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Catalog / Punctuation Cheat Sheet

Punctuation Cheat Sheet

A quick reference guide to punctuation marks and their proper usage, helping you write with clarity and precision.

End Punctuation

Periods

Purpose:

To end declarative sentences, indicate abbreviations, and represent ellipses.

Declarative Sentences:

. - Used to mark the end of a statement.
Example:
The cat sat on the mat.

Abbreviations:

. - Used in abbreviations.
Example:
e.g., i.e., Mr., Dr.

Ellipses:

... - Indicates omitted words or a pause.
Example:
I was thinking about… what was I saying?

Question Marks

Purpose:

To end interrogative sentences.

Interrogative Sentences:

? - Placed at the end of a direct question.
Example:
What is your name?

Indirect Questions:

Do not use a question mark for indirect questions.
Example:
I wonder what time it is.

Exclamation Points

Purpose:

To express strong emotion or emphasis.

Exclamatory Sentences:

! - Used to indicate excitement, surprise, or strong emphasis.
Example:
That’s amazing!

Overuse:

Avoid overuse, as it can diminish the impact.
Example:
Instead of: “I can’t believe it!!!!” use “I can’t believe it!”

Internal Punctuation

Commas

Purpose:

To separate elements in a series, introduce clauses, and set off introductory phrases.

Series:

, - Separates items in a list. Use the Oxford comma for clarity.
Example:
I like apples, bananas, and oranges.

Introductory Elements:

, - After introductory words, phrases, or clauses.
Example:
However, I disagree.
After eating, I went for a walk.

Coordinate Adjectives:

, - Separate coordinate adjectives that modify the same noun.
Example:
It was a dark, stormy night.

Nonessential Information:

, - Sets off nonessential phrases or clauses.
Example:
The book, which was very long, was boring.

Semicolons

Purpose:

To connect related independent clauses and separate items in a complex list.

Independent Clauses:

; - Joins related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Example:
The sun was shining; the birds were singing.

Complex Lists:

; - Separates items in a list when the items contain commas.
Example:
I visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and London, England.

Colons

Purpose:

To introduce a list, explanation, or example.

Lists:

: - Introduces a list of items.
Example:
I need to buy: milk, bread, and eggs.

Explanations:

: - Introduces an explanation or clarification.
Example:
There’s only one thing to do: give up.

Emphasis:

: - Adds emphasis to a word or phrase.
Example:
His goal in life: to be happy.

Parenthetical Punctuation

Parentheses

Purpose:

To enclose supplementary information or explanations.

Supplementary Information:

() - Adds extra details that are not essential to the sentence.
Example:
My dog (a golden retriever) loves to play fetch.

Clarifications:

() - Provides clarification or definitions.
Example:
The acronym NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is well-known.

Brackets

Purpose:

To insert editorial comments or corrections within quotations.

Editorial Comments:

[] - Adds clarification or correction in quoted material.
Example:
“He said he would [definitely] be there.”

Omissions:

[...] - Indicates omitted text within a quote.
Example:
“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth […] a new nation.”

Dashes

Purpose:

To indicate a sudden break in thought or to set off parenthetical information.

Em Dashes:

— - Used to indicate a break or interruption.
Example:
I was about to leave—but then the phone rang.

En Dashes:

– - Indicates a range or connection between words.
Example:
Pages 100–200.
The New York–London flight.

Hyphens:

- - Joins words to form compound adjectives or nouns.
Example:
A well-known author.
A self-made millionaire.

Quotation Marks and Apostrophes

Quotation Marks

Purpose:

To indicate direct speech, quotations, or titles of short works.

Direct Speech:

" " - Encloses words spoken by someone.
Example:
He said, “Hello, world!”

Quotations:

" " - Used for quoted material from another source.
Example:
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”

Titles of Short Works:

" " - Encloses titles of short stories, poems, articles, and songs.
Example:
I read the article “The Power of Punctuation.”

Single Quotation Marks:

' ' - Used for quotations within quotations.
Example:
He said, “She told me, ‘I’m going to the store.’”

Apostrophes

Purpose:

To indicate possession, contractions, or plurals of single letters.

Possession:

's - Indicates ownership.
Example:
The dog’s bone.
s' - Indicates plural ownership.
The dogs’ bones.

Contractions:

' - Replaces omitted letters in contractions.
Example:
I can’t. They’re. It’s.

Plurals of Single Letters:

's - Forms the plural of single letters.
Example:
Mind your p’s and q’s.
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