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Punctuation Rules



Punctuation will tell your reader when to stop or when to change the interpretation of your paper.


Period

- Use a period after a statement or command.

Turn on the television.
We are studying English.

- Use a period after most abbreviations.

Mr.
Mrs.
Dr.


Question Mark

Use a question mark in an interrogative statement. In a direct quotation, the question mark goes before the quotation mark.

He said, "Are you coming home?"


Comma

- Use a comma before a conjunction (and, or, so, but) that separates two independent clauses.

She wanted to learn to cook, so she decided to buy herself a book.

- Don't use a comma before a conjunction that separates two incomplete sentences.

She worded in the library and studied at night.

- Use a comma to separate interrupting expressions from the rest of the sentence.

Do you know, by the way, what time it is?

- Use a comma after yes and no in answers.

Yes, my father is a doctor.

- Use a comma to separate an apposite form the rest of the sentence.

Mr. Smith, the new teacher, really knows how to teach.

Would you like to try a taco, a traditional Mexican dish?


Quotation Marks

- Use quotation marks at the beginning and at the end of exact quotations.

He said, "I'm going to get married."

- Use quoation marks before and after titles of stories, articles, songs, and TV shows.

Do you want to watch "Friends" on TV?

My favorite song is "Disappear" by INXS.


APOSTROPHES

Rule1. Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.
  Examples don't, isn't
You're right.
He's a great doctor.
Rule 2. Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show possession by one person.
  Examples the girl's hat
the girl's hats
In this example, one girl possesses two or more hats.
Rule 3. To show possession by more than one person, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.
  Examples
one boy's book
 two boys' books
one woman's book
 two women's books
one actress's book
 two actors' books
one child's book
 two children's books
Ms. Chang's book  
the Changs' book
Rule 4. To show singular possession with proper nouns ending in s or an s sound, add an apostrophe and an s.
  Examples Ms. James's office is next to mine.
Texas's weather in summer can vary greatly.
Rule 5. To form the possessive for a plural name that ends in an s or s sound, make the name plural first and then use the apostrophe.
  Examples the Joneses' house
the Sanchezes' house
Rule 6. With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.
  Example my mother-in-law's hat
Rule 7. If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.
  Example my two brothers-in-law's hats
Rule 8. Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.
  Examples Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.
Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.
separate ownership
Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.
There is joint ownership of more than one contract.
Rule 9. Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns-his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe. The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is.
  Examples This book is hers, not yours.
It hurt its paw.
It's a nice day.
It's your right to refuse the invitation.
Rule-10. Using an apostrophe to show plurals of numbers, letters, and figures is optional.
  Examples She consulted with three M.D.'s.
OR
She consulted with three M.D.s.
BUT
She went to three M.D.s' offices.
The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.
Rule 11. Centuries and decades should be expressed as follows:
    the 1990s, not the 1990's
the '90s or the mid-'70s, not the '90's or the mid-'70's
Rule 12. Use possessive case in front of a gerund (ing word).
  Examples Alex's skating was a joy to behold.
This does not stop Joan's inspecting of our facilities next Thursday.
Rule 13. If the gerund has a pronoun in front of it, use the possessive form of that pronoun.
  Examples I appreciate your inviting me to dinner.
I appreciated his working with me to resolve the conflict.


Capitalization Rules


We use a capital letter in the following cases:


First words
- Capitalize the fist word of every sentence.

- Capitalize the first word of a quotation.


Personal Names
- Capitalize the names of people including initials and titles of address.

- Capitalize family words if they appear alone of followed by a name.

Let's go, Dad.
Where's Grandma?

- Do not capitalize family words with a possessive pronoun or article.

My uncle
An aunt

- Capitalize names of God.

Allah
Jesus Christ


Place Names
- Capitalize the names of countries, states, provinces, cities, lakes, rivers, islands, mountains

Mexico
Mt. Everest
the Amazon
Lake Ontario

- Do not capitalize the names of seasons

summer
spring
fall
winter
 
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