PUNCTUATION RULES Abigail Lobo

Denilson Rodríguez
 Punctuation Rules

Proper punctuation can make or break the impact of an otherwise well-

constructed sentence. These basic rules can strengthen your sentences with
the punctuation they deserve, so that the quality of your ideas is
communicated with precision and clarity.

Punctuation can make an enormous

difference in the meaning of whatever it
is you’re writing.
 Commas indicate a separation of
ideas or elements within the
structure of a sentence.

Commas
Commas are used to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses (sentence
parts).
• The entree includes chips, salsa, and a beverage.

Commas are used between independent clauses (complete sentences) joined by a

coordinating conjunction: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

 My family went to see the movie Toy Story, but I stayed home with the flu.
Commas After Introductory Words and Clauses

• Quietly, she ran past the sleeping man. (adverbs)

• Wow, my sister came home from college. (interjections)

• If I see your sister, I'll call you. (subordinate adverb clauses)

Commas With Numbers
When a number is over 999, use commas to separate the numbers.

 I paid $5,300 for my new boat.

 The house is $800,000.
Commas With Dates and Addresses

 November 1, 2015
 I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
 Send the package to 5154 Smith Street, Los Angeles, California,
92674.
 Ending sentences

Use these to end declarative sentences and

imperative sentences.

PERIOD Abbreviations (shortened forms of words)

 I spoke with Sgt. Johnson about the troops.

More examples:
Ms. Miss.
Mr. Mirs.
 Semicolons Use these to separate two complete sentences that are
closely related.

• I want to the play; my cousin was the main actor.

Semicolons join two independent clauses

(complete sentences) that are closely
related if no coordinating conjunction is
used. Semicolons help avoid confusion between items
in lists where there are already commas.
 Megan said she was tired; she had
stayed up late cutting giraffe-shaped  She traveled to Bogotá, Colombia; Alajuela,
holes out of foreign newspapers. Costa Rica; and, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
PRACTICE