How to Use the Correct Punctuation

Having an idea sitting in your brain waiting to be written is a good thing. What can be confusing is how to get it from your brain to the paper using the correct punctuation. In this article, we will cover how to use the six basic punctuation marks in a sentence.

The Period

The most common punctuation mark is the period (.). The period comes at the end of a sentence. The rule of thumb for using a period at the end of a sentence is if your sentence is not a question or emotional statement use a period. Example: I will go to work today.

The Question Mark

The question mark (?) is also a very common end of sentence punctuation mark. The rule of thumb for the question mark is if you are asking a question that is directed to or about someone, use the question mark. Example: Do you have to go to work today?

The Exclamation Point

The exclamation point is another ending to a sentence. However, using an exclamation point at the end of a statement means you want to express some kind of emotion to the reader. Emotions such as joy, fear, sadness, or pain. Example: Hurray! We won the game! Ouch! That hurt my arm!

The Comma

The use of a comma (,) is a little more involved. One use is to separate phrases or words in a series. Example: John, Beth, and Susan went on a picnic. John, Beth, and Susan are the series of words that needed to be separated.

Another use for the comma is to replace the word "and" in a sentence using multiple descriptive words. Example: My grandmother is kind, sweet, and full of energy. As you can see, the word "and" could have been used instead of the commas. That means that using the commas in this sentence makes sense.

When a sentence does not make any sense by using the word "and," then do not use the commas between the descriptive words. Example: They saw the rambling three-story house. Even though rambling and three story are descriptive words, the sentence would not sound right if we inserted the word "and" between rambling and three story. Therefore, we will not use a comma either.

The Colon

The colon ( : )is fairly easy to use. Use a colon in the salutation of a letter. Example: Dear John: Use a colon between the character and the script lines in a play. Example:
Harry: Did you miss me, Jane?
Jane: Only when I was not busy.
Colons are also used to introduce a thought. Example: I realized something today: I miss my kitten and her playful antics when I am at work.

The Semicolon

The semicolon ( ; ) can be confusing about when or how to use it. It is used to join independent clauses that are closely related. Example: After five days of work, I realized four things: Being on time is very important; Keeping my desk clean was a big issue; Leaving a little later impressed my boss; and attending all the meetings is required. Each clause is an independent statement. I could have made complete sentences out of each clause, but I used a semicolon instead.

Use the semicolon when a second clause begins, or starts with conjunctive adverbs such as "but" or "however." Example: We drove up to the lake; however, the water was too cold for swimming.

Since semicolons can be a little tricky to use, most writers are encouraged to re-write a sentence rather than worry about if a semicolon should be used. Example: We drove up to the lake but found the water too cold for swimming. This is a re-write of the sentence I used previously, without the semicolon.

Semicolons can often times confuse the reader as well as the writer. If a semicolon is not placed in a sentence properly, the reader may become confused about what the writer is trying to say. There is a general rule of thumb that goes with semicolons. Actually, there are two. If in doubt, leave it out. On the other hand, just re-write the sentence to avoid any confusion to the reader.

Getting a grip on these six punctuation marks will open the doors of your mind, enabling you to transfer your thoughts from the brain to the paper. Or, should I say, computer screen. Good luck.