Some Punctuation Basics
Adapted from Eric Stephenson’s
Presentation
Punctuating Titles
Parts of works, such as short stories,
articles, poems, songs which appear
within collections (journals, magazines,
newspapers or books) get quotation
marks:
 “Stopping
by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is a
famous poem by Robert Frost.
 “Survey of the Attitudes of First-Year College
Students toward Smoking Tobacco” appeared
in a journal last year.
Treating Other Titles Differently
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Other titles (of complete works) are underlined
or italicized
Books
 Plays
 Websites
 Computer software—Microsoft Internet Explorer
 Periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)
 Movies
 Databases
 Works of visual art
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Capitalization in Titles
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Generally, the only parts of speech NOT
given an initial capital in a title are articles,
prepositions, and conjunctions. Note that
the entire title is NOT placed in capitals.
The Spanish Inquisition: Was It as
Appalling as the English Protestant Writers
Claimed?
 Reading between the Lines
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“On the Rainy River”
Comma Usage
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Commas set off nonessential elements
 The
store, which is located in Redding, has a
fine array of clothing.
 Toni Morrison, a Nobel Prize winner, wrote
Beloved.
 Many construction owners, their profits still
growing, continue to invest in new
equipment.
Comma Usage Continued
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Parenthetical and transitional expressions
get commas, as in introductions to a main
clause.
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Slowly, a few people began arriving at the fair.
Clearly, this is an idea in need of review.
In the end, we managed to get through.
Americans, for example, tend to work longer
hours than their European counterparts.
Dogs and cats, for instance, can be
domesticated fairly easily.
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Comma Usage Continued
A comma and coordinating conjunction are used
to separate independent clauses
 Coordinating conjunctions—FANBOYS
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He was popular, for he had won the game.
She understood the question, and she responded
quickly.
He did not care, nor did he do anything about it.
The group used a map, but they still got lost.
He should review the material, or else he will make
mistakes.
He ate, yet he was still hungry.
He was hungry, so he ate waffles.
Comma Usage Continued
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Use commas after subordinating clauses:
 Although
the field was long, he traversed it
anyway.
 When students work hard, they usually
succeed.
 After the show, they went to dinner.
 Once she decided to leave, he could not stop
her.
Semicolons
Semicolons can be used between two
INDEPENDENT clauses, especially if they have
parallel structure or show cause and effect.
 The Tempest is an examination of perception as
it relates to reality; each character perceives the
storm and its consequences differently.
 Mr. Johnson often receives annual paid
vacations; however, he works, on average, six
days a week.
 Incorrect (creates a fragment)
 She was thirsty; because she had eaten
potato chips.
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Note the Differences
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Than is a comparative conjunction; then is an
adverb that indicates time.
Which is a relative pronoun (not witch) . These
are homophones—spelled differently but sound
the same.
To is a preposition; too is an adverb meaning
“also” or “excessively”; two is the number.
Whether-weather
It’s-its
There-their-they’re
Possession
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Write out the word, then add apostrophe “s” or
just an apostrophe. Think before you
apostrophe!
The dog’s house is air conditioned. (one dog)
The dogs’ house is air conditioned. (two dogs)
The parents’ car (both parents)
The parent’s car (one parent)
Tess’ poems are lovely. (poems by Tess)
Tess’s poems are lovely. (older form)
Possession Continued
Since the people’s decision is final, we
might as well accept it.
 We sealed all the boxes’ lids.
 One box’s top was damaged.
 In some languages, possession is shown
by the preposition equivalent to of. “The
house of Mary” would be, in idiomatic
English, “Mary’s house.”
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