Punctuation Marks

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    ( ’ )

• To show the possession of living things;

A bird’s nest    Aslam’s book

• For the purpose of contraction;

I’ll    Doesn’t

• To show the plurals of figures;

5’s    10’s   50’s

 

2-    HYPHEN       ( - )

• To join the words;

Brother-in-law

• 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 ( ! )

• 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       ( “    ” )

• To report the exact words of the speaker;

The old man said, “Honesty is the best policy.”

• To enable the words of a quotation;

Mrs. Slipslop said bluntly, “Common charity my foot.”

 

5-    DASH     ( – )

• To express a sudden change of thought;

My mother is dead – why weep for past.

• To express fear, nervousness or some confusion;

I – I – I would not go to that solitary hill.

• Before opening an umbrella term;

Everything – bushes, trees, bridges, boats and poles – was covered up with vines.

 

6-    FULL STOP  ( . )

• In abbreviation;

B. Ed        M.A.

• At the end of an indirect interrogative sentence;

She asked if you could help her.

• At the end of a simple sentence;

Wordsworth was an ardent lover of beauties of nature.

 

7-    COMMA        ( , )

• At the end of salutation;

Dear Sir,     Madam,

• At the end of complimentary close;

Yours truly,           Yours obediently,

• In the format of date where day and year are put together;

June 16, 2024       

• To separate similar items put in a series;

Pakistan, China and UAE are close friends.