Punctuation
PERIOD | COMMA | SEMICOLON |
. | , | ; |
means
STOP | Means
SLIGHT PAUSE | means a
LONGER PAUSE
to separate sentence parts |
COLON | QUESTION MARK | EXCLAMATION POINT |
: | ? | ! |
means WAIT
– something to follow | means the sentence
is a QUESTION | Means
SURPRISE |
HYPHEN | DASH | PARENTHESES |
- | — | ( ) |
joins
WORDS or SYLLABLES together | means a
SUDDEN BREAK
in thought | enclose
SUPPLEMENTARY thoughts |
UNDERLINES | QUOTATION MARKS | APOSTROPHE |
_____ | “ ” | ’ |
are used for
EMPHASIS and TITLES | enclose a
DIRECT QUOTATION | means
POSSESSION or OMISSION |
Punctuation is used to make written words more clearly understood. Notice how different punctuation changes the meaning in the following sentences.
Mark thought Gabriela seemed happy.
Mark thought: Gabriela seemed happy...
Mark thought Gabriela seemed happy?
"Mark," thought Gabriela, "seemed happy."
Mark thought, "Gabriela seemed happy!"
Punctuation is used to represent in writing the different tones and pauses used when speaking.