Punctuation Rules

1. Punctuation

1.1. Periods, question marks, and exclamation points at the ends of sentences

1.1.1. Use a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point at the end of every sentence. Do not use more than one of these marks at the end of a sentence. For example, do not use both a question mark and an exclamation point, or do not use two exclamation points.

1.1.2. Use a period at the end of a declarative sentence (a sentence that makes a statement).

1.1.2.1. A hockey player must be able to skate backward at top speed.

1.1.3. Also use a period at the end of an imperative sentence (a sentence that gives a command).

1.1.3.1. Keep your eye on the puck.

1.2. Use a question mark at the end of an interrogative sentence (a sentence that asks a question).

1.2.1. Who is the goalie for their team?

1.3. Use an exclamation point at the end of an exclamatory sentence (a sentence that expresses excitement).

1.3.1. That was a terrific block!

Periods with abbreviations

1.4. Use a period at the end of each part of an abbreviation.

1.4.1. Most titles used before people's names are abbreviations.

1.4.1.1. These abbreviations may be used in formal writing. (Miss is not an abbreviation and does not end with a period.)

1.4.1.1.1. Dr. Blackwell Mr. Bill Tilden Ms. Maureen Connolly

1.4.2. Most other abbreviations may be used in addresses, notes, and informal writing.

1.4.2.1. DO NOT use in formal writing.

1.4.2.1.1. Lake View Blvd. Mon. and Thurs. Fifth Ave. Dec. 24

1.4.3. Do not use periods in the abbreviations of names of government agencies, labor unions, and certain other organizations.

1.4.3.1. Tomorrow night CBS will broadcast a special program about the FBI.

1.5. Do not use periods after two-letter state abbreviations in addresses.

1.5.1. This special kind of abbreviation has two capital letters and no period.

1.5.1.1. Use these abbreviations only in addresses.

1.5.1.1.1. Their new address is 1887 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Periods after initials

1.6. Use a period after an initial that is part of a person's name.

1.6.1. Chester A. Arthur C. C. Pyle Susan B. Anthony

2. Commas

2.1. Commas in dates

2.1.1. Use a comma between the number of the day and the number of the year in a date.

2.1.1.1. Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking home run on April 8, 1974.

2.1.2. If the date does not come at the end of a sentence, use another comma after the number of the year.

2.1.2.1. April 8, 1974, was an exciting day for Hank Aaron's fans.

2.2. Do not use a comma in a date that has only the name of a month and the number of a year.

2.2.1. Aaron hit his final home run in July 1976.

2.3. Do not use a comma in a date that has only the name of a month and the number of a day.

2.3.1. April 8 is the anniversary of Aaron's record-breaking home run.

Commas in place names

2.4. Use a comma between the name of a city or town and the name of a state or country.

2.4.1. The world's largest chocolate factory is in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

2.4.1.1. If the two names do not come at the end of a sentence, use another comma after the name of the state or country.

2.4.1.1.1. Hershey, Pennsylvania, is the home of the world's largest chocolate factory.

Commas in compound sentences

2.5. Use a comma before the conjunction—and, but, or or—in a compound sentence. (See Grammar 9 and Grammar 45.)

2.5.1. Eighteen people tried, but no one succeeded.

Commas in series

2.6. Three or more words or groups of words used the same way in a sentence form a series. Use commas to separate the words or word groups in a series.

2.6.1. Jamie, Mitch, Kim, Lou, and Pablo entered the contest.

2.6.1.1. Each contestant swam one mile, bicycled two miles, and ran five miles.

Commas after introductory phrases and clauses

2.7. Use a comma after a phrase that comes before the subject of a sentence. A phrase is a group of words that usually functions as an adjective or an adverb. One kind of phrase is a prepositional phrase. (See Grammar 49.)

2.7.1. In the old dresser, Penny found the diamonds.

2.7.1.1. If the entire predicate comes before the subject of the sentence, do not use a comma. (See Grammar 3.)

2.7.1.1.1. In the old dresser lay the diamonds.

2.8. Use a comma after an adverb clause at the beginning of a sentence. (See Grammar 46.)

2.8.1. When he was first named hockey's most valuable player, Wayne Gretzky was only 18 years old,

Commas with nouns of address

2.9. Use a comma after a noun of address at the beginning of a sentence. (See Grammar 15.)

2.9.1. Fernando, that was a terrific pitch!

2.10. Use a comma before a noun of address at the end of a sentence.

2.10.1. That was a terrific pitch, Fernando!

2.11. If a noun of address comes in the middle of a sentence, use one comma before the noun and another comma after it.

2.11.1. That, Fernando, was a terrific pitch!

Commas with appositives

2.12. Use a comma before an appositive at the end of a sentence. (See Grammar 16.)

2.12.1. This costume was worn by George Reeves, Hollywood's first Superman.

2.13. If an appositive comes in the middle of a sentence, use one comma before the appositive and another comma after it.

