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RULES OF PUNCTUATION


RULES OF PUNCTUATION

FOR WRITING


 

Rule Example
1. End a sentence with a PERIOD. She loves reading.
2. Use a QUESTION MARK for direct questions. Where are you going?
3. Use an EXCLAMATION MARK for strong feelings. What a wonderful surprise!
4. Don't use multiple exclamation marks in formal writing. Wrong: Stop!!! + Correct: Stop!
5. Place a COMMA to separate items in a list. I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
6. Use the OXFORD COMMA before the last item in complee lists. I dedicate this book to my parents, Gandhi, and God.
7. Use a COMMA after an introductory phrase. After the meeting, we went for lunch.
8. Use COMMAS around nonessential information. My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting.
9. Don't use COMMAS around essential information. People who work hard succeed.
10. Place a COMMA between two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. She was tired, but she kept working.
Rule Example
11. Use a COMMA after transition words. However, we decided to wait.
12. Use a COMMA to separate adjectives that equally describe a noun. It was a long, difficult journey.
13. Don't use a COMMA between unequal adjectives. She wore bright red shoes.
14. Use a SEMICOLON to join closely related independent clause* I have a meeting tomorrow; I can't stay out late tonight.
15. Use a SEMICOLON before conjunctive adverbs. She was unprepared; therefore, she failed the test.
16. Use SEMICOLONS to separate complex list items. We met Anna, the dancer; Raj, the singer; and Sam, the poet.
17. Don't use a SEMICOLON with a coordinating conjunction. Wrong: I like tea; but I prefer coffee.
18. Use a COLON to introduce a list. He bought three things: bread, milk, and cheese.
19. Use a COLON to introduce an explanation. She finally understood: hard work pays off.
20. Use a COLON after a salutation in formal letters. Dear Sir:
21. Don't use a COLON after a verb. Wrong: My hobbies are: reading and painting. * Correct: My hobbies are reading and painting.
22. Use a DASH to show a break in thought. I was about to leave� when the phone rang.
23. Use a DASH to emphasize a point. He finally got what he wanted�freedom.
24. Use a DASH to set off parenthetical information. My friend�who you met yesterday�just called.
25. Don't overuse DASHE In formal writing. Wrong: She�was�very� happy.
26. Use HYPHENS in compound adjectives before nouns. A well-known author.
27. Don't hyphenate compound adjectives after nouns. The author is well known.
28. Use HYPHENS in spelled-out numbers (twenty-one to ninety-nine). He is thirty-five years old.
29. Use HYPHENS in fractions used as adjectives. A two-thirds majority.
30. Don't hyphenate fractions used as nouns. Two thirds of the cake is gone.
31. Use QUOTATION MARKS for direct speech. She said, "I'm leaving now."
32. Place periods and commas inside QUOTATION MARKS (American English). He said, "It's fine."
33. Place colons and semicolons outside QUOTATION MARKS. She said, "I'll come"; then she left.
34. Place QUESTION MARKS inside QUOTATION MARKS if part of the quote. He asked, "Are you ready?"
35. Place QUESTION MARK outside if not part of the quote. Did she say "I'm ready"?
36. Use SINGLE QUOTATION He said, "l heard her say, 'I'm tired."'
MARKS for quotes within quotes.
37. Use QUOTATION MARKS for titles of short works. I read "The Tell-Tale Heart."
38. Don't use QUOTATION MARKS for emphasis (use italics instead). Wrong: She is a "doctor." + Correct: She is a doctor.
39. Use APOSTROPHES for possession (singular). The boy's hat.
40. Use APOSTROPHES for possession (plural). The girls' room.
41. Use APOSTROPHES for plural nouns not ending in s. The children's toys.
42. Don't use APOSTROPHES for regular plurals. Wrong: apple's * Correct: apples.
43. Use APOSTROPHES in contractions. Don't, can't, it's.
44. Don't confuse IT'S (it is) with ITS (possessive). It's raining. The dog wagged its tail.
45. Use APOSTROPHES for Plural letters or numbers. iod your p's and q's.
