In the field of writing, it is known a term punctuation. Punctuation plays a small part in writing especially in university level. However, punctuation still devotes importance in writing. Check the following elaborations:
End Punctuation:
1. The Period
a. With statements, mild commands, and indirect questions
b. With abbreviations
2. The Question Marks
a. With direct questions
b. To indicate doubt
3. The Exclamation Point
a. With emphatic statements and interjections and commands
b. Overuse (end punctuation)
The Comma:
a. A main clauses linked by coordinating conjunction
b. Introductory phrases and clauses
c. Nonrestrictive elements
d. Absolute Phases
e. Phases expressing contrast
f. Series and coordinate adjectives
g. Dates, address, place names, long numbers
h. Quotations
i. To prevent misreading
j. Misuse and overuse (comma)
The Semicolon:
a. Main clauses not joined by coordinating conjunction
b. Main clauses joined by conjunctive adverb
c. Long main clauses
d. Long items in series
e. Misuse and overuse (semicolon)
The Apostrophe:
a. Possessive Case
b. Misuse with noun plurals and personal pronouns
c. Contractions
d. Plurals of words named as words
Quotation Marks:
a. Direct quotations
b. Quotation within a quotation
c. Dialogue, poetry, and long prose passages
d. Tittles of songs, short stories, and so on
e. Words used in special sense
f. Overuse of quotation marks
g. Placement with other punctuation marks
Other Punctuation Marks:
a. The colon
b. The dash
c. Parentheses
d. Brackets
e. The ellipsis mark
f. The slash
