Page 6 - Class-8 lesson notes punctuation

 Sentence Endings

Three of the fourteen punctuation marks are appropriate for use as
sentence endings. They are the period, question mark, and exclamation point..
 The period (.) is placed at the end of declarative sentences, statements thought to be
complete and after many abbreviations.
 As a sentence ender: Jane and Jack went to the market.
 After an abbreviation: Her son, John Jones Jr., was born on Dec. 6, 2008.
 Use a question mark (?) to indicate a direct question when placed at the end of a

sentence.

 When did Jane leave for the market?
 The exclamation point (!) is used when a person wants to express a sudden outcry or

add emphasis.

 Within dialogue: "Holy cow!" screamed Jane.
 To emphasize a point: My mother-in-law's rants make me furious!

 Comma, Semicolon, and Colon
 The comma, semicolon, and colon are often misused because they all can indicate a pause
in a series.
 The comma is used to show a separation of ideas or elements within the structure of a
sentence. Additionally, it is used in numbers, dates, and letter writing after the
salutation and closing.
 Direct address: Thanks for all your help, John.