Punctuation

…Items in a series ________________ are used in between words, phrases, or clauses in a series. (A series contains at least three items.) Computers of tomorrow will be fun attractive and chatty. Turn your computer on with the sound of your voice dial your computer when away from home and hear it read the day’s mail out loud.

Definition A ______________ is a cross between a period and a comma. It is sometimes used in place of a period; other times, it serves the same function as a comma.

….After a Salutation A __________________ may be used after the salutation of a business letter. Dear Ms. Manners

Definition A ______________ can be used to indicate a sudden break in a sentence, to emphasize a word or clause, and to show that someone’s speech is being interrupted.

… to divide a word The ___________________ is used to divide a word when you run out of room at the end of a line. A word may be divided only between syllables.

… in contractions A(n) ________________ is used to show that one or more letters have been left out of a word to from a contraction dont

Definition _________________ are used to indicate a pause or a change in thought. They are used to keep words and ideas from running together, making our writing easier to read. No other form of punctuation is more important to understand than this one.

… to join two independent clauses A _____________ is used to join two independent clauses which are not connected with a coordinate conjunction. (This means that each of the two clauses could stand alone as a separate sentence.) My dad bought a robot-operated lawnmower I was anxious to see the thing work.

Definition A _______________ may be used to introduce a list, letter, or important point. They are also used between the numbers in time.

….to indicate a sudden break A ___________ can be used to show a sudden break in a sentence. There is one thing actually several things that I find hard to believe about the superphone of the future. Push a few buttons, and it will print out everything from the news to sports scores to concert information.

Definition The ______________ is used to join the words in compound numbers from 21 to 99, to form compound words, and to divide words at the end of a line. It is also used to join number which indicate the life span of an individual, the scores of a game and so on.

Definition The ______________________ is used to show possession, to form plurals, or to show that a letter(s) has been left out of a word.

…to set off interjections A ___________________ is used to separate an interjection or weak exclamation from the rest of the sentence. No kidding you mean computers may be sewn into clothing someday? Yes and don’t be surprised if that piece of clothing reminds you of your dentist appointment and homework assignments.

…as a formal introduction a ________________ may be used to formally introduce a sentence, a question, or a quotation. The author of the Nature Conservancy makes this alarming claim “By the year 2000, 20 percent of all the earth’s species could be lost forever.

…in a compound word A __________________ is used to make a compound word. dot matrix printer three dimensional television 14 year old Nintendo wizard 80 column screen

…for emphasis A ______________ may be used to emphasize a word, series of words, a phrase, or a clause. In the future, tiny TV cameras mounted on eyeglasses will transmit electronic images directly to the brain giving limited vision to the blind.

… in direct address _________________ are used to separate a noun of direct address from the rest of the sentence. (A noun of direct address is the noun which names the person spoken to in the sentence.) Jill listen to this. With a touch of a key an interior decorator can change fabrics and wallpaper on her computer screen.

…for emphasis A ________ is used to emphasis a word or phrase. By the year 2000, immunologist say it may be possible to prevent one of our most chronic and painful diseases rheumatoid arthritis.

…to separate adjectives __________ are used to separate two or more adjectives that equally modify the same noun. Many intelligent well-educated scientists are convinced we will pick up signals from another galaxy around the year 2000.

…to set off independent clauses Use a __________________ to separate independent clauses if they are long, or if they have internal commas. After “setting the course” by guiding the mower around the perimeter of our lawn it was set to cut the grass but when I checked on it later, I discovered that our high-tech “work saver” had also cut Mrs. Crabb’s yard– and all of her flowers.

…to form singular possessives The possessive form of singular nouns is usually made by adding a(n) __________________ an s. The worlds population will double or triple by the year Did Mr. Strandbergs last lecture have to do with endangered species?

…to set off appositives An appositive, a specific kind of explanatory word or phrase, identifies or renames a noun or pronoun. Use _________________ to set off appositives. Acid rain a form of pollution caused by burning coal affects most of North America.

… to introduce a list When introducing a list, the ______________ usually comes after a “summary” word(s)– the following, these things– or words describing the subject of the list. To conserve water you should do the following three things install a “low flow” shower head, turn the water off while you brush your teeth, and fix drippy faucets.

… to express time or amount The __________________ is used with an adjective which is part of an expression indicating time or amount. Tomorrows schools will be much more plugged into technology that todays schools. My father lost an entire days work when that thunderstorm knocked our power out.