PUNCTUATION:

 The use of quotation marks:

“Full speed ahead!” the captain said.

“Rio Branco is a tricky exam”, the teacher explained.

“Why was the water so cold?” Mary asked.

John said, “I would go but…”

As Charlie Chaplin once said: “Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of
yourself.”

 The use of commas:

1. To separate independent clauses a when they are joined by any of these coordinating
conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so).
Ex: I had a history test today, so I studied last night.

2. To separate phrases that reflects contrast.

Ex: Learning about the works of Hemmingway can be highly advantageous to students,
not only in their high school careers, but in their future college courses, as well.

3. To set off an opening phrase.

Ex: As such, I feel that there is much we can learn about human interaction …

4. Use a pairs of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and
words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Ex.: I am, as you have probably noticed, very nervous about this.

5. When a character is speaking, and you close the quotes with a phrase like “he said” or
“she replied”, and the character is then going to do something else after they say,
reply, or question.
Ex: “Please don’t leave me!” I cried, raising my hand to grip his arm before he walked
out the door.

6. To separate three or more words, phrase, or clauses written in a series.

Ex.: The candidate promises to lower taxes, protect the environment, and reduce.

7. Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun when
the word “and” can be inserted between them.
 Ex.: He is a strong, healthy man. (His is a strong and healthy man.)

8. To prevent confusion.
Ex.: To Steve, Lincoln was the greatest president.

9. When beginning sentences with introductory words such as well, now, yes or no.
Ex.: Yes, I do need that report.
10. Surrounding words such as therefore and however when they as used as interrupters.
Ex.: I would, therefore, like a response. I would be happy, however, to volunteer my
time.
11. To separate statement from a question.
Ex.: I can go, can’t I?

12. Before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed.

Ex.: Will you, Sam, have the surgery? Yes, Doctor, I Will. (Capitalize when directly
addressing someone.)