was born in Australia and now live in Indonesia.
- The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
Indicate an abbreviation
Many abbreviations require a period. Dr, Mr, Mrs, and Ms do not take a period in British English, nor do most abbreviations taken from the first capital letters such as MA, Phd, or CIA. In American English, some of these do require periods or both usages are correct (with and without periods). If you require 100% accuracy in your punctuation, refer to a detailed style guide for the abbreviation usage rules in the variety of English you are using.Examples
- I will arrive between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.
- We are coming on Fri., Jan. 4.
Ellipsis
Often you will see a sentence concluding with three dots. This indicates that only part of the sentence or text has been quoted or that it is being left up to the reader to complete the thought.Examples
- The Lord's Prayer begins, "Our Father which art in Heaven...'"
- He is always late, but you know how I feel about that...
Period after a single word
Sometimes a single word can form the sentence. In this case you place a fullstop after the word as you would in any other sentence. This is often the case when the subject is understood as in a greeting or a command.Examples
- "Goodbye."
- "Stop."
Periods in numbers
Numbers use periods in English to separate the whole number from the decimal. A period used in a number is also called a "decimal point" and it is read "point" unless it refers to money.Examples
- 10.43$ = ten dollars and 43 cents
- 14.17 = fourteen point one seven
The Comma
There are some general rules which you can apply when using the comma. However, you will find that in English there are many other ways to use the comma to add to the meaning of a sentence or to emphasise an item, point, or meaning.
Although we are often taught that commas are used to help us add 'breathing spaces' to sentences they are, in fact, more accurately used to organise blocks of thought or logical groupings. Most people use commas to ensure that meaning is clear and, despite grammatical rules, will drop a comma if their meaning is retained without it.
Separate phrases, words, or clauses in lists
When making a list, commas are the most common way to separate one list item from the next. The final two items in the list are usually separated by "and" or "or", which should be preceeded by a comma. Amongst editors this final comma in a list is known as the "Oxford Comma".A series of independant clauses (sentences)
Examples
- I met Harry, we went for a swim together, and afterwards Harry went home.
- I like your son, I might even love him, but he is not a very good soccer player.
a series of nouns
Examples
- For dinner I had soup, fish, chicken, dessert, and coffee.
- This afternoon I went to Oxford Circus, Picadilly, Hamstead, and Gatwick Airport.
a series of adjectives
A list of adjectives usually requires commas. However, if an adjective is modifying another adjective you do not separate them with a comma (sentence 3).Examples
- She was young, beautiful, kind, and intelligent.
- The house we visited was dark, dreary, and run-down.
- She was wearing a bright red shirt.
a series of verbs
Examples
- Tony ran towards me, fell, yelled, and fainted.
- The boy leapt, spun, twisted, and dove into the water.
a series of phrases
Examples
- The car smashed into the wall, flipped onto its roof, slid along the road, and finally stopped against a tree.
- The dog leapt into the air, snatched the frisbee in its mouth, landed, and ran off into the forest.
Enclosing details
Use a comma to enclose non-defining relative clauses and other non-essential details and comments. The comma is placed on either side of the insertion.Examples
- China, one of the most powerful nations on Earth, has a huge population.
- Jason's grandmother, who was born in 1930, lived through the Second World War.
- Cats, unlike dogs, do not respect their masters.
- My friend, Jim, likes to go scuba diving.
Participial phrases
Examples
- Hearing that her father was in hospital, Jane left work immediately.
- Walking to the bus stop that morning, Sam knew it was going to be a special day.
Tag questions
Examples
- She lives in Paris, doesn't she?
- We haven't met, have we?
Interjections
Examples
- Yes, I will stay a little longer, thank you.
- No, he isn't like other boys.
- Wait, I didn't mean to scare you.
A final warning
Putting a comma in the wrong place can lead to a sentence with a completely different meaning, look at these two sentences:I detest liars like you; I believe that honesty is the best policy. = I detest you because you are a liar.
I detest liars, like you; I believe that honesty is the best policy. = You and I both detest liars.
The Exlamation Mark
The
exclamation mark is used to express exasperation, astonishment, or
surprise, or to emphasise a comment or short, sharp phrase. In
professional or everyday writing, exclamation marks are used sparingly
if at all.
You can also use exclamation marks to mark a phrase as humourous, ironic or sarcastic.
In very informal writing styles (SMS, chat, Twitter or Facebook,
etc.), an exclamation mark is sometimes combined with a question mark to
indicate both surprise and slight uncertainty. Double and triple
exclamation marks are common in very informal writing styles, but are a
sign of being uneducated in less casual correspondance.
Examples
- Help! Help!
- That's unbelievable!
- Get out!
- Look out!
Examples
- What a lovely day! (when it obviously is not a lovely day)
- That was clever! (when someone has done something stupid)
Examples of casual writing
- He's getting married!?
- That's insane!!!
The Question Mark
Use the question mark at the end of all direct questions.
Do not use a question mark for reported questions
Long questions still need question marks
Question marks can sometimes appear within sentences
The Colon
Examples
- What is your name?
- Do you speak Italian?
- You're spanish, aren't you?
Examples
- He asked me what my name was.
- She asked if I was Spanish.
- Ask them where they are going.
Examples
- Isn't it true that global warming is responsible for more and more problems which are having a disastrous effect on the world's climate and leading to many millions of people in countries that can least afford it having to contend with more and more hardship?
- Why is it that even though you are unkind to me, ignore me when I ask you for help, and consistently forget to thank me when I do favors for you, you still claim to want me to be your friend and appear surprised when I prefer to hang out with other people?
Examples
- There is cause for concern (isn't there?) that the current world economic balance is so fragile that it may lead to a global economic downturn.
- "Why is she here?" asked Henry.
The
colon expands on the sentence that precedes it, often introducing a
list that demonstrates or elaborates whatever was previously stated.
The colon is also used to divide the hour from the minutes in writing a time in English.
Examples
- There are many reasons for poor written communication: lack of planning, poor grammar, misuse of punctuation marks, and insufficient vocabulary.
- He collected a strange assortment of items: bird's eggs, stamps, bottle tops, string, and buttons.
- Peter had an eclectic taste in music: latin, jazz, country and western, pop, blues, and classical.
- He had just one fault: an enormous ego.
Examples
- 4:15 = "four fifteen"
- 6:45 = "six fourty-five"
