DEFINITION OF PUNCTUATION MARKS
Punctuation marks are mark used in writing to divide sentences and phrases. Punctuation marks are also use to separate groups of words for meaning and emphasis: to convey an idea of the variations of pitch, volume, pauses, and intonations of speech; and to help avoid contextual ambiguity.
Some punctuation marks are discussed below.
CAPITAL LETTERS (A-Z)
Uses
(1) They are used at the beginning of the sentences.
(2) At the beginning of all proper nouns.
(3) At the beginning of a quotation.
(4) For the days in the week and months of the year
(5) Titles attributed to a particular person. E.g. Mr. Frederick, Queen Elizabeth.
THE FULL- STOP (.)
Uses
a. It is used at the end of a sentence.
b. To indicate abbreviation. E.g. Eng. for English, Mr. for mister, Sc. for science, Abbr. for abbreviations.
Note: The full stop should not be used when the first and the last letters of a word are used to form an abbreviation. Ltd, Dr, Barr, etc.
THE QUESTION MARK (?)
a. It is used after a polite request. E.g. Can I have your Biro?
b. At the end of interrogative sentence. E.g. how are you doing?
THE COMMA (,)
Uses
a. To separate items in a list or series.
b. To separate date from the year. E.g. 24th September, 2017.
c. To mark off words like yes, no, too.
d. to indicate slight change in the direction of thought/ speech. E.g. Although most Africans are suffering, their government are insensitive to their plight.
THE EXCLAMATION MARK (!)
Uses
a. It is used after an interjection. E.g. Help! Hurray! Congratulation!
b. At the end of an exclamatory sentence. E.g. It is a goal! This is wonderful!
THE COLON (:)
Uses
a. To introduce a quotation.
b. Direct attention to an appositive. E.g. He had only one pleasure: eating
c. Separate titles from subtitles. E.g. The tragic dynasty: A history of tne Romanovs.
d. To emphasize the word (s) that follow (s) E.g. He has a very bad attribute: hot temperament.
a. To indicate a possessive case of nouns. This is done in two ways
1. Singular possession and
2. Plural possession
Singular Possession. E.g. The boy's mother
*Note: it comes before “s”
Plural Possession. E.g. Babies' wears.
*Note: it comes after “s”
* For nouns that do not form their plurals by ending with an “s” like men, children, the possession is indicated as it is used for a singular noun. E.g. Men's roles at home.
b. To indicate a deliberate omission of letters. E.g. Ne'er – Never, Won’t – would not, can’t --cannot
c. Mark omission of numerals. E.g. Class of '98
d. To indicate the plurals of letters and figures S’s, R’s. E.g. There are four S’s in Mississippi, Always cross your t’s
THE HYPHEN (-)
Uses
a. To join compound words. E.g. Father-in-law, never – do - -well.
b. To join compound numbers. E.g. Twenty - one
THE VIRGULE (/)
Uses
a. To separate alternatives
b. To separate successive divisions. E.g. The fiscal year 1983 / 1984
c. Often represents per in abbreviation. 25km/hr
Punctuation marks are mark used in writing to divide sentences and phrases. Punctuation marks are also use to separate groups of words for meaning and emphasis: to convey an idea of the variations of pitch, volume, pauses, and intonations of speech; and to help avoid contextual ambiguity.
Some punctuation marks are discussed below.
CAPITAL LETTERS (A-Z)
Uses
(1) They are used at the beginning of the sentences.
(2) At the beginning of all proper nouns.
(3) At the beginning of a quotation.
(4) For the days in the week and months of the year
(5) Titles attributed to a particular person. E.g. Mr. Frederick, Queen Elizabeth.
THE FULL- STOP (.)
Uses
a. It is used at the end of a sentence.
b. To indicate abbreviation. E.g. Eng. for English, Mr. for mister, Sc. for science, Abbr. for abbreviations.
Note: The full stop should not be used when the first and the last letters of a word are used to form an abbreviation. Ltd, Dr, Barr, etc.
THE QUESTION MARK (?)
a. It is used after a polite request. E.g. Can I have your Biro?
b. At the end of interrogative sentence. E.g. how are you doing?
THE COMMA (,)
Uses
a. To separate items in a list or series.
b. To separate date from the year. E.g. 24th September, 2017.
c. To mark off words like yes, no, too.
d. to indicate slight change in the direction of thought/ speech. E.g. Although most Africans are suffering, their government are insensitive to their plight.
THE EXCLAMATION MARK (!)
Uses
a. It is used after an interjection. E.g. Help! Hurray! Congratulation!
b. At the end of an exclamatory sentence. E.g. It is a goal! This is wonderful!
THE COLON (:)
Uses
a. To introduce a quotation.
b. Direct attention to an appositive. E.g. He had only one pleasure: eating
c. Separate titles from subtitles. E.g. The tragic dynasty: A history of tne Romanovs.
d. To emphasize the word (s) that follow (s) E.g. He has a very bad attribute: hot temperament.
APOSTROPHE (')
a. To indicate a possessive case of nouns. This is done in two ways
1. Singular possession and
2. Plural possession
Singular Possession. E.g. The boy's mother
*Note: it comes before “s”
Plural Possession. E.g. Babies' wears.
*Note: it comes after “s”
* For nouns that do not form their plurals by ending with an “s” like men, children, the possession is indicated as it is used for a singular noun. E.g. Men's roles at home.
b. To indicate a deliberate omission of letters. E.g. Ne'er – Never, Won’t – would not, can’t --cannot
c. Mark omission of numerals. E.g. Class of '98
d. To indicate the plurals of letters and figures S’s, R’s. E.g. There are four S’s in Mississippi, Always cross your t’s
THE HYPHEN (-)
Uses
a. To join compound words. E.g. Father-in-law, never – do - -well.
b. To join compound numbers. E.g. Twenty - one
THE VIRGULE (/)
Uses
a. To separate alternatives
b. To separate successive divisions. E.g. The fiscal year 1983 / 1984
c. Often represents per in abbreviation. 25km/hr
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