Punctuation :- Punctuation is a mark or symbol which is used to separate and clarify the meaning of sentences and written elements.
There are 16 punctuation marks in English, They are:
(i) Full Stop/ period ( . )
(ii) Question mark/ Sign of interrogation ( ? )
(iii) Exclamation point/mark ( ! )
(iv) Coma ( , )
(v) Colon ( : )
(vi) Semicolon ( ; )
(vii) Em Dash ( _ )
(viii) En Dash ( _ )
(ix) Hyphen ( - )
(x) Parentheses ( . )
(xi) Brackets [ ]
(xii) Braces { }
(xiii) Apostrophe ( ' )
(xiv) Quotation marks ( " " )
(xv) Singh Quotation marks ( ' ' )
(xvi) Ellipsis ( -------- )
Uses of Punctuation marks:-
(1) Period/ Full Stop ( . )
The ( . ) is called a period or Full Stop. The period actually serves two purposes in grammar.
The full stop . is used at the end of a complete sentence, after signature and abbreviation.
When it appears at the end of a declarative sentence, it ends the sentence. The period can also indicate that a word is an abbreviation.
As a sentence ender - Ram and Rahul went to the market.
After an abbreviation - Dr. Sarvepalli was born on Sep. 5, 1888.
(2) Question Mark ( ? )
A Question mark or Interrogation mark is a punctuation mark. It is used to indicate that a sentence is a question. It is used at the end of the Interrogative sentence. It resembles a hooked line with a dot underneath. ( ? )
The ? is called a question mark. Question marks ask direct questions, which are also known as interrogative sentences. They can also express confusion.
Interrogative sentence -
(i) When did Rahul leave for the market?
(ii) How are you?
( iii) Where do you live?
Expressing confusion - Why do we have so much homework?
(3) Exclamation Point ( ! )
A Exclamation mark is a punctuation mark.
It is used after an interjection or Exclamation and exclamatory sentence to indicate strong feelings or to show emphasis.
The ! is called an exclamation point. Exclamation points are punctuation marks that show a sudden outcry in writing.
They also emphasize a point more strongly than a period.
Ex. (i) What a surprise!
(ii) That is great !
(iii) How sad this is !
(iv) My God !
(v) Oh, that is excellent !
Sudden outcry - "Holy cow!" screamed Jane.
To emphasize a point - My mother-in-law's rants make me furious!
(4) Comma ( , )
The , is called a comma. Commas separate ideas or elements within the structure of a sentence. They also appear in numbers, dates, and letter writing after the salutation and closing.
Direct address - Thanks for all your help, John.
Separating two complete sentences - We went to the movies, and then we went out to lunch.
Separating elements in a list - Suzi wanted the black, green, and blue dress.
(5) Colon ( : )
The : is called a colon. Colons introduce a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series. They can also clarify information or emphasize an important word or phrase.
Introducing a series - He was planning to study four subjects: politics, philosophy, sociology, and economics.
Clarifying information - I didn't have time to get changed: I was already late.
Emphasizing an important phrase - There was one thing she loved more than any other: her dog.
(6) Semicolon ( ; )
The ; is called a semicolon.
Semicolons are punctuation marks that connect independent clauses to show a closer relationship between the clauses than a period would. They can also separate items in a list that already include commas.
Connecting independent clauses - John was hurt; he knew she only said it to upset him.
Items in a list - I’ve visited Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles, California; and St. Louis, Missouri.
(7) Em Dash ( — )
An em dash is a punctuation mark that can be used to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and semicolons. In general, the em dash is seen as being more interruptive or striking than other punctuation, so it is often used stylistically to draw a reader’s attention to a particular bit of information. The em dash resembles a horizontal line (—) that is longer than both a hyphen (-) and an en dash
The — is called an em dash. Em dashes set off information from the rest of the sentence. They can also show emphasis to a word or phrase.
You can add spaces to either side of an em dash, depending on your style guide.
I think something might be wrong with Jeff—he thinks he is a squirrel.
Ex.
I love kittens—who doesn’t?—but that doesn’t mean I want to adopt 50 of them.
It turns out that Mr. Green—a man I always suspected—was the true culprit.
