Punctuation and Mechanics

As you write papers for submission or make corrections to writing

your professor or instructor has returned, you may want to
examine the following sections to find out more about punctuation,
and mechanics. You will find handbook references and numerous
links to interactive web sites that provide instruction and practice
for these issues. Important mechanics issues include
capitalization, underlining, italicizing, and abbreviation. Many
activities are found in print materials which visitors to the Lab may
use. Also included are numerous links to interactive web sites that
are particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus
students who are unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring.
End Punctuation

The period, exclamation point, and question marks indicate the end of a sentence. The
following links are intended to help you with end punctuation marks. These links to
interactive web sites are particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus
students who are unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also come to the
writing lab to use print materials and seek additional help from the tutoring staff.
End Punctuation

o The University of Ottawa

o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

The Comma

Students often find comma usage confusing because many rules govern comma usage.
This section attempts to provide links to help you with the different types of comma rules
and how to integrate those rules into your writing. The major comma rules have been
broken into different sections for this purpose. These links to interactive web sites are
particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus students who are unable to
participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also come to the writing lab to use print
materials and seek additional help from the tutoring staff.
Independent and Dependent Clauses

o Purdue OWL
o The Writer's Web
 o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Introductory, Essentials, and Absolute Phrases

o Purdue OWL
o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Semicolon

Semicolons are traditionally used to separate main clauses. Many students have
problems with semicolons because they misuse them. This section provides links to help
you understand the usage of semicolons and how to integrate them in your own writing.
These links to interactive web sites are particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-
campus students who are unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also
come to the writing lab to use print materials and seek additional help from the tutoring
staff.
Semicolon

o The Writer's Web

o Norton /Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Apostrophe

The apostrophe is generally used to show possession, ownership, or the omission of

letters. This section provides links to help you understand the usage of apostrophes and
how to integrate them into your own writing. These links to interactive web sites are
particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus students who are unable to
participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also come to the writing lab to use print
materials and seek additional help from the tutoring staff.
Apostrophe

o The Writer's Web

o Purdue OWL
o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Quotation Marks

Quotations are generally used to show speech or something taken from another source.
Many students have problems incorporating correct punctuation marks with quotations.
This section provides links to help students understand the correct usage of quotation
 marks and is particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus students who are
unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also come to the writing lab to use
print materials and seek additional help from the tutoring staff.
Quotation Marks

o The Writer's Web

o Purdue OWL
o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Other Marks

Other marks include the colon, dash, parenthesis, ellipsis, and the slash. These marks
are not as commonly used as the above mentioned punctuation; however, understanding
their purpose can improve your writing. The following links are designed to help you
understand these marks and how to integrate them correctly into your own writing. These
links to interactive web sites are particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-
campus students who are unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also
come to the writing lab to use print materials and seek additional help from the tutoring
staff.
Other Marks

o The Writer's Web

o Purdue OWL
o Norton / Write
o The Little Seagull Handbook, 2nd ed. companion website

Capitals

Knowing when to capitalize certain words can be confusing for any student. The following
links are intended to help you with the capitalization rules. These links to interactive web
sites are particularly beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus students who are
unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. You may also come to the writing lab to use
print materials and seek additional help from the tutoring staff.

https://www.ws.edu/academics/humanities/writing-lab/punctuation-mechanics/default.shtm

Walters State Community College

500 South Davy Crockett Parkway Morristown, TN 37813-6899
phone: 423.585.2600 toll free: 800.225.4770
Grammar

Important grammatical issues include fragments; fused sentences;

comma splices; subject-verb agreement; verb form and tense; and
pronoun case, reference and agreement. You can find out more
about these and other grammar concerns by clicking below on the
different links. These links to interactive web sites are particularly
beneficial for online, evening, and off-campus students who are
unable to participate in face-to-face tutoring. Some grammar
topics are also covered in this site's Resources section, such as
links for the most common grammatical errors. You may also
come to the writing lab to use print materials and seek additional
help from the tutoring staff.