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Punctuation Marks and Rules

What each punctuation mark does and when to use it.

47 cardsGrades 3–5, Grades 6–8#punctuation#writing

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47 cards
  • periodMark or rule
    Ends a statement or command
  • question markMark or rule
    Ends a question
  • exclamation pointMark or rule
    Shows strong feeling or a shout
  • comma in a listMark or rule
    Separate three or more items: red, blue, and green
  • comma after introductory wordsMark or rule
    After words that begin a sentence: First, wash your hands
  • comma before a conjunctionMark or rule
    Join two complete sentences: I ran, and she walked
  • comma in direct addressMark or rule
    Separate a name: Maya, come here
  • comma in datesMark or rule
    Between day and year: July 4, 1776
  • comma in addressesMark or rule
    Between city and state: Austin, Texas
  • comma in a letter greetingMark or rule
    After Dear Sam
  • comma after yes or noMark or rule
    Yes, I will
  • comma with quotationsMark or rule
    Separate a speaker from the quote: She said, "Hello"
  • comma with appositiveMark or rule
    Sets off a renaming phrase: My dog, Rex, barks
  • semicolonMark or rule
    Joins two closely related complete sentences
  • semicolon in a listMark or rule
    Separates items that already contain commas
  • colon before a listMark or rule
    After a full statement: You need three things: a pen, paper and time
  • colon in timeMark or rule
    Separates hours and minutes: 3:30
  • colon after a business greetingMark or rule
    Dear Sir or Madam:
  • apostrophe in a contractionMark or rule
    Shows missing letters: can't
  • apostrophe for possessionMark or rule
    Shows ownership: Tom's hat
  • apostrophe never in pluralsMark or rule
    Plural of dog is dogs, not dog's
  • quotation marksMark or rule
    Show a speaker's exact words
  • quotation marks for titlesMark or rule
    Short works: poems, songs, articles
  • italics or underlineMark or rule
    Titles of long works: books, movies, magazines
  • hyphenMark or rule
    Joins words: well-known, twenty-one
  • hyphen at line endMark or rule
    Splits a word between syllables
  • en dashMark or rule
    Shows a range: pages 10-20
  • em dashMark or rule
    A strong break or interruption in a sentence
  • parenthesesMark or rule
    Enclose extra information
  • bracketsMark or rule
    Enclose added words inside a quote
  • ellipsisMark or rule
    Three dots showing omitted words or a pause
  • slashMark or rule
    Shows alternatives: and/or
  • Capital at startMark or rule
    Every sentence begins with a capital letter
  • Period in abbreviationMark or rule
    Mr., Dr., St.
  • Comma spliceMark or rule
    Do not join two sentences with only a comma
  • Quotation endingMark or rule
    Periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark
  • Question inside quotationMark or rule
    Question mark inside if the quote is the question
  • Dialogue paragraphsMark or rule
    Start a new paragraph when a new person speaks
  • Colon vs. semicolonMark or rule
    Colon introduces; semicolon joins
  • Oxford commaMark or rule
    The comma before and in a list: apples, pears, and plums
  • Comma between adjectivesMark or rule
    Use when you can swap the order or put and between: a tall, strong tree
  • Comma before a tag questionMark or rule
    You are coming, aren't you?
  • Commas with nonessential phrasesMark or rule
    Set off extra information: My sister, who is ten, swims
  • Run-on fixMark or rule
    Use a period, semicolon or conjunction
  • Exclamation overuseMark or rule
    Use sparingly so it keeps its power
  • Possessive of plural nounsMark or rule
    Add an apostrophe after the s: the dogs' bowls
  • Possessive of names ending in sMark or rule
    Add 's or just an apostrophe: James's or James'

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