The word 'Punctuation' is taken from the Latin word
'Punctum' meaning 'point'. Punctuation refers to the right point being put at
the right place, in order to make reading and understanding clear, precise and
understandable. Some of these marks of punctuation are as follows.
|
Full
Stop
|
.
|
|
Comma
|
,
|
|
Semicolon
|
;
|
|
Colon
|
:
|
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Mark
of interrogation or Question mark
|
?
|
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Mark
of interjection or Exclamation mark
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!
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Quotation
marks or Inverted Commas
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"
"
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Apostrophe
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'
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Hyphen
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-
|
|
Dash
|
__
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1. Full Stop: The full stop marks the end
of a sentence. It is also used to denote abbreviations and initials.
2. Comma: Basically, the comma is used to
indicate a slight pause between words, phrases or clauses.
3. Semicolon: The semicolon represents a
pause of greater intensity that they indicated by a comma.
4. Colon: The colon marks a still more complete
pause than that expressed by the
semicolon.
5. Mark of Interrogation or Question Mark: The question mark is used
instead of a full stop, at the end of a question asked.
6. Mark of Interjection or Exclamation Mark:
The Exclamation Mark is used after interjections and after phrases and
sentences expressing sudden emotion or wish.
7. Quotation Marks or Inverted Commas:
Quotation marks are used to enclose the exact words of a speaker, or a
quotation.
8. Apostrophe: The Apostrophe is used to
show possession.
e.g. Father's pen. Mother's dress.
It is also used to show the omission of a letter or
letters.
e.g. Don't, Can't, Shouldn't, etc.
Apostrophe also used for plural nouns ending in 's'
e.g. Here are the pupils' books.
Whose fathers' pen it is?
9. Hyphen: A shorter line than the dash, it is
used to connect parts of a compound word.
e.g. home-made, man-of-war, air-conditioner, etc.
10. Dash: A dash is used to indicate a sudden stop
in the thoughts of the speaker, and the introduction of another thought.
11. Capitalization - Capitals are used to begin
a sentence. For proper noun, for personal pronoun 'I' .
Exercise to practice.
Punctuate the following sentences.
1.sonia and her cousin sheila have just arrived from
london
Sonia and her
cousin, Sheila have just arrived from London.
2.uncle sam took us to spencers mall from where we bought many things cake biscuits soft drinks
stationery items and toiletries
Uncle Sam took
us to spencer ‘s mall from where we bought many things -cakes,biscuits,softdrinks, Stationery
items and toiletries.
3.dr rajesh is a well qualified surgeon with a md degree
from california university
Dr Rajesh is a
well qualified surgeon with an M.D degree from california university.
4.who do you wish to speak to anne asked the man on the
phone
“Who do u wish
to speak to?” Anne asked the man on the phone.
5.emperor akbar was a wise moghul king who rule india for
many years
Emperor Akbar
was a wise Moghul king who rued India for many years.
6.this year on teachers day the students of class 10 gave
their class teacher mrs aarti patel a gift a bouquet of flowers and a card
This year, on
Teachers ‘ Day, the students of class 10 gave their class teacher, Mrs Aarti
Patel a gift, a bouquet of flowers and a card.
7.all students both boys and girls from class 9 must
proceed to the science laboratory for a demonstration by mr santosh
All students -
both boys and girls from class 9 must proceed to the Science Laboratory for a
demontration by Mr Santosh.
8.the man asked his wife what do you wish for your
birthday this year
The man asked
his wife, “What do you wish for your birthday, this year?”
9.the wife replied i wish that you grant three wishes
every birthday till the end of time
The wife
replied,”I wish that you grant three wishes everybirthday till the end of
time.”
10.punit and sanjana lived at salisbury park in pune city
for ten years before they migrated to paris
Punit and
Sanjana lived at Salisbury Park in Pune city for ten years before they migrated
to Paris.
11. ravi said his mother do you want a glass of orange
juice
“Ravi,” said
his mother, “Do you want a glass of orange juice?”
12.shakespeare yeats shelly wordsworth all are great
english poets.
Shakespeare,
Yeats, Shelly and Wordsworth – all are great English poets.
13. what is your priority health or wealth asked mr john
our colleague from amsterdam
“What is your
priority – health or wealth?” asked Mr John, our new colleague from amsterdam.
14. in india the people from the states of kerala and tamil
nadu generally prefer coffee to tea
In India, the
people from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu generally prefer coffee to tea.
15.rohans mother and divyas sister went to america last
year in september by virgin atlantic airlines
Rohan’s mother
and Divya’s sister went to America last year in September by Virgin atlantic
airlines.
