1. Fourth Edition Means
English & Communication for Colleges
5 Developing the Mechanics of Writing
5.1 Periods, Question Marks, and
Exclamation Points
5.2 Commas
5.3 Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and Hyphens
5.4 Quotation Marks, Parentheses,
Underscores, and Apostrophes
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 1

2. 5.1
Periods, Question Marks,
and Exclamation Points
OBJECTIVES
 Use punctuation correctly to help readers
interpret your ideas and inquiries precisely
as you intended.
 Determine when to use periods, question
marks, and exclamation points in your
writing.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 2

3. 5.1
INTERNAL PUNCTUATION
Punctuation comma ,
EXTERNAL PUNCTUATION semicolon ;
period . colon :
question mark ? quotation marks “ ”
exclamation point ! parentheses ( )
dash —
apostrophe ’
hyphen -
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 3

4. 5.1
Periods
 Periods at the ends of sentences
 Declarative sentence
 Mild command
 Indirect question
 Courteous request
 Periods with abbreviations
 Periods in enumerations
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 4

5. 5.1
Question Marks
 Question marks after direct questions
 Question marks in a series
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 5

6. 5.1
Exclamation Points
 An exclamation point is a mark of
punctuation that follows a word, a group
of words, or a sentence that shows strong
emotion.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 6

7. 5.2
Commas
OBJECTIVES
 Use commas correctly with introductory elements in
sentences and with independent clauses.
 Apply comma guidelines with nonessential elements, with
direct address, in a series, with a measurement or weight,
between adjectives, with omission of words, and in
numbers.
 Use commas for clarity, with abbreviations, and between
repeated words.
 Avoid comma pitfalls in writing.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 7

8. 5.2
Uses of the Comma
 With introductory elements in sentences
 Introductory word
 Introductory phrase
 Introductory clause
 With independent clauses in compound
sentences
(Continued on next slide)
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 8

9. 5.2
(Continued from previous slide)
Uses of the Comma
 With nonessential elements
 Interrupting expression
 Nonrestrictive element
 Appositive
 With direct address
 In a series
(Continued on next slide)
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 9

10. 5.2
(Continued from previous slide)
Uses of the Comma
 With parts of one measurement or weight
 Between adjectives
 With omission of words
 In numbers
 For clarity
 With abbreviations
 Between repeated words
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 10

11. 5.2
Pitfalls in Using Commas
 With conjunctions in a series
 Between subjects and verbs
 With two words or phrases
 Between two independent clauses
 With dates
 With addresses
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 11

12. 5.3
Semicolons, Colons,
Dashes, and Hyphens
OBJECTIVES
 Use semicolons correctly in your writing.
 Apply the guidelines for using colons.
 Enliven sentences by using dashes where
appropriate.
 Use hyphens accurately.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 12

13. 5.3
Semicolons
 Between independent clauses
 Before conjunctive adverbs
 In a series
 In compound sentences
 In a series containing commas
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 13

14. 5.3
Colons
 Before a series
 Before a list
 Before a long quotation
 Between special independent clauses
 After a salutation
 In time designations
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 14

15. 5.3
Dashes
 With nonessential elements
 Before a summarizing statement
 With a sudden change of thought
 Before a detailed listing
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 15

16. 5.3
Hyphens
 In word division
 After prefixes
 In compound words
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 16

17. 5.4
Quotation Marks, Parentheses,
Underscores, and Apostrophes
OBJECTIVES
 Apply the guidelines for using quotation marks.
 Use parentheses correctly in your writing.
 Use underscores where appropriate.
 Use the apostrophe accurately in your
communications.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 17

18. 5.4
Quotation Marks
 With direct quotations
 Within quotations
 With other punctuation marks
 With special or unconventional words
 With titles
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 18

19. 5.4
Quotation Marks with
Other Punctuation Marks
RULE EXAMPLE
Place periods and commas “I concur,” said Mr. Remenaric,
within ending quotation marks. “with your suggestion.”
Place semicolons and colons His best lecture is called
outside ending quotation marks. “Orangutan Survival”; have you
had an opportunity to hear it?
This is the “beauty of San
Diego”: ideal temperatures and
clear skies.
(Continued on next slide)
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 19

20. 5.4
(Continued from previous slide)
Quotation Marks with
Other Punctuation Marks
RULE EXAMPLE
Place question marks and She shouted, “Watch out!”
exclamation points inside the He replied, “What’s happening?”
ending quotation marks when
the quoted material is a question
or an exclamation.
Place question marks and Did Lynda actually say, “I will
exclamation points outside the attend the seminar”?
ending quotation marks when What a deplorable situation; he’s
the sentence, but not the quoted just “goofing off”!
material, is a question or an
exclamation.
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 20

21. 5.4
Parentheses
 With nonessential elements
 With monetary designations and
abbreviations
 With references and directions
 With numerals and letters accompanying
a list
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 21

22. 5.4
Underscores
 With titles
 With foreign expressions
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 22

23. 5.4
Apostrophes
 In contractions
 In possession
 In time and money
 In plurals
© Thomson South-Western English & Communication for Colleges Slide 23