Punctuation

The Comma

Rule 1. To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. (Contemporary style leans toward using no comma before and in a series unless there would be confusion without one. You may opt to use a comma here or not.)

Example My $10,000,000 estate is to be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew.

NOTE: Omitting the comma after son would indicate that the son and nephew would have to split one-third of the estate.

Rule 2. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between them.

Examples He is a strong, healthy man.
We stayed at an expensive summer resort.
You would not say expensive and summer resort, so no comma.

Rule 3. Use a comma when an ly adjective is used with other adjectives.

NOTE: To test if an ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, use the comma.

Example Felix was a lonely, young boy.
I get headaches in brightly lit rooms.
Brightly is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone with rooms. It is an adverb that modifies the adjective lit.

Rule 4. Use commas to surround the name or title of a person directly addressed.

Example Will you, Shirley, do that assignment for me?
Yes, Doctor, I will. (Capitalize a title when directly addressing someone.)

Rule 5a. Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.

Example: My first day of school was August 29, 1994, in Shelbyville.

Rule 5b. If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.

Example We met in December 1999 in Murfreesboro.

Rule 6. Use a comma to separate the city from the state and after the state.

Example I lived in San Francisco, California, for two years.

Rule 7. Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names.

Example Robley Hood, Ph.D., knew John Andrews, Jr.

NOTE: Sometimes people having names with Jr. attached do not use a comma before the Jr. If they do not use the comma, then you should not.

Rule 8. Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence.

Example I am, as you have probably noticed, nervous about this.

Rule 9. When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with an independent clause followed by a dependent clause.

Examples If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
Let me know now if you are not sure about this.

NOTE: If you are not sure about this is a dependent or subordinate clause.

Rule 10. Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence.

Examples To apply for this job, you must have previous experience.
On February 14 many couples give each other chocolate and roses.

Rule 11. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas. The description may be in the form of an appositive phrase or an adjective (relative) clause, as shown below.

Example Freddy, who has a limp, was in an auto accident.
Freddy is named so the description is not essential.

The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident.
We would not know which boy is being referred to otherwise; therefore, no commas are used.

Rule 12. Use a comma to separate two sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction—and, or, but, for, nor.

Example I have painted the entire house, but he is still working on sanding the doors.

Rule 13. If the subject does not appear in front of the second verb, do not use a comma. In this case the coordinating conjunction is merely joining predicates, not whole sentences or independent clauses.

Example He thought quickly and still did not answer correctly.
The subject does not appear after the and, so no comma is used.

Rule 14. Use a comma to introduce or interrupt short direct quotations. (Note that the comma and period always come before the quotation mark.

Examples He actually said, "I do not care."
"Why," I asked, "do you always forget to do it?"

Rule 15. Use a comma to separate a statement from a question.

Example I can go, can’t I?

Rule 16. Use a comma to separate contrasting parts of a sentence.

Example That is my money, not yours.

Rule 17. Use a comma when beginning sentences with introductory words such as well, now, or yes.

Example Yes, I do need that report.

The Semicolon

Rule 1. Use a semicolon in place of a period to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out.

Examples Call me tomorrow; I will give you my answer then.
I have turned in my assignment; therefore, I have finished my work for the term.

Rule 2. Do not use a semicolon in front of words such as therefore and however if they do not connect two complete sentences or if they are used as interrupters.

Examples I would, therefore, like a response.
I would be happy, however, to volunteer for the Red Cross.

Rule 3. Use a comma or a semicolon before introductory words such as namely, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., or for instance when they are followed by a list of three or more items and are preceded by a complete sentence.

Examples You may be required to bring many items; e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing. OR
You may be required to bring many items, e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.

NOTE: i.e. means that is
e.g. means for example

Rule 4. If these introductory words are followed by fewer than three items, simply enclose them in commas.

Example You may be required to bring many items, for instance, sleeping bags.

Rule 5. Use the semicolon to avoid confusion where commas already exist.

Rule 5a. Use the semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas.

Example This conference has people who have come from Boise, Idaho; Los Angeles, California; and Nashville, Tennessee.

Rule 5b. You may use a semicolon between two sentences that are joined by a conjunction but already have one or more commas within the first sentence.

Examples When I finish here, I will be glad to help you; and that is a promise I will keep.

If she can, she will attempt that feat; and if her husband is able, he will be there to see her.

