Basic Punctuation Rules The Semi-colon a) Spain is a beautiful country; the beache's are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean. b) Spain is a beautiful country: the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean. c) Spain is a beautiful country, the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean. d) Spain is a beautiful country; the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.

The Full Colon & Apostrophe a) The children's books were all left in the following places: Mrs Smith's room, Mr Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard. b) The children's books were all left in the following places; Mrs Smith's room, Mr Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard. c) The childrens books were all left in the following places: Mrs Smiths room, Mr Powells office and the caretakers cupboard. d) The children's books were all left in the following places, Mrs Smith's room, Mr Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard.

The Comma a) She always enjoyed sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples. b) She always enjoyed: sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples. c) She always enjoyed sweets chocolate marshmallows and toffee apples. d) She always enjoyed sweet's, chocolate, marshmallow's and toffee apple's.

The Apostrophe…Again a) Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old derelict warehouse. b) Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old, derelict warehouse. c) Sarahs uncles car was found without its wheels in that old, derelict warehouse. d) Sarah's uncle's car was found without it's wheels in that old, derelict warehouse.

Separate Clauses I can't see Tim's car, there must have been an accident. I cant see Tim's car; there must have been an accident. I can't see Tim's car there must have been an accident. I can't see Tim's car; there must have been an accident.

The Common Comma Paul's neighbours were terrible; so his brother's friends went round to have a word. Paul's neighbours were terrible: so his brother's friends went round to have a word. Paul's neighbours were terrible, so his brother's friends went round to have a word. Paul's neighbours were terrible so his brother's friends went round to have a word.

The Non-defining Relative Clause Tims gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple. Tim's gran a formidable woman always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple. Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate cakes sweets and a nice fresh apple. Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple.

Comma, Comma, Comma a) After stealing Tims car, the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage. b) After stealing Tim's car the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage. c) After stealing Tim's car, the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage. d) After stealing Tim's car, the thief lost his' way and ended up in the chief constable's garage.

The Serial Comma Debate a) We decided to visit: Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains. b) We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italys mountains. c) We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains. d) We decided to visit Spain Greece Portugal, and Italy's mountains.

Non-defining Reduced Relative Clauses a) That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this month's winner. b) That tall man Paul's grandad is this month's winner. c) That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this months winner. d) That tall man, Pauls grandad, is this month's winner.

RECAP Independent clause: a clause that has a subject and a verb and can stand alone; a complete sentence eg: It is of great importance to follow the rules of punctuation. Dependent clause: a clause that has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; an incomplete sentence eg: When people tried to read what he had written… (,confusion reigned.)

THE COMMA Use a comma to join 2 independent clauses by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, so). Use a comma after an introductory phrase, prepositional phrase, or dependent clause. (plus many other uses) Write your own example.

THE SEMI-COLON Use a semicolon to join 2 independent clauses when the second clause restates the first, or when the two clauses are of equal emphasis. Use a semicolon to join 2 independent clauses when the second clause begins with a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless, otherwise) or a transition (in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in other words, on the other hand, even so). Write your own example.

THE COLON Use a colon to join 2 independent clauses when you wish to emphasize the second clause. Use a colon after an independent clause when it is followed by a list, a quotation, or other idea directly related to the independent clause. Write your own example.

PARENTHESES Parentheses are used to emphasize content. They place more emphasis on the enclosed content than commas. Use parentheses to set off non-essential material, such as dates, clarifying information, or sources, from a sentence. Write your own example.

THE DASH Dashes are used to set off or emphasize the content enclosed within dashes or the content that follows a dash. Dashes place more emphasis on this content than parentheses. eg: Perhaps one reason why the term has been so problematic—so resistant to definition, and yet so transitory in those definitions—is because of its multitude of applications. Write your own example.

QUOTATION MARKS Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotations. Use quotation marks to indicate the novel, ironic, or reserved use of a word. Use quotation marks around the titles of short poems, song titles, short stories, magazine or newspaper articles, essays, speeches, chapter titles, short films, and episodes of television or radio shows. Write your own example.

ITALICS &/OR UNDERLINING Underlining and Italics are often used interchangeably. Although the general trend has been moving toward italicizing instead of underlining, you should remain consistent with your choice throughout your paper. Italicize the titles of magazines, books, newspapers, academic journals, films, television shows, long poems, plays of three or more acts, operas, musical albums, works of art, websites, and individual trains, planes, or ships. Write your own example.

Write your own examples. THE APOSTROPHE The apostrophe has three uses: to form possessives of nouns eg: James's hat. (James' hat is also acceptable.) to show the omission of letters eg: It’s a fine day for fishing, isn’t it? to indicate certain plurals eg: Mind your p's and q's. (But not: In the 1930s…) Write your own examples.

Sources http://www.bristol.ac.uk Grammar Tutorial, Page 55 http://owl.english.purdue.edu Exercises/3/16: Brief Overview of Punctuation http://owl.english.purdue.edu Exercises/3/3: The Apostrophe