1. Period (.)
* End of a sentence: Use a period to mark the end of a complete thought.
* Example: The dog barked loudly.
* Abbreviations: Use a period after most abbreviations.
* Example: Dr. Smith, U.S.A., etc.
2. Question Mark (?)
* Direct questions: Use a question mark at the end of a sentence that asks a question.
* Example: Are you going to the park?
3. Exclamation Point (!)
* Strong emotion: Use an exclamation point to convey surprise, excitement, or strong emotion.
* Example: Wow! That was amazing!
* Commands: Use an exclamation point to give a strong command.
* Example: Stop!
4. Comma (,)
* Separate items in a list: Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more.
* Example: I bought apples, bananas, and oranges.
* After introductory phrases: Use a comma after introductory phrases or clauses.
* Example: After finishing her homework, she went to bed.
* Between independent clauses: Use a comma before conjunctions like "and," "but," "or," and "so" when they connect two independent clauses.
* Example: I went to the store, and I bought some groceries.
* To set off non-essential phrases: Use commas to set off phrases that could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.
* Example: My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor.
5. Semicolon (;)
* Connect closely related independent clauses: Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
* Example: The storm raged; the wind howled.
* Separate items in a list with internal commas: Use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.
* Example: We visited London, England; Paris, France; and Rome, Italy.
6. Colon (:)
* Introduce a list: Use a colon to introduce a list of items.
* Example: The recipe called for the following ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter.
* Introduce a quotation: Use a colon to introduce a long quotation.
* Example: The teacher said: "Please turn in your assignments by Friday."
* Introduce an explanation: Use a colon to introduce an explanation or elaboration.
* Example: The reason for the delay was simple: the train was late.
7. Apostrophe (')
* Show possession: Use an apostrophe and an "s" to show possession for singular nouns and irregular plural nouns.
* Example: The dog's bone, the children's toys
* Show contractions: Use an apostrophe to show that letters have been omitted in a contraction.
* Example: I'm, don't, can't
8. Hyphen (-)
* Compound words: Use hyphens to join words together to create compound words.
* Example: well-being, self-esteem
* Numbers: Use hyphens to write out numbers between 21 and 99.
* Example: twenty-one, forty-two
9. Quotation Marks (" ")
* Direct speech: Use quotation marks to enclose words spoken directly by someone.
* Example: "Hello," she said.
* Titles of works: Use quotation marks to enclose the titles of short works like poems, songs, and articles.
* Example: I read the poem "The Raven."
10. Parentheses ( )
* Additional information: Use parentheses to enclose non-essential information or explanations.
* Example: The meeting (which was held in the library) was well-attended.
* Numbers: Use parentheses to enclose numbers within a sentence.
* Example: There were three (3) students absent.
Remember that these are just general guidelines, and the specific use of punctuation can vary depending on the context and style of writing. Consult a style guide for specific situations and always strive for clear and effective communication.