The Colon

Rule 1. Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list of items when introductory words such as namely, for example or that is do not appear.

NOTE: No colon precedes the numbers in the last example because I want a secretary who can is not a complete sentence.

Rule 2. Use the colon to introduce a list in bulleted form whether it is preceded by a complete sentence or not.

Examples:
I want a secretary who can:
1) type
2) take shorthand
3) answer telephones.

I want a secretary who can do the following:
a) type
b) take shorthand
c) answer telephones.

NOTE: Capitalization and punctuation are optional when using bulleted form. The rule of thumb is to be consistent.

Rule 3. Use a colon between independent clauses when the second clause restates or explains the first one.

Example: Bell Buckle is a unique town: it is rural and small, though international in its population because of the boarding student body at Webb School.

Rule 4. Use the colon to introduce a direct quotation that is more than four typewritten or word-processed lines in length. Continue to double-space the long quotation, indent two tabs (one inch) from the left margin and omit quotation marks. (The parenthetical citation comes after the closing punctuation mark.)

Rule 5. Use the colon to follow the salutation of a business letter even when addressing someone by his/her first name. Never use a semicolon after a salutation. A comma is used after the salutation for personal correspondence.

The Question Mark

Rule 1. Periods and commas always come before quotation marks, even single quotation marks.

Examples She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, ‘Hurry up.’"

Rule 2. The placement of question marks with quotations follows logic. If a question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the quote.

Examples She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"

Do you agree with the saying, "All’s fair in love and war"?
Here the question is outside the quotation.

NOTE: Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. The stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after war is used.

Rule 3. When you have a question outside AND inside a quote, use only one question mark and place it inside the quotation mark.

Example Did she say, "May I go?"

Rule 3. Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations. Note that the period comes before all quotation marks.

Example He said, "Mary said, ‘Do not treat me that way.’"

Rule 4. Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation only.

Examples "When will you be here?" he asked.
He asked when you will be there.

The Hyphen

Rule 1. To check if a compound noun is two words, one word, or hyphenated, look it. If you can’t find the word in the dictionary, treat the noun as separate words.

Examples eyewitness, eye shadow, eye-opener

Rule 2. Phrases that have verb and noun forms should appear as separate words when used as verbs and as one word when used as nouns.

Examples The engine will eventually break down. (verb)
We suffered a breakdown in communications. (noun)

Rule 3. Hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. These are called single-thought adjectives.

Example: His easy-going nature is one of his most charming traits.
BUT By nature, he is easy going.

Rule 4. An adverb that does not end in ly followed by an adjective in front of a noun should be hyphenated.

Example Elizabeth Taylor is a well-known actress.
BUT Elizabeth Taylor is well known.

Rule 5. When the first word of a two-word modifier ends in ly, hyphenate if the ly word acts as one idea with the second word AND if the ly word can be used alone with the noun (i.e., the ly word is an adjective).

Examples: Dave is a friendly-looking man
Friendly modifies looking and is an adjective describing man.

Sissy is a friendly little girl
No hyphen is used because friendly does not act as one idea with little.

Rule 6. The current trend is to do away with unnecessary hyphens. Therefore, attach prefixes and suffixes onto root words.

Example noncompliance, copayment, semiconscious, fortyish

Rule 7. Hyphenate prefixes when they come before proper nouns.

Example un-American

Rule 8. Hyphenate prefixes ending in a or i only when the root word begins with an a or i.

Rule 9. Double e’s and double o’s are usually made into one word.

Examples preemployment, coordinate

Exceptions de-emphasize, co-owner

Rule 10. When a prefix ends in one vowel and a root word begins with a different vowel, generally attach them without a hyphen.

Examples antiaircraft, proactive

Rule 11. Hyphenate all words beginning with self except for selfish and selfless.

Examples self-assured, self-respect, self-addressed

Rule 12. Use a hyphen with the prefix ex.

Example His ex-wife sued for nonsupport.

The Dash

Rule 1. Use a dash to indicate a sudden or abrupt break in thought.

Example: The Honor Council believed me – or at least that’s what I think – when I maintained I had not cheated on the exam.

Rule 2. The dash may be used in the same way the colon is used between independent clauses when the second restates or explains the first. (See colon rule 4.)

Example: We barely survived the wreck – Jan broke her neck, Alice suffered two broken legs and I broke both my arms and my pelvis.