MR. EATMAN, M. ED.

ENGLISH 10
Punctuation Part One
Agenda
Overview
Objectives
End marks
Proper procedures for periods
Quintessential question marks
Excellent exclamation endings
Practice
Convenience of correctly placed commas
Serviceability of the semicolon

Overview
Much like road signs and traffic lights guide a
driver on the street, punctuation marks guide a
reader by showing where to stop, slow down, and/or
change direction.
Punctuation mark not only provide the
previously mentioned items, it also tells you
how/what which words belong together as well as
help prevent confusion.
Punctuation Marks

End marks
End marks are the punctuation marks that indicate the
end of a sentenceduh! The three kinds of
punctuation marks used are:


Proper Period Procedures
The period is used in varied circumstances including:

A ___________in which a statement is made.
An imperative sentence in which orders or
requests to do something are given.
At the end of an indirect question.
Questions that have been asked, however, the
reader is not given the exact words of a
question.
Proper Period Procedures
Periods are also used when:
Placed at the end of an initial or abbreviation
Using a number or letter for an item in an outline
or list.
The decimal point between dollars and cents.
Proper Period Procedure
Examples:
The streets are covered with ice. (What type?)

Use the back door, please. (What type?)

The captain asked whether the plane was using
the right flight plan. (What type? How can we
change it?)

Proper Period Procedures
Examples:
I. Sports
A. Contact
1. Hockey

Gov. John Kasich is running for re-election.*

*Some abbreviations do not use periods. When
determining when to use a period for an
abbreviation, use your dictionary.



Quintessential Question Marks
Use a question mark after an interrogative
sentence.
This is not difficult, is it?

Use a question mark to indicate uncertainty
or doubt.
The author of this book lived from 1810(?) to
1895.
(This shows that you are not positive the exact
date.)
Quintessential Question Marks
In a polite request (when no answer is
required), the question mark is often omitted
even though the sentence is phrased like a
question. Use it or dont use it it is your
choice.
Would you please bring us the remote?
Would you please bring us the remote.

Both examples are correct
Excellent Exclamation Endings
With the last of the end marks, the exclamation
point, make sure you use it at the end of a sentence
that expresses excitement, strong emotion, or after
an interjection.

How nice you look!
Ouch! That pinch really hurt!
Question or Exclamation
Sometimes, it becomes difficult to tell whether to use a
question mark or an exclamation point. Look at the
following:

How could you do that?
How could you do that!

It depends on what you are trying to convey to the
reader. If it is expressing uncertainty, use the question
mark; if it is to express excitement, then use the
exclamation point.
Excellent Exclamation Endings
Some people use exclamation points all the time! It
makes their writing look hyper active! Its even
worse to use lots of exclamations!! - oh, no, not the
double exclamations!!

Never use double exclamation points in
formal writing. In fact, do not use many
exclamation points at all.
Practice
1. Fantastic Those twenty-dollar jeans have been
marked down to $999

2. Pookie asked if Patrick went to the movies with
Maxie

3. Is your dentist appointment with Dr Sam Upshaw,
Jr or with Dr Sam Upshaw, Sr
Practice
4. The initials WTO stand for the World Trade
Organization

5. Tiffany & Co wrap all of their gifts in the prettiest
blue paper

6. The USS Pueblo was captured by North Korea
7. Sonnys new address is PO Box 1789, Port Charles,
New York

8. Could you tell me the purpose of learning all of
these rules