Carol Hamilton
North Seattle Community College
Punctuation Rules
Comma Rules (,) The comma indicates a slight pause or a natural division and can be used
in many situations.
1. Compound Sentences: Use a comma along with a Coordinating Conjunction (CC) (for, and,
nor, but, or, yet, so) between the independent clauses in a compound sentence. Remember that
the comma alone produces a “comma fault.”
2. Series: Use commas when listing a series of two or more sentence items such as words,
phrases, or clauses. The comma before the word and may be omitted if the writer feels the
sentence is easy to read without it, or the writer wants to create a dramatic effect.
3. Introductory elements: Use a comma to set off introductory elements such as a word or
phrase.
4. Subordinate/Dependent Clause at the start of a sentence: Most importantly a comma follows
the dependent clause that precedes the main subject and verb clause or if a dependent clause in
the middle of the sentence is followed by an independent clause. The dependent clause begins
with a subordinate conjunction. (SC)
5. Modifier, interruptions or explanations: A phrase or clause that modifies or comments about
the noun that it follows. Place commas around these sentence elements such as explanations or
extra information about a noun, or adjective or adverb clauses because they are giving you
information that adds details and is not necessary for the meaning of the main sentence clause.
6. Adjectives: Use commas between two or more adjectives in front of nouns when you can
insert the word and or but to test if there are two qualities expressed in the words describing the
nouns. We also put commas around appositive adjectives after the noun.
7. Direct Quotations: Use a comma after the words like said and replied that introduce a direct
quotation.
8. Clarification: Use a comma to clarify a part of the sentence that might be misunderstood if
you didn't take a pause. Commas can set off ending phrases in a sentence.
Semicolon Rules (;) Used to show a stronger pause.
1. Connects two clauses: A semicolon links two closely related clauses, or two independent
clauses joined by a transitional or adverbial expression. You can think of the semicolon as
having the same energy as the comma-plus-conjunction of comma rule #1.
2. Separation of a series when other punctuation is present: Use semicolons to separate a series
of sentence elements that already have internal punctuation such as commas in a series or around
interruptions.
(-Hyphen is that short one on the keyboard that is used to make compound words or
phrases.)
Dash Rule: —(Made with two hyphens and no space) A dramatic punctuation mark that is
used to point out or surround something for emphasis or to give extra detail or
information.
1. Interruptions within sentences: Use a dash (or a pair of dashes) to set off any interrupting
structure within a sentence or at the end.
2. Extra information or appositives: Use dashes to give additional or explanatory information.
They can show that something unexpected has been added or another explanation follows the
noun.
Colon Rules (:) This mark introduces explanatory items or list. It is a major break in the
sentence and directs attention to what follows.
1. Use a colon to introduce a quotation when the quotation is not direct speech.
2. Use a colon to introduce a list at the end of a sentence.
3. Use a colon to link an independent clause and an explanation.
4. Use a colon in the following: between a title and subtitle; between the hour and minute; after
the salutation in a business letter.
Quotation Marks ( “ ”)
1. Direct Quotations: Use double quotation marks to indicate another person’s exact words,
both spoken and written.
2. Titles: Use a pair of quotation marks to indicate the titles of articles, chapters, of longer
books, short poems (not book length), and short stories.
3. Quote within a quote: Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations if the
main quotation is less than four lines long.
4. Block Indented Quotations: When you are using a quotation more than four typed lines long,
omit the quotation marks and indent the quotation ten spaces from the left-hand margin. Doublespace the quoted material and further set off the quotation by double-spacing before and after it.
Introduce a long quotation with a colon.
Other Punctuation with Quotation Marks:
1. Commas and periods always go inside quotation marks used in direct quotations or titles.
2. Colons and semicolons always go outside quotation marks.
3. Question marks and exclamation marks go inside quotation marks when they are part of a
quotation; otherwise, they go outside.