![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-6.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPeriod (.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The period<\/strong> is also called full stop<\/em> in England. A period declares the end of a sentence. It also indicates the separation of sentences so that the readers cannot mix up different sentences. A period is used at the end of a sentence which is complete and not a question or an exclamatory sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex was a little boy when he first saw a person dying. He was so shocked and panicked that he could not sleep for several days. He still fears the sight of someone\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The period<\/strong> is also used in abbreviations<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The note of interrogation<\/strong> is used to complete sentences that form a direct question. Indirect questions are regarded as statements, and they take periods<\/strong>, not question marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you know he was watching TV all day long while I was cleaning the house for the party that we want to throw on this weekend? (It\u2019s a long sentence, yet it is a direct question.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you once think about your family? Your career? Your future? Your life? (Series of questions using the same subject and verb)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What? \u2013 So? \u2013 Right? (Single word questions are used only in informal writing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The note of exclamation<\/strong> indicates excitement, either positive or negative. It can also be used for giving additional emphasis to sentences, phrases, or single words, and especially to commands and interjections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: <\/strong>It is best to avoid using a note of exclamation whenever the excitement can be described in words. You should be meticulous in using this punctuation in any form of writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The comma<\/strong> is the most useful and common punctuation mark in English. It has many important roles in making a written form of English easy to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas usually add breathing scope for the readers in sentences, so that their thoughts cannot get all jumbled up. A comma has many uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n i. Comma between Independent Clauses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, a comma separates two independent clauses when they are connected by certain coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, <\/em>or for<\/em>). However, if the clauses are very short, no comma is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ii. Comma after Introductory Clauses, Phrases, and Expression<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used not only between independent clauses but also after introductory clauses and phrases. Some expressions and connectors which are placed at the beginning of a sentence also require a comma after them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: <\/strong>A good way to clear the confusion about commas is to read the sentence aloud to make sure whether there is enough pause taken or not for using a comma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n iii. Series Comma<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used to separate multiple items of the same category in a series. These items can be a series of words, phrases, or clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n iv. Comma before Tag Question<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used before a tag question<\/em> which is usually a reassuring statement of a sentence\u2019s overall idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n v. Comma in Direct Address<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used in vocative<\/em> uses. Calling someone by name or directly referring to them requires separation by commas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n vi. Comma for Adding Nonessential Ideas and Nonrestrictive Clauses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas can be used to add nonessential ideas or facts in the form of words, phrases, or clauses into a sentence. Usually removing these ideas from sentences does not affect the grammatical accuracy of the sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n vii. Commas in Names and Dates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used to separate names of places and dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n viii. Commas in Dialog<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Commas are used in the dialog to set off the indirect speech from the direct speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Commas do not separate two verbs or verb phrases joined by a coordinator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect:<\/strong> I cleaned, and painted the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Correct:<\/strong> I cleaned and painted the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Commas do not separate two nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses which are joined by a conjunction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect:<\/strong> My coach, and our board president both sent letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Correct:<\/strong> My coach and our board president both sent letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Subordinate clauses do not need commas when they are joined by a conjunction between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect:<\/strong> I\u2019ll be late if you don\u2019t let me go now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Correct:<\/strong> I\u2019ll be late if you don\u2019t let me go now. (If you don\u2019t let me go now, I\u2019ll be late.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colons<\/strong> are the least used punctuation mark. The usage of colons is limited. Yet, if you know how to use them, you will be able to use them in your writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n i.<\/strong> Colons are used in the salutations of formal letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ii.<\/strong> Colons sometimes introduce a series\/list to describe some new information after a complete sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect:<\/strong> The fruit seller had: bananas, apples, and oranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Correct:<\/strong> The fruit seller had three kinds of fruit: bananas, apples, and oranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n iii. <\/strong>A colon is also used to connect two independent clauses where the first one explains the second clause or logically follows it. The first word after a colon usually is not capitalized unless the colon introduces a series of new sentences or independent clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n iv.<\/strong> Colons are used for expressing TIME in figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Semicolons are almost like periods, but they connect two independent clauses or sentences together instead of using a coordinating conjunction. Semicolons between the two clauses or sentences indicate that the clauses are closely related. Semicolons can be replaced by the coordinating conjunctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> We do not need a car now; we want to sell it. (This semicolon could be replaced by \u2018and\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common transitional expressions such as therefore, for instance, namely, indeed, additionally, further, moreover, likewise<\/em>, and finally<\/em> are used after a semicolon to start a new clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hyphens combine words together to make Compound Nouns\/Adjectives. Hyphens are also used with some suffixes and prefixes, such as –like<\/em>, –wise, anti<\/em>-, and post<\/em>– to make new adjectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Compound numbers and continuous numbers require hyphen<\/strong> in them. A hyphen is used with compound numbers from 21 to 99 in words and with fractions which work as adjectives in the sentence. Fractions which are nouns don\u2019t need hyphens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A dash<\/strong> hints a brief break in thought or helps to add information to a sentence. A dash has no space before or after it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A dash can replace the conjunctions such as namely, that is, <\/em>or in other words <\/em>to add new information or explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An apostrophe indicates possession and the exclusion of letters in contractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Quotation<\/strong> marks<\/strong> are used for enclosing direct quotations<\/em> of written or spoken words of others, or dialog<\/em> said by characters in fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are also called quote marks<\/em> or just quotes<\/em> for short. The first of the pair is the opening<\/em> or open quote<\/em>. It curves to the right: \u201c \u2018. The second one is the closing<\/em> or close quote<\/em>. It curves to the left: \u2019 \u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parentheses<\/em><\/strong> block off materials that interrupt the text to add information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Brackets<\/em> enclose the additional things in the quoted material. These additions are used for clarifications of the words or phrases of the quoted materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Brackets are also required to block off materials that fall within materials which are already enclosed by parentheses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There was no punctuation in any languages of ancient times. With the advancement of civilization, punctuation was introduced in the written form of the language to help a reader distinguish words and ideas from each other and to mirror the natural rhythms of the spoken language. This article will cover proper usage of some of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[238],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudassirbackup.infinitycodestudio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNote of Interrogation (Question Mark) (?)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNote of Exclamation (Exclamation mark\/point) (!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nComma (,)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common Mistakes with Commas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nColon (:)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSemicolon (;)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mdr.foobrdigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/punctuation-question-mark-usage-5.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHyphen (-)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dash (\u2013)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Apostrophe (\u2019)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Quotation Marks (\u2018…\u2019\/\u201c… … ..\u201d)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Parentheses – ()<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Brackets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n