Punctuation Study Guide

Punctuation is the use of symbols in writing to clarify meaning and indicate pauses and emphasis. Proper punctuation is essential for clear and effective communication in written language.

Common Punctuation Marks

There are several common punctuation marks:

• Period (.) - used to end a sentence.
• Comma (,) - used to separate items in a list, separate clauses in a compound sentence, and after introductory phrases.
• Question Mark (?) - used to end a direct question.
• Exclamation Mark (!) - used to indicate strong feeling or emphasis.
• Colon (:) - used before a list or explanation that is preceded by a complete sentence.
• Semicolon (;) - used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related.
• Quotation Marks (" ") - used to indicate direct speech or to enclose the title of a short work.
• Apostrophe (') - used to indicate possession and to form contractions.
• Hyphen (-) - used to join words or parts of words together.
• Dash (— or -) - used to set off information or ideas that are not essential to the main point of a sentence.

Guidelines for Punctuation Usage

Here are some guidelines for using punctuation correctly:

• Use a period at the end of a declarative sentence.
• Use a question mark at the end of an interrogative sentence.
• Use an exclamation mark to show strong feeling or emphasis.
• Use commas to separate items in a list and to separate clauses in a compound sentence.
• Use quotation marks to indicate direct speech or to enclose the title of a short work.
• Use apostrophes to indicate possession and to form contractions.
• Use colons to introduce a list or explanation that is preceded by a complete sentence.
• Use semicolons to connect two independent clauses that are closely related.
• Use hyphens to join words or parts of words together.
• Use dashes to set off non-essential information or ideas within a sentence.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about punctuation, it's time to practice! Here are some sentences for you to punctuate correctly:

1. The cat jumped onto the table
2. Have you seen my keys
3. I can't believe she won first prize
4. The concert will feature three singers Sarah James and Tom
5. My favorite book is "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

Remember to use the appropriate punctuation marks to make the sentences clear and grammatically correct.

[Punctuation] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• Thinking SkillsEnglish Language Arts • Sixth Grade
• Drawing InferencesEnglish Language Arts • Sixth Grade
• Implied InformationEnglish Language Arts • Sixth Grade
• Drawing ConclusionsEnglish Language Arts • Sixth Grade
• PluralsEnglish Language Arts • Fourth Grade
• Capitalization/PunctuationEnglish Language Arts • Third Grade