15 Rules of Punctuation and How to Use Them.

English Language writing has rules which you must follow. Otherwise, you are no longer writing English language. Today, we would like to show you how best to use your punctuation marks in sentence.

1. Spacing after punctuation: One (1) space only is required after every punctuation mark (period, exclamation mark, question mark, colon, semicolon, commas, etc.), including bullets and numbers.

2. Never use excessive punctuation!!!!! This will not create a greater sense of urgency or strong emotion, especially in formal writing.

3.Periods and commas always go inside of quotation marks.
Example: “I think you’re great.”

4.There is never a space before a period or before a comma.
Example: I am coming.

5.When doing this “…” you should use only 3 dots.
Example: On my way to class…

6.When using dashes, use two in a row.
Example: Punctuation — 10 Rules

7.Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.
Example: We need twenty-five boxes.

8.Use a question mark only after a direct question.
Example: Can I ask you a question?

9.Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify.
Example: Use only one (1) space after a punctuation mark.

10. If the last word in a sentence ends in a period, do not follow it with another period.
Example: I know that C.E.O. He is my boss.

11. Do not use this ‘!’ when you mean this ‘.’
Example: Pass me the Jug!

12. When you are writing about titles in a book, individual episodes of a TV series, songs, a music album, titles of articles or essay,short stories and poems use quotation marks. Also used in technical terms.
Example: In “Hamlet”…

13. Always capitalize the first word in a complete quotation, even in mid-sentence
Example: Chika said, “That job we started last April is done.”

14. Use a comma after certain words that introduce a sentence, such as well, yes, why, hello, hey, etc.
Example: Yes, I was there.

15. If a person’s name is followed by Sr. or Jr., a comma follows the last name: Martin Luther King, Jr.