Punctuation

Punctuation gives information that helps you read and understand a sentence.

End Punctuation . . . . . . . . . . . .

  Every sentence must end with one of these three punctuation marks:          .     !     ?

A period ( . ) shows that a sentence is:

  • giving information:
     

  • giving a command:

I love to read stories. (Statement)

Choose a story to read aloud. (Command)
 

         Also use a period ( . ) in:

  • abbreviations of months and days:

Jan. (January),     Feb. (February) 
Mon.  (Monday),    
Tues.  (Tuesday), etc.  

  • abbreviations of measurements:

ft.  (foot/feet),     in.  (inch/inches)
lb./lbs.  (pound/pounds),   oz. (ounce/ounces), etc.
  • time:
 8:00 a.m.,  4:30 p.m., etc.

A question mark ( ? ) shows that a sentence is:
  • asking a question:
 Did you chose a story to read? (Question)


An exclamation point ( ! ) shows that a sentence is:
  • expressing strong feelings:
 Wow!  That story is really long! (Exclamation)


Comma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A comma ( , ) can help you know how to read things.  Commas are often used in sentences.  Sometimes commas are with words or phrases (a group of words).

Some commas are used to keep things separate.
 

Use a comma to separate:
  • the name of a city from the name of a state:
El Paso, Texas
  • the name of a city from the name of a country:
London, England
  • the date from the year:
September 12, 2004
  • the greeting from the body of a letter:
Dear Ms. Silver,
  • the closing in a letter from the signature:
Yours truly,


Some commas help you know when to pause when you read a sentence. 

 Use a comma to show a pause:

  • between three or more items in a list or series:

   Sam won’t eat beets, spinach, or shrimp.


Quotation Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 

Use quotation marks ( “  ” ):
  • before and after words that are spoken by someone:

 

Note:  Punctuation that follows the speaker’s words goes inside the quotation marks:

 

Be Careful!  
When the words that tell who is speaking come before the quotation, put the comma outside the quotation marks. 

When the words that tell who is speaking come after the quotation, put the comma inside the quotation marks:

“This is the best birthday party ever!” Maya said.

 

“May I have a piρata at my birthday party?”  Martin asked.

Mr. Flores replied, “You bet!”

 

Before:  Mrs. Flores asked, “Do you want a chocolate cake, too?”

 

After:  “I sure do,” said Martin.


Apostrophe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An apostrophe is used with the letter s in words called possessives.   Possessives are words that show ownership.
 
Use an apostrophe with the letter s:
  • When there is just one owner, add an apostrophe first and
    then add an     s:

cat + ’s    cat’s

The cat’s dish was empty.
  • When there is more than one owner, add an s first and then add an apostrophe:

 

Be Careful!
When the name of more than one owner does not end with an s, add an apostrophe first and then add an s:

cats + ’   cats’

All the cats’ cages at the shelter were nice and big.

 

An apostrophe is used in words called contractions.  Contractions are a short way to write two words as one word.  It is formed by putting the two words together and leaving out one or more letters.  An apostrophe is used to show where something is left out.
Use an apostrophe when you put two words together to make a contraction:
  • In a contraction, the apostrophe takes the place of the missing
    letter or letters:

I + am = I’m
you + are = you’re
he + is = he’s
she + is = she’s
it + is = it’s
we + would = we’d
they + will = they’ll
do + not = don’t
are + not = aren’t
could + not = couldn’t
have + not = haven’t
would + not = wouldn’t
did + not = didn’t