Here are some more examples em dashes in sentences. He asked—well, more like demanded—to be given the promotion. They had three granddaughters—Elizabeth, Jane, and Kitty. She graduated college—with honors—with a degree in software engineering.
Setting off information - My best friend — whom I’ve known since I was a kid — is moving away.
Showing emphasis - The house was beautiful — but haunted.
(8) En Dash ( – )
An en dash is a midsize dash (longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash) that is mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates. It can also be used for clarity in forming complex compound adjectives. The en dash derives its name from the fact that it is meant to be the same width as the letter N.
Or,
The – is called an en dash. En dashes are shorter than em dashes, and they indicate a range or connection between numbers or words.
You don’t need to use spaces on either side of an en dash.
Indicating range - The Civil War (1861–1865) made a lasting impact in the United States.
Indicating connection - When does the Denver–Dallas flight arrive?
(9) Hyphen ( - )
A Hyphen is a punctuation mark. It is used two words or word parts to make a new word. It is used at the end of a line to divide a word where there is no enough space for the whole word. It can be used to connect a prefix or suffix to a root word.
The - is called a hyphen. Hyphens are even shorter than en dashes. They join two or more words together to make compound nouns, compound adjectives, and compound numbers.
Compound noun - My sister-in-law works as a pastry chef.
Compound adjective - The well-known author signed autographs for his fans.
Compound number - Cory can count all the way to ninety-nine.
( Self-assured, ex-mayor, all-knowing)
(10) Parentheses ( )
The ( ) are called parentheses.
Parentheses add further thoughts or qualifying remarks to a sentence. They separate these phrases from the rest of the sentence.
Further thought - John and Jane (who are brother and sister) both have red hair.
Qualifying remarks - Add any special skills (typing, organization, training, and so on) to your resume.
(11) Brackets [ ]
The [ ] are called brackets. Brackets clarify meaning in a quote by adding words or the phrase sic. They also form parenthetical statements inside larger parenthetical statements (called nesting parentheses).
Adding words to a quote - “He [Mr. Jones] was the last person seen at the house,” reported the detective.
Adding sic to a quote - “Our team issues no further statments [sic] at this time.”
Nesting parentheses - We decided to go to the Grand Canyon (my [childhood] dream) this summer.
(12) Braces { }
The { } are called braces. Braces contain sets of numerical or specialized information to show that they are considered as a unit.
You won’t often see braces in writing, but you’ll see them around groups of numbers and mathematical expressions.
Grouping numbers - The teacher wrote a set of numbers {6, 9, 12} on the board.
Mathematical expression - (2{1+[23-3]}=x)
(13) Apostrophe ( ‘ )
A Apostrophe is a punctuation mark. It is used to form possessive noun. It is used to show the omission of letters. And it is used to indicate plural of letters, numbers and symbols.
Or,
The ' is called an apostrophe.
Apostrophes are punctuation marks that indicate the omission of a letter or letters from a word.
They form contractions, show the possessive case, or create plurals of lowercase letters.
Ex.
(i) Rahul's dog went missing yesterday.(Possession)
(ii) They weren't at the hotel.( Contraction)
(iii) We did it a li'l differently.( Missing letter)
Contractions - I've seen that movie several times.
Possessive case - Sara’s dog bit the neighbor.
Plural for lowercase letters - Mind your p's and q's.
(14) Quotation Marks (“ ”)
The " " are called quotation marks (or double quotation marks). Quotation marks indicate the beginning and end of a quoted passage. They can also show dialogue in fiction.
Quoted passage - Nathan Hale’s last words were, “I regret that I have but one life to live for my country.”
Dialogue - "Don't go outside," Katie said.
(15) Single Quotation Marks (‘ ’)
The ' ' are called single quotation marks (or single quotes). Single quotation marks show quotes within a quotation, and they set off quotes in headlines.
Quotes within quotations - Marie told the teacher, "Marc said to me 'Bill started the fight,' and I believed him."
Quotes in headlines - President Declares, ‘War Is Over’
(16) Ellipsis (...)
The .... is called an ellipsis. An ellipsis indicates an omission of words or sentences.
Students writing research papers or newspapers quoting parts of speeches will often employ ellipsis to avoid copying lengthy text that is not needed.
Omission of words - She began to count, "One, two, three, four…" until she got to 10, 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.
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