➡ PUNCTUATION NOTES

(FOR 1st YEAR STUDENTS)✒

❖ What is Punctuation?
Punctuation is a set of specific marks or symbols that we used to express the meaning of
our sentences clearly and to make the flow of the text smooth.

It shows us where we need to pause, it separates ideas from each other, it let us know
that a certain phrase is quoting someone else’s words, and has a dozen other important
functions.

e.g. Let’s eat uncle

Let’s eat, uncle!

❖ Punctuation Marks

Here is the list of some important punctuation marks.

➢ Full Stop / Period (.)

➢ Capitalization (A)
➢ Comma (,)
➢ Question Mark (?)
➢ Exclamation Mark (!)
➢ Quotation Marks (” “)
➢ Apostrophe (‘)
➢ Hyphen (-)
➢ Dash (—)
➢ Colon (:)
➢ Semicolon (;)
➢ Parentheses ()
➢ Brackets []
➢ Ellipsis (…)
➢ Slash (/)
 ❖ Punctuation Rules

➡ Capitalization
❖ Capitalize the first letter of a sentence.
e.g. He is a gentle man.
❖ Capitalize Names and Other Proper Nouns.
(Name of Countries, Cities, Rivers, religions, roads and political parties)
❖ Capitalize Days, Months, Languages and Holidays, but not seasons.
e.g. Monday, July, Urdu, English, French, Labour Day etc.
❖ Capitalize the words in Titles.
e.g. Clearing In The Sky, A Foolish Quack
❖ Capitalize the time periods
e.g. World War I
❖ Capitalize the first word in a quote
e.g. “Honesty is the best policy”
❖ I and O are capital when used in a sentence.
e.g. (It was I who trusted you.) & (Help me, O God)

➡ Full Stop / Period (.)

This is the most popular punctuation mark because you simply cannot write even a
single sentence without using it. So, there are most common uses of a full stop:

(i) To indicate the end of a sentence (ii) To follow an abbreviation

(iii) To follow an acronym

For example:

• My name is Junaid.
• B.A. , Dr. , Mr.
• MBBS , WAPDA
➡ Comma (,)

A comma is often used to separate different ideas in a sentence. However, it has many
other uses as well:

1) A comma separates two sentences when putting a full stop between them
seems to create an unnecessarily long pause.

For example: Umar went by bus, and Ali took a train.

2) Commas separate items in a list.

❖ We bought apples, peaches, grapes, and oranges in the fruit market.

3) A comma is used after an introductory word or phrase, such as at the end

of the day, however, in contrast, etc.

❖ Nevertheless, we managed to get home until sunset.

4) If you have a tag question at the end of your sentence, you also need to
use a comma to distinguish it from the rest of the sentence.

❖ You are going to the party this weekend, aren’t you?

5) If you are directly addressing someone, you need a comma.

❖ James, what are you doing tomorrow after school?

Question Mark (?)

A question mark, as its name suggests, needs to go at the end of every interrogative
sentence instead of a full stop.

For example:

• How old are you?

• Do you remember what I told you about yesterday?
➡ Exclamation Mark (!)

An exclamation mark is used to show emphasis. It can be used in the middle of the
sentence or at the end of a sentence. Depending on the meaning of the sentence, it can
indicate anger, happiness, excitement, or any other strong emotion.

• Leave me alone!
• I’m so happy to see you!
• Hurrah! We have won the match.

➡ Quotation Marks / Speech Marks (“ ")

As their name suggests, quotation marks indicate direct quotations. You can also use them
for titles of articles, book chapters, episodes of a TV show, etc.

For example:

• “You’ll never believe what happened last night,” Jerry said.

• In his article “How To Succeed in Everything You Do”, Mary Smith
gives her readers three valuable pieces of advice.

➡ Apostrophe (‘)

An apostrophe has two very important uses. Firstly, it can be used in contractions in place
of omitted letters. Secondly, it can show possession or relation.

For example:

• I have= I’ve , Do not= don’t , Will not= won’t

• Sister’s child, Jess’ father, Ali’s pencil

➡ Hyphen (-)

Even though it looks very similar to a dash, a hyphen has very different uses. It’s most
commonly used to create compound words.

• He is a very self-confident person.

• Due to various factors, Umar decided to work part-time this summer.
 Dash (—)

There are two different dashes, the en dash and the em dash, the first being slightly
shorter than the second one.

➢ The en dash is usually used to show a connection between two things,

as well as a range of numbers, years, pages, etc.

For example:

• London–Paris flight takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

• For tomorrow’s lesson, I need to read pages 45–78 of the textbook.

