1. Capitalization:
* Begins with a capital letter.
* Proper nouns and adjectives are capitalized. (e.g., John, America, French)
2. End punctuation:
* Period (.) for declarative sentences (statements).
* Question mark (?) for interrogative sentences (questions).
* Exclamation mark (!) for exclamatory sentences (strong emotions).
3. Internal punctuation:
* Commas (,) separate items in a list, independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so), introductory phrases, nonessential clauses, and to separate contrasting elements.
* Semicolons (;) join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
* Colons (:) introduce lists, explanations, or examples.
* Apostrophes (') indicate possession, contractions, and missing letters in words.
* Quotation marks (" ") enclose direct speech, titles of short works, and words used in a special sense.
* Dashes (-) emphasize a phrase or clause, indicate an abrupt break in thought, or set off parentheticals.
* Parentheses () enclose nonessential information or explanations.
Example:
"The cat, a sleek black Persian, sat on the windowsill, watching the birds outside," said Mary, "but it didn't seem interested in chasing them."
Key Points:
* Punctuation is about clarity and meaning. It helps the reader understand the flow of thought and the relationships between words and clauses.
* There are specific rules for different punctuation marks. It's essential to learn them to punctuate correctly.
* Punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence. For example: "Let's eat, Grandma!" vs. "Let's eat Grandma!"
If you have any specific questions about punctuation, feel free to ask!