What is Punctuation marks | Use of punctuation marks
Punctuation Marks
What is punctuation marks ?
Punctuation marks are needed to bring clarity to one’s writing If a punctuation mark clarifies the bent It must be used; if not it should be omitted. Look at these two examples. Shortly after, I received instructions from the Managing Director. Shortly after I received instructions from the Managing Director, I left
The commas are necessary to make the meaning clear.
The Full Stop ()
The full stop indicates the longest pause and is used at the end of all sentences except interrogative and exclamatory sentences. Example: Our salesman will call on you tomorrow at ten o’ The resolution was not properly recorded. It is used after initials or abbreviations, Example P.K. Sharma: Pawan Kumar Sharma MLA: Member of Parliament Esq- Esquire
The full stop is usually omitted from abbreviations consisting of initial letters that make pronounceable words:
Example: UNESCO,BHEL, TWA
The Comma ():
The comma is the shortest pause of all. It is the most frequently used punctuation mark. But it is also the most troublesome one.
- A general principle is to put a comma where you would pause if you were reading a sentence aloud. Example: I need an intelligent, industrious and sincere assistant in my office. We are enclosing the invoice, insurance policy and a draft bill of exchange.
- A comma is used to set off a noun of address or a phrase in apposition.Example:
- Mr. Verma, please get this bill sanctioned.
- The meeting was addressed Mr. L.S. Mahadev , the Managing Director.
- A comma is often used to indicate the omission of a word, especially a verb. The quality of our products is excellent; the appearance, attractive; the price, low.
- A comma is used to separate direct speech from the rest of the sentence. Example :
- Mr. Krishnan,” said the Office Superintendent, “you have been rather careless in your work.”
The Semicolon (;):
- If two sentences are so closely related in meaning that it is not desirable to thern by a full stop. they are separated by a semicolon
- Example: You type the letter, I shall type the bill. She was late, consequently, she was marked absent
The Colon ():
(1) It is used to introduce a list You are requested to arrange these items: a typewriter, ribbon, pads, pendla me
Example: erasers.
(i) It is used to introduce an explanation.
Example: The problem is this we cannot get trained hands at such a short notice (w) It is used to separate two contrasts:
Example We make plans the insincere workers sabotage them.
The Question Mark (?):
The question mark is used after direct questions:
Example: Why don’t you put this amount in a fixed deposit? May I help you?
The question mark should never be used after an indirect question, who grammatically is not a question at all.
Example: The Manager asked me why I did not put that amount in a fixed deposit.
The Exclamation Mark (!)
It is used at the end of a sentence which expresses a strong feeling
Example: What an attractive scheme! Please convey my congratulations to all the members!
Quotation Marks or Inverted Commas (“…”)
(i) The direct words of a speaker, the words one actually hears, are enclosed be inverted commas. Ordinarily a comma is used to separate the words of a speaker from the rest of the sentence.
Example: The Prime disparities.” Minister said, These measures are necessary to remove ec
(ii) Note the punctuation of an interrupted speech carefully.
Example: I would rather starve,” he exclaimed, “than accept such a job.
()The titles of books, within inverted commas magazines, newspapers, essay, poems, etc., are enclosed
Example : “Freedom at Midnight” has raised a lot of controversy
The Apostrophe (‘):
(i) An apostrophe is used in place of omitted letters in contractions.
Example: doesn’t for does not he’ll for he will
(ii) Possessive nouns contain an apostrophe.
Example: A week’s wages, customers’ views.
(iii) An apostrophe is used to form the plurals of letters and figures
Example: I discussed this matter with a number of M.Ps.
The Dash (-):
A dash is mainly used to show a sudden change in thought
Example: He might have succeeded – but why think of that now?
(1) Sometimes words in apposition or explanation are set off by dashes.
Example: Three subjects – typing English and speech – are required.
Everybody performance the spectators, the players, the umpire – applauded his
(ill) A dash is used to summarize several subjects, all belonging to the same verb.
Example: Rich and poor, old and young, high and low – all will buy our products.
The Hyphen (-) :
(i) The hyphen is used to join the parts of a compound word. Example:
Brother-in-law, maid-servant, one-third.
(ii) It is sometimes used to combine a word and a prefix.
Example : Post-dated, co-opt.
Parentheses () :
(i) Parentheses serve the purpose of double dashes. They are used to separate from the main part of the sentence a phrase or a clause which does not belong to it.
Example This scheme (see the enclosed brochure) is designed to give you the maximum return on your money.