Syntax Punctuation Guide
Punctuation has a meaning and purpose when authors use them. The following chart serves as an indicator of what each mark means and
how/why it is used. For 30% extra credit grade, you can add examples that you have found in reading passages and practice sentences you have
created using that tip.
Punctuation
Symbol:
Name:
Meaning/ Purpose:
Background and Tips:
‘
Apostrophe
Shows possession or contraction/
deleted letters
Like a raised comma, the apostrophe means so much:
 Shows possession (Stacey’s book, cat’s fur)
 Shows a contraction or deletion of letters in words (don’t,
‘cause it sounds funny)
:
Colon
Announces an important list or
surprise addition to the sentence;
acts as a drum roll for something
important that follows it.
Capitalize the first word after a colon ONLY if it’s a proper noun
or the start of a complete sentence.
,
Comma
Separates or joins
Dash
Shows a break in thought or sets
off something with emphasis;
signal meaning namely, that is, in
other words.
Indicates omission or hesitation
Is the most frequently used punctuation mark and can:
 Separate items in a series
 Separate introductions/ tags from actual quotes/ dialogue
 Enclose asides or interrupters
 Joins sentences when used with a FANBOYS conjunction
in compound sentences
 Separate openers and closers from base sentences in
complex sentences
 Can often be replaced by other punctuation (comma,
colon, semicolon, parenthesis)
 Don’t overuse it—as it will lose its emphatic effect.
…
!
Ellipsis
Exclamation
point
Ends a sentence that indicates
extreme emotion—pain, fear,
astonishment, anger, disgust, or
yelling
Always add THREE dots to show an ellipsis. If it is a finished
thought, also add a period to show it’s the end of the sentence. It
will look like four dots, but it’s really an ellipsis with a period.
Don’t overuse exclamation points! Really! I mean it! Cut it out!
Like our friend the dash, overuse will make it lose its emphatic—
and dramatic—effect!
Syntax Punctuation Guide
-
Hyphen
Indicates that two words should
thought of as one, especially when
using two adjectives or word
groups that act as one unit
Use hyphens to:
 Join compound adjectives before a noun (hard-working
student)
 Join compound nouns and two-word or multi-word
concepts (mother-in-law, skin-deep)
 Add a prefix to a word when clarity is needed, such as
avoiding a double-vowel situation (anti-intellectual)
 Divide lettered words (t-shirt, l-shaped, x-ray)
 Divide a word between syllables at the end of a line
Use for:
 Clarification of technical or obscure terms
 Conversions or translations
 Citation of additional sources that are other people’s
writings. See your MLA guidelines for more information.
Every sentence needs end punctuation to show that it has ended.
The period is the most frequent end mark used to show this.
()
Parenthesis
Indicates an aside or something
non-essential; also indicates
citation information for sources
such as author, page number, etc.
.
?
“”
;
Period
Ends a sentence
Question
mark
Ends a sentence that indicates a
question
If you have to ask in the sentence, isn’t it a question?
Quotation
Marks
Encloses direct speech or direct
quotes from a source
Note: Quotes within a quotation need single quotes to enclose that
specific information. The remainder of the entire quote should be
enclosed as usual with quotation marks.
Semicolon


Between the period and the comma lies the semicolon.
When items is a series contain commas, use a semicolon
for clarity.
/
Slash
Links complete ideas and
sentences that have similar or
equal value; may also be needed
when there are already too many
commas in a sentence
Shows the end of a line of quoted
poetry and may be used to
separate alternatives like
either/or.


Smiley face
and other
emoticons
Indicate emotions

Using a slash with poetry allows you to include several
lines without having to tab each line
Ex: Roses are red/violets are blue/sugar is sweet/and I
love you becomes two lines instead of four in a stanza
format.
DON”T use an emoticon in formal writing (writing other
than email, a sticky note, or an extremely informal
communication)