➢ The em dash can replace a comma, a colon, or parenthesis. You can

also use it to put emphasis on the ending of your sentence.

• This year, Mark has traveled to quite a few countries—Poland, Germany,

Georgia, and Greece.
• Her answer was loud and clear—No!

➡ Colon (:)

It can introduce an example, a list, an explanation, or a quotation or you can

also use it to emphasize a certain point.

A colon is also used in two complete sentence, when second sentence is explaining the
first sentence.

• He eats apples: which are beneficial for health.

• We knew who would win the game: the Eagles.

➡ Semicolon (;)

A semicolon is a punctuation mark that creates a longer pause than a comma but a
shorter pause than a full stop. So, it can be used to create a pause between two
independent clauses that are still closely related to each other.

• My mother is a doctor; my father is an accountant.

➡ Parentheses ( )

In most cases, you will see additional information in parentheses. Usually, it can be
omitted without creating any confusion for the reader.

• My young daughters (aged 5 and 7) just love playing with our

neighbors’ dogs.

➡ Brackets [ ]

Brackets are, in a way, similar to parentheses. However, they are mostly used in
academic writing and when presenting quotes. For instance, the writer can add extra
information or fix mistakes in brackets, without changing the original quotation.

For example: The witness said, “I could hear him [the policeman] but I couldn’t see
him”.

Ellipsis (…)

An ellipsis creates a mysterious atmosphere in the text. In addition, it can be used to

show that some letters or even words are omitted.

For example:

• So… what happened next?

• She was smart, funny and pretty but… something still felt wrong.

➡ Slash (/)

You might need to write a Fraction, a measurement, or to suggest alternatives in your

text. These are just three of the instances where you will have to use a slash.

For example:

• For this recipe, you will need 1/2 glass of water and 3/4 glass of flour.
• The car was going as fast as 120 km/h.
• You need to press the On/Off button.
 PUNCTUATION
From Text (BOOK – I)
Q: Punctuate the following lines.
(1) ✓

mr steward looked embarrassed i m afraid i m not at liberty to tell

you that he said however i assure you the organization is of
international scope
Ans. Mr. Steward looked embarrassed. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to tell
you that,” he said. “However, I assure you, the organization is of
international scope".
(2) ✓
My dear lady mr steward said do you really think you knew your
husband
Ans. “My dear lady,” Mr. Steward said. “Do you really think you knew your
husband?”
(3)
After arthur returned to his book norma went back to the
kitchen and finished washing the dishes why wont you talk about
it norma said
Ans. After Arthur had returned to his book, Norma went back to the kitchen
and finished washing the dishes.
(4)
Nonetheless that is the proposition mr steward said would you
like me to return the button unit
Ans. “Nonetheless, that is the proposition,” Mr. Steward said. “Would you
like me to return the button unit?”
 (5)
it could prove very valuable he told her monetarily she
challenged
Ans. “It could prove very valuable,” he told her.
“Monetarily?” she challenged.

(6)
she shuddered all right take it easy she said why are you getting
so upset its only talk
Ans. She shuddered. “All right, take it easy,” she said. “Why are you getting
so upset? It’s only talk.”
(7) ✓
now youre coming to something son he said as he pushed down
the top wire so that he could cross the fence this is something i
want you to see
Ans. "Now, you're coming to something, son," he said as he pushed down
the top wire so he could cross the fence. “This is something I want you to
see!"
(8)
Look at this jess he bragged did you ever see better alfalfa grow
out of the earth
Ans. “Look at this, Jess!” he bragged. “Did you ever see better alfalfa grow
out of the earth?”
(9) ✓
It s the best looking hay I ve ever seen any place I said I ve not
seen better looking alfalfa even in the little sandy river bottom
“It’s the best looking hay I’ve ever seen any place,” I said,“I’ve not seen
better looking alfalfa even in the Little Sandy River bottoms!”
 (10)
Just like fresh air he said as he let the dirt run between his
fingers it s pleasant to touch too he added
Ans. “Just like fresh air,” he said as he let the dirt run between his fingers.
“It’s pleasant to touch, too,” he added.

