7. 1.“The Schoolmaster,” Says the Inspector “is a fool.”
2. The Schoolmaster says, “The Inspector is a fool.”
8. •When we speak, we make certain pauses in order to make
our meaning clear or to emphasize what we say.
•In writing we attempt to reproduce these pauses by points or
signs. The reason to use these points and signs is to make the
passage more intelligible to the reader.
• Punctuation is the art of indicating with greater clearness,
by points or stops, the meaning of sentences, and the pauses
to be made in reading and speaking.
The names of different points, stops and marks used for
punctuation, and their different uses are:
9. 1. The Comma (,)
• The comma represents the shorter pause.
• A frequent use of the comma makes the style jerky and is
to be avoided.
• It should be used only where a slight pause is necessary
to make the meaning clear.
The following rules may be laid down for the use of this
pause.
10. • The comma is used to show a separation of ideas
or elements within the structure of a sentence.
• Additionally, it is used in numbers, dates and letter
writing after the salutation and closing.
11. To separate a series of words in the same construction
when only the last two are connected by ‘and’:
• England, Italy and France made an alliance.
• He lost land, money and friends.
To separate each pair of words connected by and:
• High and low, rich and poor, wise and foolish all must
die.
• Confused and disillusioned, sad and dispirited, weary
and broken he died at last a miserable death.
12. After an absolute action:
• This done, she returned to the old man with a lovely
smile.
• The sun having set, we all went home.
To mark off an address or vocative:
• John, come here.
• Father, here is your book.
13. To mark off a noun in apposition:
• Milton, the great English poet, was blind.
• Jinnah, the great leader, believes in hard work.
To indicate the omission of a word especially a
verb:
• He was a Brahmin; she, a Rajput.
• Wealth is good; health, better.
• We respect deeds; they, words.
14. To mark off a direct quotation from the rest of the sentence
when it is shorter than three lines.
• The man shouted, “I was the first to come here.”
• He exclaimed, “For Heaven’s sake, come quick!”
To separate short co-ordinate clauses of a compound
sentence as:
• The rains descended, and the floods came.
• I came, I saw, I conquered.
• The way was long, the wind was cold.
15. Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the
year and after the year.
• She talked to her husband on December 5, 2003, in Mill
Valley, California.
If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma
• They talked in December 2003, in Mill Valley.
Use a comma to separate a city from its state.
• I am from East Lansing, Michigan.
16. 2.The Semicolon (;)
The semicolon is the point in value between the comma
and the colon. It is used to introduce a greater pause in
thought than comma would give.
A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single
sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related
in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more
ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal
position or rank.
• Some people write with a word processor; others write
with a pen or pencil.
17. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are
connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.
• However they choose to write, people are allowed to make
their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their
writing methods.
• Reports of the damage caused by the hurricane were greatly
exaggerated; indeed, the storm was not a “hurricane” at all.
18. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a
coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated
with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.
Some people write with a word processor, tablet, or even a
phone; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a
pen or pencil.
19. Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of
the items contain commas.
• There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil,
which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer
and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.
• I need the weather statistics for the following cities: London,
England; London, Ontario; Paris, France; Paris, Ontario;
Perth, Scotland; Perth, Ontario.
20. 3. The Colon (:)
The colon is a point in value halfway between the
semicolon and the full stop.
• Use the colon after the greeting of the person’s
name in a business letter.
Dear Mr. Smith:
21. • Used before a list of names and enumeration of particulars:
Jane Austen best known works are the following:
Emma, Pride and prejudice, Mansfield park, Sense and
Sensibility.
The eight parts of speech are these:
• Used to introduce a series of clauses:
You must now hear, what I have to say about the uses of iron:
We sleep on iron, we travel on iron; we float on iron; we plough
the fields with iron; we shoot with iron…
22. • To introduce quotation.
Introduce the quotation with a complete sentence and a
colon.
In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," Thoreau states
directly his purpose for going into the woods: "I went to the
woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the
essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had
to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not
lived."
• This quotation from Tennyson is to the point: “It is better
to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.”
23. • Use the colon to introduce a direct quotation that is
more than three lines in length. In this situation, leave
a blank line above and below the quoted material.
Quotation marks are not used.
Example: The author wrote in the first chapter:
Georgia went back to her room and stared at the intricate
patterns of burned moth wings in the clear glass of the
overhead light. She felt herself as pitiable as the burnt moth.
She could not manage the stress and anxiety she was
experiencing this moment. The world was seeming odd to
her.
:
24. 4.Full Stop or Period (.)
