1. MEC 4 PUNCTUATION – LESSON 152

2. The Colon To indicate that an initial clause in a sentence will be further explained or illustrated. e.g.: There is only one way to survive here: we have to help each other. The first word of the second clause may be CAPITALIZED or not. e.g.: There is only one way to survive here: We have to help each other.

3. Colon To introduce a long formal statement, a quotation, or a question. e.g.: After a long pause, the judge said: “You are innocent.” The question is: Can you finish this exam in just ten minutes? The first word of the second clause MUST be CAPITALIZED.

4. Colon To introduce a list of items, examples, or the like. e.g.: I need four things: food, shelter, water, and love. My mom makes three kinds of food for Thanksgiving: turkey, sweet potatoes, and dressing.

5. Colon The COLON is often preceded by such words as these, the following or as follows. e.g.: I have lots of things to do tomorrow. But the following are the priorities: taking Sam to the doctor, getting Maggie’s medicine, going to the garage to have the car fixed and buying Edward a birthday gift.

6. COLON Notice that in the previous sentence, the verbs that follow the colon are expressed in Parallel Grammatical Structure. e.g.: I have lots of things to do tomorrow. But the following the priorities: take Sam to the doctor, get Maggie’s medicine, go to the garage to have the car fixed and buy Edward a birthday gift.

7. Colon Colons follow labels that identify important ideas meant to get attention. e.g.: Warning: To be opened by authorized personnel only. Notice: Do not use after October 15th.

8. Colon Salutation in FORMAL letters. e.g.: Dear Mr. Smith: Gentlemen: REMEMBER: In INFORMAL letters, use a COMMA. e.g.: Dear Mary,

9. Colon To separate HOURS from MINUTES. e.g.: 10:05 12:00

10. Semicolon To separate two independent clauses that are not connected by a conjunction. e.g.: I like you; John likes you, too. If he goes to the party; I won’t take Susan.

11. Semicolon To join independent clauses that are connected by such adverb conjunctions: therefore, however nevertheless, hence, thus, moreover, consequently, besides, furthermore and otherwise.

12. Semicolon e.g.: He has to study; otherwise, he will flunk. 1.It is also possible to substitute the semicolon. He has to study. Otherwise, he will flunk. 2. A comma generally follows the adverb conjunctions.

13. Semicolon When the items in a series themselves contain commas, separate the items with semicolons. e.g.: We visited Erie, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, New York; and Toronto, Ontario.

14. Semicolon To join an initial clause that is introduced by the following expressions or words: e.g. = for example that is i.e. = that is in fact for instance namely

15. Semicolon e.g.: Three students were mentioned; namely John, Sarah and Sylvia. The film is only open to adults; i.e. people over 18.

16. Hyphen Hyphens are used internally in some compound words to separate the words forming the compound word. e.g.: merry-go-round editor-in-chief When unsure of the hyphenation of such words, check a dictionary. Usage may vary. As some words are more widely used, the hyphen in dropped. For example, in the early 1800's the word blackbird was usually spelled black-bird. Now the hyphen has been dropped.

17. Hyphen Hyphens connect the words of a compound modifier that comes before the word being modified. Hyphens are not used this way with compound parts ending in -ly or made up of proper nouns or proper adjectives.

18. Hyphen - FYI A proper noun is a noun which names a specific person, place, or thing. (person’s name, pet’s name, monuments, places, historical events, days of the week, months, etc)

19. Hyphen - FYI A proper noun used as an adjective or an adjective formed from a proper noun is called a proper adjective. Proper adjectives are normally capitalized. This includes brand names. e.g.: Syrian food a Kodak® camera

20. Hyphen e.g.: He is a well-respected man. (A compound modifier before the noun.) That man is well respected. (The modifier follows the noun, no hyphen.)

21. Hyphen e.g.: That was a badly punctuated sentence. (Modifier ends in -ly, no hyphen.) The South American rain forest is home to hundreds of species of hummingbirds. (Modifier is proper, no hyphen.)

22. Hyphen To spell a word e.g.: S-T-U-D-E-N-T To divide a word into syllables e.g.: inter-na-tion-al Numbers from 21 to 99 e.g.: twenty-one ninety-nine

23. Let’s check! Use Colon, Semicolon, Hyphen or X (no punctuation needed.) 1) I am very upset. My mother ( ) in ( ) is coming to visit us. 2) There is only one person for this kind of job ( ) Mr. Nakajima. 3) There are seventy ( ) five people over there. 4) If I were you, I would only do one thing right now ( ) study hard. -- : - :

24. Let’s continue! 5) Three students were ( ) mentioned ( ) namely John, Mary and Sue. 6) The following people are waiting outside ( ) Mr. Sardella, president ( ) Mrs. Smith, vice ( ) president ( ) and ( ) Mr. Baldwin, treasurer. 7) I have to bring lots of things tomorrow ( ) 5 books, 10 pencils and 25 notebooks. X; :; -X, :

25. Keep up the good work! 8) I think ( ) you should give more attention to some special people ( ) your wife and kids. 9) Your mother wants you to do the following ( ) wash the dishes, prepare dinner, help Michael do his homework and water the plants. 10) Formal Letter. Dear sirs ( ) X : : :