This document is a chapter about punctuation from a textbook. It provides instruction on the proper uses of various punctuation marks including periods, question marks, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, exclamation marks, dashes, parentheses, hyphens, quotation marks, capital letters, numbers and abbreviations. The chapter also includes examples and practice questions to test the reader's understanding of punctuation rules.

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2. CHAPTER 27: PUNCTUATION
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3. CHAPTER OUTLINE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter, you will learn to:
 demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
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4. THE PERIOD
 Periods are used in two ways:
1. Use a period to mark the end of a sentence that
makes a statement.
2. Use a period after abbreviations.
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5. THE QUESTION MARK
 Use a question mark after a direct question.
 If a question is not a direct question, it does not get
a question mark.
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6. THE COMMA
 There are four main ways to use a comma: as a
lister, a linker, an introducer, or an inserter.
 Use a Comma as a Lister
 Commas support items in a series.
 These items can be words, phrases, or clauses.
 Use a Comma as a Linker
 A comma and a coordinating conjunction link two
independent clauses.
 The comma is placed in front of the coordinating
conjunction.
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7. THE COMMA
 Use a Comma as an Introducer
 Put a comma after introductory words, phrases,
or clauses in a sentence.
 Use a Comma as an Inserter
 When words or phrases that are not necessary
are inserted into a sentence, put a comma on
both sides of the inserted material. Kim, an
awesome person, is my teacher.
 Other Ways to Use a Comma
1. Use commas with quotations.
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8. THE COMMA
2. Use commas with dates and addresses.
3. Use commas in numbers.
4. Use commas for clarity.
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9. THE SEMICOLON
 Two ways to use semicolons:
1. Use a semicolon to join two independent
clauses.
2. Use semicolons to separate the items on a list
that contains commas.
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10. THE COLON
 A colon is used at the end of a complete statement.
 It introduces a list or an explanation.
 A colon may also introduce long quotations.
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11. THE APOSTROPHE
 Use the apostrophe in the following ways:
1. Use an apostrophe in contractions to show that
letters or numbers have been omitted.
2. Use an apostrophe to show possession. If a
word does not end in s, show ownership by
adding an apostrophe and s.
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12. THE EXCLAMATION MARK
 The exclamation mark is used at the end of
sentences that express strong emotion.
 Use it sparingly.
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13. THE DASH
 Use a dash to interrupt a sentence.
 It usually indicates a dramatic shift in tone or
thought.
 Two dashes set off dramatic words that interrupt a
sentence.
 Use them sparingly.
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14. PARENTHESES
 Use parentheses to enclose extra material and
afterthoughts.
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15. THE HYPHEN
 A hyphen joins two or more descriptive words that
act as a single word.
 Use a hyphen in the written form of compound
numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
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16. QUOTATION MARKS
 Use quotation marks for direct quotes, for the titles
of short works, and for other special uses.
1. Put quotation marks around direct quotes, a speaker or
writer’s exact words.
2. Put quotation marks around the titles of short works.
3. Put quotation marks around words mentioned as words
in a sentence.
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17. CAPITAL LETTERS
 Ten main situations in which you capitalize:
1. Capitalize the first word of every sentence.
2. Capitalize the first word in a direct quotation if
the word begins a sentence.
3. Capitalize the names of persons.
4. Capitalize the titles of persons.
5. Always capitalize countries, cities, languages,
nationalities, religions, races, months, days of
the week, documents, organizations, holidays,
and historical events or periods.
6. Capitalize the names of particular places.
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18. CAPITAL LETTERS
7. Use capital letters for geographic locations.
8. Capitalize the names of specific products.
9. Capitalize the names of specific school courses.
10. Capitalize the first and last words in the titles of
long or short works, and capitalize all other
significant words in the titles.
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19. NUMBERS
 Spell out numbers that take one or two words
 Use the numbers themselves if it takes more than
two words to spell them out.
 Also, use numbers to write dates, times, addresses,
and parts of a book.
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20. ABBREVIATIONS
 Abbreviate Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr., Sr., and Dr. when
they are used with a proper name.
 You should abbreviate references to time and to
organizations widely known by initials.
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21. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ONE OF THE
FOUR MAIN WAYS TO USE A COMMA?
A. Use comma as a lister
B. Use comma as an introducer
C. Use comma as a linker
D. Use comma as a listener
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22. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ONE OF THE
FOUR MAIN WAYS TO USE A COMMA?
A. Use comma as a lister
B. Use comma as an introducer
C. Use comma as a linker
D. Use comma as a listener
Demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

23. WHICH PUNCTUATION MARK IS USED TO
JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES?
A. comma
B. colon
C. parentheses
D. semicolon
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24. WHICH PUNCTUATION MARK IS USED TO
JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES?
A. comma
B. colon
C. parentheses
D. semicolon
Demonstrate proficiency in basic punctuation skills,
including (but not limited to) the proper use of
commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes,
parentheses, numbers, capital letters, and
abbreviations.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.