The Period is used to separate complete sentences. The full
stop presents the greatest pause and separation.
It is used to mark the end of declarative or imperative
sentences.
He finished his work on time.
25. The full stop is also used in abbreviations and
after initials.
• M.A Masters of arts
• A.D Anno Domini means in the year of lord
• B.C Before Christ
• G.P.A for Grade Point Average
• Sir Winston S. Churchill
26. 5.The Apostrophe (‘)
The Apostrophe is employed:
To indicate the possessive case as
• Jack’s latest speech
• The boys’ school is far away.
• Parent’s responsibilities.
• Women’s College
27. To denote the omission of letters
• Don’t for Do not
• O’clock for of clock
• I’ll for I will
• Hon’ble for honorable
• Tho’ for though
28. 6.The Dash (--)
•
•
• The dash (—) is a mark of punctuation used to set
off a word or phrase after an independent clause or
a parenthetical remark (words, phrases, or clauses
that interrupt a sentence).
• A dash is a mark of separation stronger than
a comma, less formal than a colon, and more
relaxed than parentheses."
.
29. The dash is used to mark of abrupt turn or
break in a sentence.
• Here lies the great--False marble, where?
• If my husband were alive--but why lament the
past?
30. There are two types of dashes: the en dash and the em
dash.
En Dash (–)
Slightly wider than a hyphen, the en dash is a symbol
(–) that is used in writing or printing to indicate ranges
of dates, times, or page numbers.
such as
• 1880–1945 or Princeton–New York trains..
• He worked from 9–5.
• The festival will take place March, 15–31.
• For your homework, read pages 49–64.
31. Em Dash (—)
Twice as long as the en dash, the em dash can be used in place
of a comma, parenthesis, or colon to enhance readability or
emphasize the conclusion of a sentence.
For example, She gave him her answer — No!
Whether you put spaces around the em dash or not is, again, a
style choice. Just be consistent.
• The crocodile—who knows what he was doing in the bathroom
in the first place—used all my shower gel.
• It took several people to lift the enormous pumpkin—John,
Graham, Tim and Edward.
32. 7.Hyphen, (-)
A hyphen is a much shorter line than dash. It is used for:
Joining parts of compound words
• Jack-of-all-trades
• Kind-hearted
• Well-known
• Father-in-law
At the end of the line where part of a word is carried over to
the next line.
toler-
-ate
33. 8.Brackets or Parenthesis ( )
Parentheses are used to contain further thoughts or
qualifying remarks. However, parentheses can be replaced
by commas without changing the meaning in most cases.
• He gained from Heaven (it was all he wished) a friend.
• Before giving answer to his question (which will be a
serious matter) there will be a preliminary enquiry.
34. Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters
used for listed items.
Example:
We need an emergency physician who can (1) think quickly, (2)
treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the
public.
35. 9.Inverted Commas or Quotation marks
There are double (“ “) or single (‘ ‘) quotation marks.
Double inverted commas are used to mark of direct
quotation.
He exclaimed, “I would rather die than join the oppressors of
my country.”
36. If a quotation occurs within a quotation it is
marked by single quotation marks.
• “But it is in his descriptions of ‘high life below stairs’
that Emily Zola excels”, He said.
• I said to my friend, "Not everybody can speak, as an
Irish man begins an after-dinner speech saying,
‘The curse of my country is that every man is born an
orator’ but it is not so in our country.”
37. • Marie told the teacher, "I saw Marc at the
playground, and he said to me 'Bill started the fight,'
and I believed him."
38. 10.Note of Exclamation (!)
A Note of Exclamation is used after words or sentences
that express:
Strong emotion
What a terrible fire it is!
A wish
Long live the King!
40. 11.Note of Interrogation (?)
The note of interrogation is used instead of full stop to
mark off the end of sentences which ask questions.
• What is truth?
• How long did you stay?
41. 12.Ellipsis (…)
It is most commonly represented by three periods (. . . ) although
it is occasionally demonstrated with three asterisks (***).
• The ellipsis is used in writing or printing to indicate an
omission, especially of words.
• Ellipses are frequently used within quotations to jump from
one phrase to another, omitting unnecessary words that do not
interfere with the meaning.
Students writing research papers or newspapers quoting parts
of speeches will often employ ellipsis to avoid copying lengthy
text that is not needed.
42. • Omission of words: She began to count, "One, two, three,
four…" until she got to 20, then went to find him.
• Within a quotation: When Newton stated, "An object at rest
stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion..." he
developed the law of motion.
