PUNCTUATION MARK
EXPLANATION
EXAMPLE
Apostrophe
'
 Used in forming possessives the girl's aunt
    Shows omissions in
contractions and numerals		 isn't
class of '86
Forms plurals of letters, numbers
and words referred to as words

The L's in her report looked like I's.
The teacher made her write a whole
page of 8's.
She had trouble saying her and's.
Brackets
[]
 Separate editor's notes from the
rest of the text.		 John dropped the flower [change to
rose] on the floor.
    Used as parentheses within
parentheses		 The data can be found in the
manual (2001 edition [Section 3]).
Colon
:
 Used before a clause or phrase
that explains or restates something
said before		 The boy was happy: his eyes were
gleaming.
    Introduces a series Three employees were in the
lunchroom: Jay Smith, Carol Chen,
and Jim Brown.
Comma
,
 Divides main clauses linked by
a coordinating conjunction

(Other coordinating conjunctions
are but, nor, or and for.)

 Marcy thought that he was
untrustworthy, and she was
correct.
    Placed after a phrase or clause
that precedes the main clause		 When Cheryl walked past the
bakery, she knew she had to
have a brownie.

Placed before and after a clause
that interrupts the main clause		 The store, after being painted,
looked like a new building.
Isolates transitional words from
the rest of the sentence		 Your performance has been good,
namely, your diligence and initiative.
Separates contrasting thoughts
within sentences		 The car was red, not black.
Placed after words, phrases or
clauses in a series		 The woman was tall, blonde and
beautiful.
Used to separate a name in a
direct address		 You should buy it, Mary, if you
have the money.
Isolates a question from the rest
of the sentence		 It's a joke, isn't it?
Dash
-
 Used before and after an abrupt
change in thought		 When the woman searched through
her purse - it was always a mess -
she found the ring he had given her.
    Placed before and after a statement that summarizes what precedes it Time and money - we can't get
enough of them.
Ellipsis
... 
Shows the omission of words
within quoted material		 The boy stood, put his hand over his heart and said, "I pledge allegiance to the flag...."
Exclamation Point
!
 Placed at the end of an emphatic
sentence		 Watch out!
Hyphen
-
 Marks separation of a word at
the end of a line		 Alan was carrying the glass then sud-
denly dropped it.
 
   Divides some prefix and root
words that are proper nouns		 post-Elizabethan England
Used in compound words brother-in-law
Separates compound numbers
and fractions		 seventy-six

one-quarter
Parentheses
()
 Set off explanatory information (No one was consulted when
the plans were made.)

If the text within the parentheses is a
complete sentence, the period falls within the parentheses.

We walked along the beach
(barefoot, of course).

If the text within the parentheses is only part of the sentence, the period falls after the parentheses.
Period
.
 Ends sentences I left the note on the desk.
    Used for abbreviations and initials Dr.

P.D. Smith
Placed after letters and numbers in an outline 1.
2.
3.
Question Mark
?
 Used at the end of an interrogatory sentence

How does the program work?
    Used at the end of a question that is part of a sentence She thought, perhaps I can wear a
size 10?
Double quotation marks
"
 Set off quotations Steve said, "I want to marry you."

The period falls within the quotation
marks.
    Enclose slang words and phrases He as a real "scumbag", a cheat.

The comma falls outside the
quotation marks.
Used before and after short stories, articles, chapters of books, musical compositions, as well as
radio and TV programs

"Living Proof" is one of my
favorite TV shows.
Single quotation marks
'
 Separate a quotation within a
quotation		 Jane said, "I heard him say, 'I'm
taking the money.' "
Semicolon
;
 Used to connect main clauses with
no coordinated conjunction		 John was smart enough to know
better; Larry was not.
    Connects main clauses joined by
conjunctive adverbs		 I would like to go to a movie;
however, I have other plans.
Virgule
/
 Divides alternatives Music can be used for relaxation
and/or stimulation.
    Divides successive periods of time During 1995/1996, sales were high.
 
Secretaries USA copyright 2001 - 2007