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.