Alfred Jan G.

Naparan BSE-3A

THE PERIOD Use period in declarative sentences, a mild imperative, and an indirect !estion. Example: Edgar Allan Poe wrote poems. (declarative sentence) I asked him where he had learned to ski. (indirect questions) Use period in most of t"e a##reviations Example: Dr., Sr., B.C., A e. THE $UE%TION &AR' Use a !estion mar( to end an interro)ative sentence, an incomplete !estion, or a statement intended as a !estion. Example: !a e "o# $hanged "o#r mind% (interrogative sentence) &h"% !ow m#$h% (incomplete question) 'his $lo$k r#ns on (atteries% (statement intended as questions) THE E*+,A&ATION &AR' Use an e-clamation mar( to end an e-clamator. sentence, a forcef!l imperative, or an inter/ection e-pressin) stron) emotion. Example: 'hat s#nset is magni)i$ent* (exclamatory sentence) Come here +#i$k* (imperative sentence) THE +O&&A Use comma #efore t"e con/!nction to separate t0o or more independent cla!ses in a compo!nd sentence. Example: ," $o#sin tra els all o er the -nited States ea$h s#mmer, (#t m" (rother pre)ers to sta" home. Use commas to separate t"ree or more 0ords, p"rases, or cla!ses in a series. Example: !er per)orman$e was )lawless. Ex$iting, and inspiring. Use commas to separate ad/ectives of e !al ran(s Example: a tall, attra$ti e, "o#ng woman Do not !se commas to separate ad/ectives t"at m!st sta. in specific order Example: man" s#$$ess)#l people Use comma after an introd!ctor. 0ord, p"rase, or cla!se. Example: .es, we do expe$t to hear )rom them soon. Use commas to set off nonessential e-pressions. Example: ," mother, (#"ing the apples, is an ex$ellent $ook. 1"en a )eo)rap"ical name is made !p of t0o or more parts, !se a comma after eac" item. Example: ," a#nt who li es in !o#ston, 'exas, is isiting #s. 1"en a date is made !p of t0o or more parts, !se a comma after eac" item e-cept in t"e case of a mont" follo0ed #. a da.. Example: /rida", A#g#st 03, was the da" we met. 1"en a name is follo0ed #. one or more titles, !se a comma after t"e name and after eac" title. Example: S#san ,artini, Ph.D., tea$hes $hemistr". Use a comma after eac" item in an address made p of t0o or more parts. Example: Send a $op" o) the report to ,rs. 'alia Brooks, 123 4i er 4oad, 5a$kson ille, /lorida 30011.

Competency Enhancement Program 2

Alfred Jan G. Naparan BSE-3A

Use a comma after t"e sal!tation in a personal letter and after t"e closin) in all letters. Example: Dear Emil",6 .o#r )riend, Use commas to set off a direct !otation from t"e rest if a sentence. Example: She said, 7'he moon is (ig.8 Use a comma to prevent a sentence from #ein) mis!nderstood. Example: In the reser oir, water is stored. THE %E&I+O,ON Use a semicolon to /oin independent cla!ses t"at are not alread. /oined #. t"e con/!nction and, #!t, nor, or, so or .et. Example: &e explored the atti$ together6 we were ama9ed at the #seless :#nk we )o#nd there. Use a semicolon to /oin independent cla!ses separated #. eit"er a con/!nctive adver# or a transitional e-pression. Example: &e isited se en $o#ntries in onl" two weeks6 $onse+#entl", we missed man" interesting histori$al sites. (conjunctive adverb) +onsider t"e !se of a semicolon to avoid conf!sion 0"en independent cla!ses or items in a series alread. contain commas. Example: 'he )orest )illed with thi$k #nder(r#sh, seemed impassa(le6 and the h#ngr", tired )amil" sl#mped to the gro#nd in despair. THE +O,ON Use a colon #efore a list of items follo0in) an independent cla!se. Example: !is tra els took him to a n#m(er o) $ontinents: A)ri$a, A#stralia, Asia, and So#th Ameri$a. Use a colon to introd!ce a !otation t"at is formal or len)t". or a !otations t"at does not contain a 2"e3s"e said4 e-pression. Example: ;li er &endell !olmes, 5r., wrote this a(o#t )reedom: 7it is onl" thro#gh )ree de(ate and )ree ex$hange o) ideas that go ernment remains responsi e to the will o) the people and pea$e)#l $hange is a))e$ted.8 Use a colon in a n!m#er of special 0ritin) sit!ations. <#merals gi ing the time: 1:3= A.,. Bi(li$al re)eren$es: Exod#s 12:01 S#(titles o) (ooks: A /ield >#ide to the Birds: Eastern ?and Birds Sal#tations: Dear Sir: ?a(els to signal important ideas: Danger: 'hese are high oltage wires. THE $UOTATION &AR' A direct !otation represents a person5s e-act speec" or t"o!)"ts and is enclosed in !otation mar(s. Example: 7I) I am ele$ted,8 said the $andidate, 7I will sponsor a (ill to impro e lo$al p#(li$ transportation.8

