PUNCTUATIONS
1. This song is dedicated to my siblings, Vince and Joan.
2. This song is dedicated to my siblings, Vince, and Joan.
In the first example, one assumes that Vince and Joan are the
speaker’s siblings. On the other hand, with the use of a serial
comma after the name Vince, one can conclude that the book
is dedicated to the speaker’s siblings and to two people
named Vince and Joan.
Commonly Used
Punctuation Marks
1. Period (.)
a. It indicates a full stop or the end of a statement. When a
statement ends with a word or a group of words enclosed in quotation
marks, the period is placed within the quotation marks.
I studied last night.
It was not a good day.
He is known as “the hat maker.”
b. It is used in some abbreviations.
a.m.
Dr.
etc.
c. It is placed after numerals and letters in outlines and lists.
I. Philippine Literature in English
A. Historical background
B. Well-known authors and their works
1. Poetry
2. Fiction
3. Nonfiction
4. Plays
2. Question mark (?)
a. It ends a question.
What time is it?
Did you study last night?
b. It ends a question that is part of a sentence.
“What is your mother’s name?” Kimberly asked.
I wonder, How can I be a more effective leader?
c. It indicates uncertainty about a fact.
Homer (9th or 8th century BCE?) is the Greek epic poet who
presumably wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Herodotus (born 484 BCE?), a Greek author, is believed to be born at
Halicarnassus in southwest Asia Minor during the Persian rule.
3. Exclamation point (!)
a. It ends a sentence that expresses strong emotion or an
interjection.
Goodness, it’s cold in here!
Ouch! That hurts.
b. It replaces the question mark in interrogative sentences to
express strong emotion.
Don’t you know who I am!
Can’t you understand what I’m telling you!
Exclamation points are usually used in informal writing and should not
be used in formal writing.
4. Apostrophe (‘)
a. It is used to indicate the possessive case of nouns.
We went to Carla’s party.
She was considered her children’s only hope.
All the girls’ things are kept in a locker.
b. It is used in place of the omitted letters in
contractions.
I am - I’m
did not - didn’t
I will - I’ll
c. It is used in some expressions like the following:
For goodness’ sake
For appearance’s sake
A month’s delay
In three days’ time
5. Comma (,)
a. Commas are used to separate words or phrases in a list
or series.
You can see a lion, a tiger, and a bear in the zoo.
My goals this year are to climb a mountain, to stay on a
remote island, and to learn how to drive.
b. A comma is used to separate clauses in sentences.
I heard about my friend’s problem, so I went to see him
to offer my help.
When she arrived home, the door was locked.
c. Commas are used to set off words or phrases that
introduce examples or explanations.
My mother has just met three famous people, namely, the
president, an Olympic gold medalist, and a veteran actor.
John thought of a very good plan to celebrate his birthday this
year, that is, to volunteer as a reader at a daycare center.
6. Colon (:)
a. It introduces a list.
The travel package includes the following: airfare, packed meals, hotel
accommodation, and an island tour.
The school is currently hiring teachers for these courses: Mathematics
in the Real World, Writing in the Sciences, and Healthy Living.
b. It is used to introduce a quotation.
The post on the door reads: “Please gather at the lobby at 3:00 p.m.”
In her speech, the senator said: “I have never felt alone in my fight
against discrimination. My family, close friends, and faithful allies are
standing right by me, and they urge me to continue.”
c. It introduces a clause or a phrase that explains what comes
before it.
The night was extraordinarily bright: the moon was full, a hundred stars
twinkling, and the bonfire blazing.
Maria’s room was delightfully surprising: its walls covered with a
thousand pictures of her travels around the country.
7. Semicolon (;)
a. It is used to indicate a stop or break that is more grounded than a
comma but not as strong as a period.
I never demanded for him to come today; he did it anyway.
She was his only hope; she would take him far away from the hands of
his captors.
b. It separates two clauses, one of which is introduced by a
conjunctive adverb or a phrase acting like one.
The house has been in the market for a year now; however, no buyer
has expressed interest in the property.
Our team thinks it is better to work outside the classroom; on the other
hand, the principal thinks we will be safer in the laboratory with a
teacher watching over us.
c. It separates items in series if they themselves are set off by
commas.
Today I met three interesting people: Joanna, a fifteen-year-old
mountaineer; James, a yoga instructor who also loves kickboxing; and
Kate, a statistician who is also an excellent singer.
The theater group is going to perform in San Fernando, La Union; Vigan
City, Ilocos Sur; and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
8. The common dash or em dash
(—)
a. It can be used in place of a colon or a semicolon to connect
clauses, the second of which explains or expands the first clause.
The couple will not see their loved ones for a while—they resolved to
make their new house in a new country their second home.
b. It can be used in place of a comma before words and phrases that
introduce examples or explanations.
In the last hour, we have seen three amazing animals—namely, a
baboon, a platypus, and a beluga whale.
We are taking the next step in the process—that is, the taste test.
c. It may introduce a summary statement after a series of words or
phrases.
A bed, a telephone, a refrigerator, a television—these are the things
you need in your new place.
On a regular day, John prepares breakfast for his family, cleans the
house, fixes broken things, buys grocery, and cooks dinner—an all-
around stay-at-home father.
