Correct punctuation adds clarity and precision to writing; it allows the writer to stop, pause, or give emphasis to certain parts of the sentence
Capitalization and punctuation help to clarify the meaning of a sentence by indicating where one sentence ends and another begins
Punctuation
"Let's eat Bob."
"Let's eat, Bob."
Punctuation
"A woman without her man is nothing"
"A woman, without her man, is nothing."
"A woman: without her, man is nothing."
Period(.)
Use at the end of a declarative sentence, mild imperative sentence, or to end a contraction/abbreviation
Comma (,)
Use after "setting the scene", after a transitional phrase, after an interjection, before a conjunction, for parentheses, in lists, in numbers, before speech marks, with the vocative case
Question mark(?)
Place at the end of a direct question
Exclamation mark (!)
Use at the end of an exclamatory sentence, imperative sentence, or interjection
Apostrophe (')
Use to show possession or replace letters in contractions
Quotation marks(")
Use to identify previously spoken or written words, highlight names of things, or signify "so-called" or "alleged"
Ellipsis (...)
Use to create a pause for effect or show an unfinished thought
Colon (:)
Use to introduce a quotation, in references/times/titles, or after an introduction
Semicolon(;)
Use to separate list items with commas, create a smoother transition between two sentences, or merge two comma-filled sentences joined with a conjunction
Hyphen (-)
Use to join words or parts of words
Dash (—)
Use to set off an explanatory element or interrupt the flow of a sentence
