Period (.) -
Use a period to end a declarative sentence, an imperative sentence, or an indirect question. Example: "She went to the store."
Question mark (?) -
Use a question mark to end a direct question. Example: "Where are you going?"
The Exclamation point (!) -
Use an exclamation point to convey strong emotion, surprise, or emphasis. Example: "What a beautiful day!"
Comma (,) -
Commas are used to separate items in a list, set off introductory phrases or clauses, separate independent clauses in a compound sentence, and set off nonessential elements.
Semicolon (;) -
Use a semicolon to connect two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Example: "She loves to travel; she has visited many countries."
Colon (:) -
Use a colon to introduce a list, explanation, or example. Example: "Please bring the following items: a pen, paper, and a calculator."
Dash (– or —) -
Dashes can be used to set off information within a sentence or to indicate an abrupt change in thought. Example: "She finally completed her project—after much hard work."
Quotation marks (" ") -
Use double quotation marks to enclose direct speech, quotations, song titles, and titles of short works. Example: "He said, 'I'll be there at 5 o'clock.'"
Apostrophe (') -
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession or to form contractions. Example: "The dog's tail wagged." "Can't you see?"
Parentheses ( ) -
Use parentheses to enclose additional information or asides within a sentence. Example: "The event (which was held outdoors) was a great success."
Ellipsis (...) -
Use an ellipsis to indicate omitted words or a pause in speech. Example: "She hesitated, then said ... 'I'm not sure.'"
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