How To

How to Use Punctuation Marks Correctly

Contributor
By Victoria Ries
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

Punctuation may be confusing to some students as there is such a lot to remember; however learning bite-sized nuggets of knowledge on a regular basis assures that the student retains what he has learned and has clarity of recall when the information is required.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    A period always comes after the end of a sentence. A period also comes after initials, such as J.K. as in J.K. Rowling. Abbreviations require a period, such as info., Rd., Dr., St. Periods are used within closing quotation marks, "You can quote me on that."A comma should always be in place to divide items in a list, such as the punctuation in the following sentence: They painted the shed green, purple and orange.

  2. Step 2

    A colon used after a sentence elaborates on that sentence by interpreting or explaining in depth the sentence that precedes. Only capitalize after a colon if it is a proper noun or the beginning of a complete sentence.Colons are placed on the outside of quotation marks. The newspaper told of what the crisis, in an already destitute, poverty-stricken, third-world country meant, by reporting that Manila was suffering a "Rice Hike": Rice prices in Manila have been rising at an alarming rate, fast becoming out of financial reach of the starving masses in the slums with prices reaching 95 cents a kilo (2.2 pounds).Colons are also used for dialogue after the name of a character in a play.

  3. Step 3

    A question mark is used after a question, such as, "Whose shirt are you wearing?" When a question is part statement and part question, "We're going to town, aren't we?"

  4. Step 4

    An exclamation point is used to convey excitement and emotion, such as in the sentence that follows: "Watch out! The rope bridge won't hold all of us--it's breaking!"

Tips & Warnings
  • Write down and practice punctuation when you have a spare minute or while waiting for a bus or riding the bus home.

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