(11)
i dont see a weed in this patch i laughed wont they grow here
Ans. “ I don’t see a weed in this patch,” I laughed. “Won’t they grow here?”
(12) ✓
This is the way jess said my father pointing with his cane across
the deep valley below us I want to show you something you ve not
seen for many years
Ans. “This is the way, Jess,” said my father, pointing with his cane across
the deep valley below us. “I want to show you something you’ve not seen for
many years.”
(13) ✓
the towns empty but we found native life in the hills sir dark
people yellow eyes martins very friendly we talked a bit not
much they learn english fast

Ans. “The town's empty, but we found the native life in the hills, sir. Dark
people. Yellow eyes. The Martians. Very friendly. We talked a bit, not much.
They learn English fast.”
(14)
Are you sure laura asked the father quietly laura wept we re
stranded on mars forever and ever
Ans. “Are you sure, Laura?” asked the father quietly.
Laura wept. “We’re stranded on Mars, forever and ever!”
 (15) ✓
look he said to them you did hear the news the other day didnt
you
Ans. “Look,” he said to them. “You did hear the news, the other day, didn’t
you?”
(16)
did they tell you what became of the men and women who built
this earth settlement, lieutenant
Ans. “Did they tell you what become of the men and women who built this
Earth settlement, Lieutenant?”
(17) ✓
nonsense mr bittering looked out of the windows we re clean
decent people
Ans. “Nonsense!” Mr. Bittering looked out of the windows. “We’re clean,
decent people.”
(18) ✓
well you didnt have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede
shoes said mrs luella bates washington jones you could have
asked me

Ans. "Well, you didn't have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede
shoes,” said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. "You could have asked
me.”
(19) ✓
i was seen with the pocketbook who saw me mr manana the
harness man saw you pick up the pocketbook

Ans. "I was seen with the pocketbook? Who saw me?". "Mr. Manana, the
harness man, saw you pick up the pocketbook".
 (20) ✓
Why me me me picked up the pocket book yes you yourself by my
word of honour I never heard of it
Ans. “Why, Me? Me? Me picked up the pocketbook?” “Yes, you yourself”.
“By my word of honour I never heard of it.”
(21) ✓

life is like a race jorkens went on in which they tire after a while
and sit down or get interested in something else instead the man
who keeps on wins the race

Ans. “Life is like a race.” Jorkens went on, “in which they tire after a while
and sit down, or get interested in something else instead. The man who
keeps on wins the race.”
(22) ✓
Anything jorkens replied so long as he sticks to it and sticks to it
hard enough and long enough anything whatever
Ans. “Anything,” Jorkens replied, “so long as he sticks to it, and sticks to it
hard enough and long enough. Anything whatever.”
(23) ✓

does your throat hurt you added the mother to the child but the
little girls expression didnt change nor did she move her eyes
from my face
Ans. "Does your throat hurt you?" added the mother to the child. But the
little girl's expression didn't change nor did she move her eyes from my
face.
(24)
if they fail they are expected to bring the case before the qazi to
seek justice but in the present case the parents have agreed to get
my bloodshed for the trash of this world
Ans. "If they fail, they are expected to bring the case before the Qazi to seek
justice. But in the present case, the parents have agreed to get my blood
shed for the trash of this world".
(25) ✓
pay for the salt said the king lest it should become a custom and
the village be ruined
Ans. “Pay for the salt”, said the king, “lest it should become a custom and
the village ruined.”
(26) ✓

do you not perceive answered the camel man i wished to show

you that what is good for camels in not therefore good for poor
old men and women

Ans. 'Do you not perceive?' answered the camel-man. “I wished to show you
that what is good for camels is not good for poor old men and women.”
(27)
but what can you cure asked the villagers I can cure the goitre
answered the quack
Ans. “But what can you cure?” asked the villagers.
“I can cure the goitre,” answered the quack.

(28)
an old woman whose throat was swollen to a frightful size
exclaimed o my son if you could cure my goitre I would bless you
for evermore
Ans. An old woman, whose throat was swollen to a frightened size,
exclaimed: “O my son, if you could only cure my goitre, I would bless you
for evermore!”
 (29) ✓

all the crops finished nothing left he said but the gongs were still
beating the men still shouting and margaret asked why do you go
on with it then
Ans. "All the crops finished. Nothing left," he said.
But the gongs were still beating, the men still shouting, and Margaret
asked: "Why do you go on with it, then?"
(30) ✓
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out
the true meaning of its creed we hold these truths to be self
evident that all men are created equal

Ans. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all
men are created equal."
(31) ✓

i want you to understand me Dell he said nothing like a haircut

could make me careless for you but if you ll open that you may
know what i felt when i came in

Ans. "I want you to understand me, Dell," he said. "Nothing like a haircut
could make me careless for you. But if you'll open that, you may know what
I felt when I came in."
(32) ✓
Cut it off and sold it said della don’t you like me now me jim the
same without my hair
“Cut it off and sold it” said Della. “Don’t you like me now? I’m me, Jim. I’m
the same without my hair.”