1. Academic Writing: Punctuation
Lesson 6
University of Montenegro
English Language and Literature Department

2. Punctuation marks
. = full stop, period (US English) , = comma : = colon ; = semi-colon ?= question mark != exclamation mark -= hyphen (when used to separate words) --= dash “…”= quotation marks, double quotes ‘…’= single quotes […]= square brackets {…}= chain brackets

3. 1. Comma Separating main clauses:
Main clauses separated by and, or and but are not normally separated by commas, although commas may be used between clauses which don’t have the same subject.
-They were friendly and invited us back to their flat. (same subject)
-It was a restaurant a good distance from the city centre, but we decided it was worth making such a long journey. (different subjects)

4. 1.Comma Separating main and subordinate clauses
Commas are usually used if the subordinate clause comes before the main one.
If you get stuck, come back and see me.
Come back and see me if you get stuck.

5. 1.Comma
With adjectives
Commas are used between adjectives in attributive and predicative positions. A comma is not usually used before an adjective followe by and.
The town was cold, dark and inhospitable.
This is the lightweight, portable and wireless version.

6. 1. Comma
With lists
Commas are used to separate items in a list, except for a final item preceded by and. In American English, however, the norm is to have a comma before and in a list:
They bought a rail pass and visited Rome, Milan, Venice and Verona.
They’ve got apples, bananas, and peaches. (AmE)

7. 1. Comma
With adjuncts
Here the comma often coincides with a pause in speech.
It was, however, the best decision taken at that point in the company.
Unfortunately, the proposal was turned down without any explanation.
Have you had any contact with Karin, by the way?

8. 1. Comma In reported speech
Commas are used to indicate that direct speech is following or has just occurred. When the direct speech is first, the comma comes before the closing of the quotation marks:
He said, “Now it’s time for big changes.”
“I’m too old for that kind of thing,” she said with a broad grin.

9. 2. Colon :
Used to introduce lists, to indicate a subtitle or to indicate a subdivision of a topic
There are three main arguments for the withdrawal of the troops: military, economic and, above all, ethical.
The History of Britain: A Personal View

10. 3. Semi-colon ;
Semi-colons are sometimes used instead of full stops to separate two main clauses. In such cases the clauses remain grammatically separate but are linked in meaning. Semi-colons are not frequently used in contemporary English. Full stops and commas are much more common:
Some cats sleep during the night; most cats are active during the dark.
Bangkok is the capital city; Chiang Mai is the main tourist destination.

11. 4. Reported Speech
The reporting clause can appear in three different positions. Note the position of commas and full stops:
The course tutor said to us, “Don’t waste your time in your first term here.”
“Don’t waste your time in your first term here,” the course tutor said to us.
“Don’t waste your time,” the course tutor said to us, “in your first term here.”

12. 5. Practice
Handout