46. Don't use APOSTROPHES for decades. Wrong: 1990's * Correct: 1990s.
47. Use ELLIPSES to show omitted words. "l came ... I conquered."
48. Use ELLIPSES for trailing thoughts. "Well ... I'm not sure."
49. Don't overuse ELLIPSES in formal writing. Wrong: "l ... think ... it's . good."
50. Use PARENTHESES for additional info. He finally arrived (after an hour).
51. Don't overuse PARENTHESES; use commas or dashes if possible. Correct: He arrived, after an hour, finally.
52. Use BRACKETS inside quotes for clarification. 'He [the manager] agreed to help."
53. Use BRACKETS for editorial notes. [sic]
54. Use SLASHES to show alternatives. Please press yes/no.
55. Use SLASHES in fractions 3/4 of the cake.
56. Avoid SLASHES in formal writing. Wrong: He/She + Correct:
He or she.
51 Use a PERIOD in abbreviations. Dr., Mr., etc.
58. Don't use a PERIOD in acronyms. NATO, NASA, UNESCO.
59. Use a PERIOD in initials. J. K. Rowling.
60. Avoid a PERIOD in metric units. 5 kg, 10 cm.
61. Use a COMMA before direct address. Lisa, can you help me?
62. Use a COMMA after direct address. Can you help me, Lisa?
63. Use a COMMA in dates (American style). July 4, 2025.
64. No COMMA in day-monthyear format (British style). 4 July 2025.
65. Use COMMAS in large numbers. 000; 50,000.
66. Don't use COMMAS in years. 2025 not 2,025.
67. Use COMMAS in direct quotations (before closing mark). "I'm ready," she said.
68. Don't put a COMMA between subject and verb. Wrong: My car, is red.
69. Use COMMAS after interjections. Yes, I'll join you.
70. Use COMMAS before question tags. It's hot today, isn't it?
71. Use COMMAS to avoid confusion. Let's eat, Grandma.
72. Don't add unnecessary COMMAS. Wrong: She likes, to sing.
73. Use a COLON to introduce quotations (formal). He said: "Knowledge is power."
74. Use a COLON before explanations. She got what she wanted:
success.
75. Don't use a COLON after "such as" or "including?' Wrong: She likes fruits such as: apples, oranges.
76. Use SEMICOLONS for complex lists. Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Berlin, Germany.
77. Don't replace a COMMA with a SEMICOLON. Wrong: I like tea; and coffee.
78. Use DASHES for sudden interruptions. "l was going to�wait, what's that sound?"
79. Use DASHES for emphasis. He needed one thing� money.
80. Don't confuse DASHES and HYPHENS. Well-known (hyphen) vs. Well�known (wrong).
81. Use HYPHENS in compound nouns. Mother-in-law.
82. Don't hyphenate common compounds. High school, not highschool.
83. Use HYPHENS in word breaks at line endings (avoid if possible). Extra- / ordinary.
84. Use CAPITAL LETTERS after a colon (American style, optional). She had one wish: Freedom.
85. Don't capitalize after a colo if continuing the sentence He said: the results were disappointing.
86. Use PUNCTUATION insid� parentheses if it belongs to th text. He smiled (and left).
87. Put punctuation outside parentheses if it belongs to the main sentence. He smiled (she didn't).
88. Use an EXCLAMATION POINT sparingly in formal writing. The discovery was amazing!
89. Use QUESTION MARKS for rhetorical questions (with care). Who doesn't like ice cream?
90. Don't use DOUBLE PUNCTUATION. Wrong: What?!
91. Use only one END PUNCTUATION per sentence. Wrong: Stop!!
92. Use an EN DASH for ranges. Pages 20-25.
93. Use an EN DASH for connections. The London-Paris train.
94. Use an EM DASH for breaks or emphasis. He was sure�absolutely sure�about it.
95. Don't overuse DASHES in one sentence. Wrong: He�was�late� for�work.
96. Use BULLET POINTS with colohs before lists. She needs: � pens � paper
� books
97. End BULLET POINTS with periodS if they're complete sentence � She is ready.
98. Use SLASHES in URLs. https://www.example.co m/page/2
99. Don't use spaces around SLASHES in dates. 29/09/2025 not 29 / 09 /
2025.00.00
100. Use CONSISTENT punctuation style throughout a document. Choose British or American style, not both.
101. Always punctuate for CLARITY first, style second. Wrong: Let's eat Grandma. * Correct: Let's eat, Grandma.