PUCTUATION
Though speech is prior to writing yet the writing script becomes more comprehensible if it is accompanied by punctuation marks. Punctuation marks play a vital role in the drama of constructing meaningful sentences. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to explain all the punctuation marks in detail hence, a bird’s eye view of fewer fashionable marks and their use can serve as a good recipe.
1. APOSTROPHE ( ’ )
o To show the possession of living things;
A bird’s nest Aslam’s book
o For the purpose of contraction;
I’ll Doesn’t
o To show the plurals of figures;
5’s 10’s 50’s
2. HYPHEN ( - )
o To join the words;
Brother-in-law
o To break up a word when spellings go beyond the line end
and the part of word is placed in the up next line;
Horri-ble Lucki-ly
3. EXCLAMATION ( ! )
o At the end of the sentences which contain such
interjections as ‘Hurrah’, ‘Alas’
or ‘Oh’;
She said, “Oh, what a great building it is!”
4. INVERTED COMMAS ( “ ” )
o To report the exact words of the speaker;
The old man said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
o To enable the words of a quotation;
Mrs. Slipslop said bluntly, “Common charity my foot.”
5. DASH ( – )
o To express a sudden change of thought;
My mother is dead – why weep for past.
o To express fear, nervousness or some confusion;
I – I – I would not go to that solitary hill.
o Before opening an umbrella term;
Everything – bushes, trees, bridges, boats and poles – was covered up with vines.
6. FULL STOP ( . )
o In abbreviation;
B. Ed M.A.
o At the end of an indirect interrogative sentence;
She asked if you could help her.
o At the end of a simple sentence;
Wordsworth was an ardent lover of beauties of nature.
7. COMMA ( , )
o At the end of salutation;
Dear Sir, Madam,
o At the end of complimentary close;
Yours truly, Yours obediently,
o In the format of date where day and year are put together;
June 16, 2024
o To separate similar items put in a series;
Pakistan, China and UAE are close friends.
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