Transcript Punctuation

Punctuation
End marks, Semi-Colons, Colons,
Parentheses, and Dashes
End marks are punctuation that go at the
end of a sentence.
 End marks we use are:

◦ Periods
◦ Exclamation marks
◦ Question marks
End Marks

Period ( . )
◦ Used at the end of a full sentence.

Exclamation Mark ( ! )
◦ Used at the end of a sentence that needs extra
emphasis.

Question Mark ( ? )
◦ Used at the end of a question
End Marks
The semi-colon ( ; )
 How is the semi-colon being used in the
following sentences?

◦ Richard likes cake; Susan likes salad.
◦ Bill was going bald; his hair was falling out.
◦ I didn’t see the step; now I’ve got a bandage
on my head.
◦ I like to run; however, my leg is broken.
Semi-Colons
Semi-colons are used to connect two
independent clauses (sentences) whose
ideas are very closely related in meaning.
 You can only use semi-colons when the
ideas are related. For example,

◦ Correct: I called Leon; he said he will be here
in ten minutes.
◦ Incorrect: I called Leon; did you notice how
windy it is?
Semi-Colons
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
Hint: Notice that semi-colons look like a
comma and a period stacked on top of each
other.
You can think of a semi-colon as part period
and part comma: a semi-colon signals a
pause in thought (like a comma!) but is not a
strong as a period.
Often, you can use periods or commas with
coordinating conjunctions instead of a semicolon.
◦ Coordinating conjunctions are just words like “and”
“but” “however” “or” “yet” etc.
Semi-Colons

Often, semi-colons are used with words or
phrases like these:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Accordingly
However
Instead
Meanwhile
Therefore
For example
In other words
For instance
In fact
Etc!
Semi-Colons

Examples of semi-colons combined with
phrases
◦ Timmy loves the taste of Reese’s cups;
however, he developed a peanut allergy as a
child.
◦ Timmy has a peanut allergy; therefore, he can
no longer eat Reese’s cups.
◦ There are many types of food allergies; for
example, some people are allergic to peanuts.
◦ Timmy has a peanut allergy; in other words, he
cannot eat peanuts.
Semi-Colons
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The colon ( : )
Colons are used in a lot of different ways in
writing.
What do you think the colon is doing in the
following sentences:
◦ The students to be checked out are: John Doe, Jill
Doe, and Jimmy Doe.
◦ The classes I have this semester are: art, English,
math, science, and P.E.
◦ For my test, I will study the following: my study
guide, vocabulary, quizzes, and worksheets.
Colons
First, colons are used before a list of
words.
 When introducing a list, you might see
words like “the following” or “as follows”
before the colon

◦ Example: My favorite movies are the following:
The Shawshank Redemption, Ferris Bueller’s
Day Off, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Colons

How are the colons functioning in these
examples:
◦ Luis felt that he had accomplished something
worthwhile: He had written and recorded his
first song.
◦ Mark Twain tried many jobs before becoming a
successful writer: He was a printer’s
apprentice, a riverboat pilot, a soldier, and a
silver miner.
Colons
Colons are also used before a statement
that explains or clarifies the statement
before it.
 Example: Mary was sad: She felt she had
let her grandmother down by failing her
math test.

Colons

Colons can also be used in many
conventional ways, such as:
◦ Time
 Use a colon between the hour and minute
 Example: 3:27 p.m.
◦ Salutation of business letter
 Use a colon after the person you are addressing
 Dear Ms. Gonzalez:
 To Whom it May Concern:
◦ Bible verses
 Use a colon between the chapter and verse
 Example: John 3:1
Colons
Let’s Practice!!
The parenthetical phrase
Parenthetical phrases are words or
phrases that break into the main thought
of a sentence
 Parenthetical phrases/words are set off by
either:


◦ Commas
◦ Parentheses
◦ Dashes
We will talk about commas later. Today, we will
talk about parentheses and dashes.
Parenthetical Phrases
The parentheses ( )
 Use parentheses around words that are
added to a sentence but are not of major
importance.
 AKA: Information that has been added
but not super important. If you took this
information away, you would still
understand the sentence.

Parentheses

Examples:
◦ My great-uncle Ed (he’s Grandma’s brother) is
odd.
◦ Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) led India’s
struggle for independence from British rule.
◦ Mrs. Matsuo served us sushi (soo’ she) that she
had prepared.
Is the information in the parentheses helpful?
But if we remove that information, can we still
understand the sentence?
Parentheses
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The dash ( - )
Information that abruptly interrupts a
sentence’s main thought can be marked with
dashes.
These are usually seen in dialogue between
characters.
Examples:
◦ “Right over here – oh, excuse me, Mr. Mills – you’ll
find the reference books,” said the librarian.
◦ Alisha began, “The murderer is – well, I don’t want
to give away the end of the story.
Dashes
Let’s Practice!