Functional English

Lecture:08

Writing Skill
Punctuation Marks

1. Period (.)

End declarative and Imperative sentences: A period is used to indicate the end of a statement,
order or request, etc.

• Example: "She loves to read novels."

• “Sit down.”

In abbreviations: A period is used in abbreviations.

• Example: "Dr. Smith will see you now."

2. Comma (,)

Separates items in a list: Commas are used to separate three or more items in a list.

• Example: "Please buy apples, bananas, and oranges."

Joins independent clauses with a conjunction: A comma is used before a conjunction (and, but,
for, nor, or, so, yet) when it connects two independent clauses.

• Example: "She went to the store, but she forgot her wallet."

Sets off introductory elements: Commas are used after introductory words, phrases, or clauses.

• Example: "In the morning, we like to go for a walk."

Sets off nonessential information: Commas are used to enclose clauses, phrases, or words that
are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

• Example: "The car, which was red, sped down the street."

Separates items in dates, addresses, and numbers: Commas are used to separate parts of
dates, addresses, and large numbers.

• Example: "He was born on July 4, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois."

3. Apostrophe(')

Possession: It’s used to show that something belongs to someone or something else.

For singular nouns, it’s placed before the “s,” while for plural nouns ending in “s,” it’s placed after
the “s.”
examples:

• The dog’s bone (singular possessive)

• The girls’ dresses (plural possessive)

Contraction: It’s used to combine two words into one by omitting letters.

For example:

• It’s (short for “it is”)

• They’re (short for “they are”)
• I’m (short for “I am”)

Remember, “it’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has,” while “its” is the possessive form of “it.”

For example:

• It’s a beautiful day. (contraction)

• The dog wagged its tail. (possessive)

4. Question Mark (?)

Indicates a direct question: A question mark is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct
question.

• Example: "Where are you going?"

Expresses doubt or uncertainty: A question mark can be used within parentheses to express
doubt or uncertainty about a statement.

• Example: "He was born in 1970 (?) in a small town."

5. Exclamation Mark (!)

Shows strong emphasis, surprise, or excitement: An exclamation mark is used at the end of a
sentence to show strong feelings or high volume.

• Example: "Wow, that was incredible!"

Indicates urgency: An exclamation mark can also indicate urgency or a command.

• Example: "Stop right there!"

6. Colon (:)

Introduces a list: A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a list.

 • Example: "There are three things I love: reading, writing, and hiking."

Introduces an explanation or quotation: A colon can introduce an explanation, elaboration, or

quotation.

• Example: "The assignment is simple: complete the worksheet by Friday."

Separates titles and subtitles: A colon is used between the title and subtitle of a work.

• Example: "Understanding Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide"

Separates hours and minutes in time notation: A colon separates hours from minutes in time
expressions.

• Example: "The meeting starts at 3:30 PM."

7. Semicolon (;)

Joins closely related independent clauses: A semicolon is used to connect two closely related
independent clauses.

• Example: "She loves to read; her favorite genres are fantasy, mystery, and romance."

Separates items in a list that contain commas: A semicolon can separate items in a complex
list where the items themselves contain commas.

• Example: "On our trip, we visited Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy."

8. Quotation Marks (" ")

Indicates direct speech: Quotation marks are used to enclose direct speech.

• Example: She said, "I'll be there at 5 o'clock."

Encloses titles of short works: Quotation marks are used around titles of short works like
articles, poems, and short stories.

• Example: Have you read "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost?

Used for ironic or unfamiliar terms: Quotation marks can indicate irony, sarcasm, or unfamiliar
terms.

• Example: The "expert" couldn't answer a single question correctly.

9. Parentheses ( )

Encloses supplementary or explanatory material: Parentheses are used to add extra

information that is not essential to the main point.
 • Example: "The weather (although unpredictable) is usually pleasant in May."

Used for citations and clarifications: Parentheses can be used to enclose citations or to clarify a
term.

• Example: "He finally arrived (late, as usual) for the meeting."

• Example: "The author (Smith, 2020) provides a detailed analysis."

10. Hyphen (-)

Joins words to indicate combined meaning: A hyphen is used to join words to create compound
terms.

• Example: "He has a well-paying job."

Separates syllables of a single word at the end of a line: A hyphen is used to split a word at the
end of a line to improve readability.

• Example: "Twenty-one students attended the field trip."

11. Ellipsis (...)

Indicates a pause, hesitation, or trailing off in speech: An ellipsis is used to show a pause or
that the speaker is trailing off.

• Example: "Well, I'm not sure..."

Indicates omitted words in a quote: An ellipsis can show that part of the text has been omitted.

• Example: "She hesitated for a moment, then said, 'I don't know...'"

paragraph: 01
The importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle cannot be overstated. Regular
physical activity offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental well-being. Not
only does it help control weight and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart
disease and diabetes, but it also improves mood and reduces stress levels. Engaging in
activities like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling for at least 30 minutes a day can
significantly enhance overall health. Additionally, exercise promotes better sleep, boosts
self-esteem, and increases energy levels. Making exercise a priority in daily routines is
essential for leading a balanced and fulfilling life.
1. Topic Sentence:

“The importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle cannot be overstated.”

• This sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph, which is the significance
of exercise for maintaining health.

2. Supporting Sentences:

a. “Regular physical activity offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental well-
being.”

• This sentence elaborates on the main idea by stating that exercise provides
multiple advantages for both physical and mental health.

b. “Not only does it help control weight and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as
heart disease and diabetes, but it also improves mood and reduces stress levels.”

• These sentences provide specific examples of the benefits of exercise, such as

weight control, disease prevention, mood improvement, and stress reduction.

c. “Engaging in activities like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling for at least 30 minutes a
day can significantly enhance overall health.”

• This sentence suggests actionable steps to achieve the benefits of exercise,

emphasizing the importance of regular physical activity for improving overall
health.

3. Concluding Sentence:

“Making exercise a priority in daily routines is essential for leading a balanced and fulfilling
life.”

• This sentence summarizes the main point of the paragraph and emphasizes the
importance of incorporating exercise into daily routines for a balanced and
fulfilling life.

Each part of the paragraph contributes to conveying the main idea effectively, from
introducing the topic to providing supporting details and concluding thoughts. This
structure helps readers understand the significance of exercise in maintaining health and
encourages them to prioritize physical activity in their lives.
Paragraph:02
Learning stuff in school can make a big difference in your life. When you go to school and
learn, it gives you more choices for jobs and can help you earn more money when you’re
older. Plus, school teaches you how to think and figure things out, which is really handy in
life. It’s important for everyone to have the chance to learn because it makes things fairer
for everyone. When we put money into education, it’s not just good for people individually,
it helps the whole community become better. That’s why it’s important to support schools
and make sure everyone has a chance to learn and do well in life.

1. Topic Sentence: “Learning stuff in school can make a big difference in your life.”

• This sentence introduces the main idea that education is impactful.

2. Supporting Sentences:

a. “When you go to school and learn, it gives you more choices for jobs and can help you
earn more money when you’re older.”

• This sentence provides an example of how education can lead to better job
opportunities and higher income.

b. “Plus, school teaches you how to think and figure things out, which is really handy in
life.”

• This sentence explains another benefit of education, which is gaining critical

thinking and problem-solving skills.

c. “It’s important for everyone to have the chance to learn because it makes things fairer
for everyone.”

• This sentence emphasizes the importance of equal access to education for

creating a fair society.

3. Concluding Sentence: “That’s why it’s important to support schools and make sure
everyone has a chance to learn and do well in life.”

• This sentence summarizes the main point of the paragraph, advocating for
supporting education initiatives to benefit both individuals and communities.