The Writing Studio

Punctuation Workshop

Punctuation

System of signals used by writers to communicate with readers

End PunctuationInternal Punctuation

End PunctuationPunctuation marks that terminate

one sentence or thought and separate it from the next.

Period ( . ) Exclamation Point ( ! ) Question Mark ( ? )

Example--End Punctuation

Period Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor and

American patriot.

Exclamation Point I can’t believe yousaid that !

Question Mark What time is it ?

Internal PunctuationPunctuation marks that serve to

combine, introduce, enclose, or indicate omission or grammatical function within a sentence.

The period also serves as internal punctuation to indicate omission and create abbreviations (Jr., Sr., etc.).

Internal Punctuation

Marks that separate and combine: comma, semicolon, slash, hyphen

Marks that separate and introduce: comma, colon, dash

Marks that separate and enclose: comma, dash, parentheses, quotation marks, brackets

Marks that indicate omission: ellipsis marks, apostrophe

Example--Internal Punctuation

CommaSeparate and Combine Tom is sick, but he should be well in

a few days.Separate and Introduce According to the weather report, it

is going to snow this weekend.Separate and Enclose Marilyn Monroe, whose real name

was Norma Jean, was an actress.

DashSeparate and Introduce Most Americans have Thanksgiving

dinner at thesame time--half time.

Separate and Enclose Movies--science fiction movies-- express the creativity of the writer.

Example--Internal Punctuation

Semicolon All students take English 1100; it is auniversity policy.

Colon There are three people in that car: Tom,Dick, and Harry.

Parentheses Thanks to Henry Ford (inventor of the car)we are riding in style.

Quotation Marks He said, “I know that guy. I went to schoolwith him.”

Brackets That show [Seinfeld] is one of the funniest I have ever seen.

Example--Internal Punctuation

Ellipsis Marks I pledge allegiance to the flag. . .and to

the Republic for which it stands. . .

Apostrophe I’ve tried to tell her, but shewon’t listen.

Slash Writer/Director Woody Allen is a veryinteresting person.

Hyphen Timothy is a well-deserving recipientof the prize.

Punctuation Further information and examples about

punctuation marks can be found in the Concise English Handbook or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Ask your professor specific questions about punctuation marks and their usage.

Visit the Writing Center and discuss punctuation problems you might have with a tutor.