Punctuation Rules: A Quick Guide
Periods (.)
* End of sentences: Use a period after declarative and imperative sentences.
* Abbreviations: Use a period after most abbreviations (e.g., Dr., U.S.A., etc.).
* Numbers: Use a period as a decimal point (e.g., 3.14).
Commas (,)
* Lists: Use a comma to separate items in a list (e.g., apples, oranges, and bananas).
* Compound sentences: Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that join independent clauses.
* Non-essential clauses and phrases: Use commas to set off phrases and clauses that are not essential to the sentence's meaning.
* Dates, addresses, and titles: Use commas to separate parts of dates, addresses, and titles (e.g., July 4, 1776, 123 Main Street, New York, NY).
Semicolons (;)
* Independent clauses: Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
* Lists with commas: Use semicolons to separate items in a list that already contain commas.
Colons (:)
* Explanations and lists: Use a colon to introduce a list, explanation, or definition.
* Time: Use a colon to separate hours and minutes (e.g., 10:30 am).
* Salutation in formal letters: Use a colon after the salutation (e.g., Dear Sir or Madam:).
Question Marks (?)
* Direct questions: Use a question mark at the end of a direct question.
Exclamation Marks (!)
* Strong emotions: Use an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence expressing strong emotions or emphasis.
Apostrophes (')
* Possession: Use an apostrophe and an "s" to show possession (e.g., the dog's bone).
* Contractions: Use an apostrophe to indicate omitted letters in contractions (e.g., I'm, don't, can't).
Quotation Marks (" ")
* Direct speech: Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotes.
* Titles of short works: Use quotation marks for titles of short works like songs, poems, and articles.
Parentheses ( )
* Additional information: Use parentheses to enclose non-essential information or explanatory notes.
Hyphens (-)
* Compound words: Use hyphens to combine words into a single unit (e.g., well-known, self-esteem).
* Numbers: Use hyphens to join numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine.
Dashes (–) or (—)
* Sudden break: Use a dash to indicate a sudden break in thought.
* Emphasis: Use a dash to emphasize a word or phrase.
Note: These are just some basic rules. There are many exceptions and nuances depending on the specific context. It's always best to consult a style guide or grammar resource for further guidance.