2.13.1. George Reeves, Hollywood's first Superman, wore this costume.

Commas or exclamation points with interjections

2.14. Usually, use a comma after an interjection. (See Grammar 47.)

2.14.1. Well, we should probably think about it.

2.15. Use an exclamation point after an interjection that expresses excitement.

2.15.1. Wow! That's a terrific idea!

Commas after greetings in friendly letters

2.16. Use a comma after the greeting in a friendly letter.

2.16.1. Dear John, Dear Uncle Theodore,

Commas after closings in

2.17. friendly letters and business letters

2.17.1. Use a comma after the closing in a letter.

2.17.2. Love, Yours sincerely,

3. Quotation marks

3.1. with direct quotations

3.1.1. A direct quotation tells the exact words a person said. Use quotation marks at the beginning and at the end of each part of a direct quotation.

3.1.1.1. "Look!" cried Tina. "That cat is smiling!" "Of course,"said Tom. "It's a Cheshire cat."

3.2. Commas with direct quotations

3.2.1. Usually, use a comma to separate the words of a direct quotation from the words that tell who is speaking. (See Punctuation 16.)

3.2.1.1. Jay asked, "Who won the game last night?" "The Cubs won it," said Linda, "in 14 innings."

3.3. End punctuation with direct quotations

3.4. At the end of a direct quotation, use a period, a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point before the closing quotation marks. If the direct quotation makes a statement or gives a command at the end of a sentence, use a period.

3.4.1. Linda said, "The Cubs won last night's game." Jay said, "Tell us about the game. "

3.4.1.1. If the direct quotation makes a statement or gives a command before the end of a sentence, use a comma.

3.4.1.1.1. "The Cubs won last night's game, "saidLinda. "Tell us about the game, "Jay said.

3.4.2. If the direct quotation asks a question, use a question mark.

3.4.2.1.1. "Was it an exciting game?" asked Jay.

3.4.3. If the direct quotation expresses excitement, use an exclamation point.

3.4.3.1.1. Linda yelled, "It was great!"

3.5. Quotation marks with titles of works

3.5.1. Use quotation marks around the title of a story, poem, song, essay, or chapter.

3.5.1.1. "Happy Birthday to You" is the most popular song in the world.

3.5.2. If a period or a comma comes after the title, put the period or comma inside the closing quotation mark.

3.5.2.1. The most popular song in the world is "Happy Birthday to You."

3.6. Underlines with titles of works

3.7. Underline the title of a book, play, magazine, movie, television series, or newspaper.

3.7.1. One of the best movies about baseball was The Natural.

3.8. Apostrophes in contractions

3.8.1. Use an apostrophe in place of the missing letter or letters in a contraction.

3.8.1.1. is not—isn't Melts—Mel's I will—I'll

Apostrophes in possessive nouns

3.9. Use an apostrophe and s to write the possessive form of a singular noun. (See Grammar 14.)

3.9.1. This cage belongs to one bird. It is the bird's cage.

3.9.2. This cage belongs to Tweeter. It is Tweeter's cage.

3.10. Use only an apostrophe to write the possessive form of a plural noun that ends in s.

3.10.1. This is a club for boys. It is a boys' club.

3.11. Use an apostrophe and s to write the possessive form of a plural noun that does not end in s.

3.11.1. This is a club for men. It is a men's club.

4. Colons

4.1. after greetings in business letters

4.1.1. Use a colon after the greeting in a business letter. Dear Mrs. Huan: Dear Sir or Madam: Dear Senator Rayburn:

4.2. Colons in expressions of time

4.2.1. When you use numerals to write time, use a colon between the hour and the minutes.

4.2.1.1. 5:45 P.M. 9:00 AM. 12:17 P.M.

5. Hyphens

5.1. in numbers and fractions

5.1.1. Use a hyphen in a compound number from twenty-one to ninety-nine.

5.1.1.1. thirty-seven fifty-eight seventy-three