Competency Enhancement Program 2

Alfred Jan G. Naparan BSE-3A THE DA%H Use das"es to indicate an a#r!pt c"an)e of t"o!)"t, a dramatic interr!ptin) idea, or a s!mmar. statement. Example: 'he h#rri$ane str#$k at dawn @ to this da" s#r i ors gasp as the" retell the stor". Use das"es to set off a nonessential appositive or modifier 0"en it is lon), 0"en it is alread. p!nct!ated, or 0"en .o! 0ant to #e dramatic. Example: 'he dr#m ma:or @ who wore a white #ni)orm, a gold $ape, and gold (oots @ led the (and. THE PARENTHE%I% Use parent"eses to set off asides and e-planations onl. 0"en t"e material is not essential or 0"en it consists of one or more sentences. Example: !er :o( responsi(ilities Aas she learned within the monthB were )ar greater than he has (een told. Use parent"eses to set off n!merical e-planations s!c" as t"e dates of a person5s #irt" and deat" and aro!nd n!m#ers and letters mar(in) a series. Examples: .o# ma" $hoose AaB tennis, A(B gol), or A$B tra$k !is telephone n#m(er is AC00B 323-DC=0 THE H6PHEN% Use a ".p"en 0"en 0ritin) o!t n!m#ers from t0ent.7one t"ro!)" ninet.7 nine. Example: twent"-eight o#n$es Use a ".p"en 0it" fractions !sed as ad/ectives. Example: se en-tenths in$h A fraction used as a noun is not hyphenated however. Example: ne fourth of the members were present. Use a ".p"en after a prefi- t"at is follo0ed #. a proper no!n of ad/ective. Example: pre-4enaissan$e Use a ".p"en in 0ords 0it" t"e prefi-es all7, e-7, self7, and 0it" t"e s!ffi7elect. Examples: sel)-made ma"or-ele$t Use a ".p"en to connect t0o or more 0ords t"at are !sed as one 0ord, !nless t"e dictionar. )ives a contrar. spellin) Example: sister-in-law 8or clarit., !se ".p"ens9 A. 1it"in a 0ord 0"en a com#ination of letters mi)"t ot"er0ise #e conf!sin) a. semi-illiterate (. re-press Ato press againB :. :et0een 0ords to (eep t"e reader from com#inin) t"en erroneo!sl. a. 'he spe$ial-deli er" man. (. 'he spe$ial deli er"-man. +. If a 0ord m!st #e divided at t"e end of t"e line, al0a.s divide it #et0een s.lla#les. a. Do not di ide a word so that a single letterAsB stand alone. (. Do not di ide proper no#ns or proper ad:e$ti es.

Competency Enhancement Program 2

Alfred Jan G. Naparan BSE-3A $. Di ide a h"phenated word onl" a)ter the h"phen. THE APO%TROPHE Use apostrop"e to indicate possession. Example: the womanEs wallet Use apostrop"e in contraction to indicate t"e position of t"e missin) letter;s<. Example: $annot - $anEt

Competency Enhancement Program 2