Quick and simple guide to punctuation- part one. Apostrophes, commas and periods. APOSTROPHES 1)Used in nouns to show possession. a) If the singular or plural version of the noun does not end in ‘s’, or an ‘s’ sound, then an ‘s’ should be placed after the apostrophe. • Singular = dog, singular possessive = dog’s. That is my dog’s ball. • Plural = students, plural possessive= possessive= student’s. The student’s grades were low. b)If the singular ends in ‘s’ already, an additional ‘s’ is not always needed. This is open to personal preference preference but, if you wish to include an additional ‘s’ sound, then you may wish to include it. • Singular = Chris, singular possessive= Chris’ or Chris’s. Chris’ grades were low. c) If the plural ends in ‘s’ already, an additional ‘s’ should not be used. • Plural = athletes, plural possessive= possessive= athletes’. The athletes’ racing time is yet to be announced. d) Some expressions relating relating to time, distance, and value also use an apostrophe. * Three months’ wages. * In a moment’s time. * Seven miles’ miles’ run. e) Single and plural possessive compound nouns (a noun of two or more parts) are created by adding an apostrophe at the end of the compound word. • Singular = father-in-law, singular possessive = father-in-law’s. I really like my father-in-law’s car. • Plural = brother-in-law, plural possessive= brother-in-laws’. My brother-in-laws’ singing voices are far nicer than mine.” f) Making the last word in the series series possessive can depict joint ownership ownership of something. Making both parts possessive shows individual ownership. • Joint ownership= I really like Sarah and Heath’s apartment. • Single ownership= Sarah’s and Heath’s level of fitness is far superior to mine. *
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2) Used in indefinite pronouns to show possession. possession. The possessive case of indefinite pronouns is f ormed in the same way as the possessive possessive case of nouns. For example, “Looking after the environment is everyone’s responsibility.” “Somebody’s car is blocking the entrance to the hospital.” NB: The exception to this rule concerns the word it. When showing the possessive of the personal pronoun it, no apostrophe is used. “The dog lost its ball.” 3) Use the apostrophe with s to form the plural plural of numbers, letters, signs, and symbols. • The dancer scored scored straight 9’s. • 10’s of thousands of people people were evacuated. evacuated. • I can’t tell if those of O’s or 0’s. 0’s.
There are two exceptions to this: a) If the plural is clear, then the apostrophe after upper case letters is not needed. • I got 3 as and 2 Bs. b) It is not necessary to use an apostrophe to create the plurals of years, decades, or abbreviations. • All sense of fashion disappeared in the 1990s. • UFOs are always shaped like saucers. • How many MBAs does it take to change a light bulb?
COMMAS 1) After an adverbial clause if the dependent dependent clause begins the sentence. If the dependent clause is is not at the beginning of a sentence then a comma is not needed. • Before you start the maneuver, make sure you check your mirrors. • Make sure you check your mirrors before you start the maneuver. 2) After a participle phrase or an absolute absolute phrase at the beginning of a sentence. • Soaring through the air, the eagle scanned the ground for prey. • Having missed the bus, Gary decided decided to walk. 3) After an introductory infinitive phrase, unless the infinitive is the subject of the sentence. • In order to learn English, you should practice practice whenever possible. • To learn English is a top priority for me. 4) To separate expressions, expressions, transitional words, phrases, clauses and introductory phrases from the rest of the sentence. • However, we shall shall wait and see. see. • Regardless, I am not prepared to wait. • I cannot, for the life of me, understand why they they fired him. • Yes, I did lock the door. 5) To distinguish a nonrestrictive clause from the rest of the sentence, providing that it is not critical to the meaning of the sentence. • In December, my favorite time of the year, it is very cold here. • My favorite time of the year is December. 6) To distinguish an appositive (a word or phrase that defines another word or phrase). • My Mother, Kath, used to work here. • Hong Kong, a vibrant city, city, is very humid during the summer. If the appositive is closely related to the word or phrase it is defining then the comma is unnecessary. • She is visiting her friend Charlotte. • My aunty Mary is 90 next week. 7) To separate words that are intended as a direct direct address to an individual. • The truth, Watson, is often hard to find. • Sarah, where have you been? 8) To separate a series of three or more words, phrases, or clauses. • My favorite foods are sandwiches, peanut butter, butter, and chocolate. • I looked in the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom bedroom but couldn’t find my keys. 9) To separate coordinate adjectives (the word “and” can be used between them) which modify the same noun. • The dog is strong, strong, fast and fit. • The food arrived cold, undercooked and late. 10) Before a coordinate conjunction conjunction which joins independent clauses of a compound sentence. • Jim wanted to go to bed, but his wife was on the telephone. • Make sure you are on time, or do not come at all. • He wanted to live in the city, while his girlfriend girlfriend preferred the countryside. Commas should not be used between two independent clauses unless a coordinate conjunction (but, while, and, or, nor, yet etc) is included in the sentence, otherwise you will form a “comma splice”, which is incorrect. • Karen is a mother, she works long hours.
1) To separate words or phrases that express contrast. • You should respect your mother, not shout at her. • I wanted a promotion, not more responsibility. 2) To separate month and days from the year. • I was born on July 1st, 1978. 3) To separate different elements of a location from one another. • I live in Hong Kong, Asia. • My mother lives at 3 Stanley Road, Richmond, London. 4) To set off a quotation. • He was reported in the newspaper as saying, “Sorry for any problems I caused.” • He shouted angrily, “Get out of my garden!” 5) Instead of an exclamation mark. • Hi, how are you? • Gees, this wasn’t what I had intended. 6) To separate an interrogative clause that immediately follows a declarative clause. • You’re going to be late again, aren’t you? • She’s stunning, isn’t she?
PERIODS 1) Periods should always be used at the end of a sentence. 2) Periods should be used after initials, abbreviations and contracted words. E.g. Mins. Yrs. A.M. However, if the sentence ends in an abbreviation only one period should be used. • This guide is provided free of charge by Global Art Ltd. 3) Periods should be used instead of a question mark after an indirect question or a courteous request. • He asked you where you have been.(indirect question). • Çan you please turn the music down. (courteous response) 4) It is generally accepted practice in US English to place periods inside speech and quotation marks. The rule applies if the last word is a single quotation, but does not apply if the last item enclosed in quotation marks is just a letter or a number: • He said my driving was “terrible.” • The treasure is marked on the spot with an “X”. Vappingo is an online editing, proofreading and writing services provider. Vappingo has an advanced online system that allows access to expert writing services using a state of the art 24/7 self-service system. Low prices guaranteed. Visit vappingo.com to see why we're the industry leaders. A free printable version is available at https://www.vappingo.com/vappingo pedia/grammar.php. Please feel free to redistribute with link.
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